Lower Makefield's Art McNally selected to Pro Football Hall of Fame
Longtime Lower Makefield resident Arthur I. "Art" McNally has become the first on-field official to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. McNally, 96, served as an official for nine years before taking on a role as the NFL's supervisor of officials in 1968 and creating the first formal training program for training and evaluation of football officials.
"I'm very happy, very nice honor," said McNally when reached by phone Saturday morning. "I didn't think much about getting in (the hall after his nomination as a contributor last August), but now that it is official, I really appreciate it.
"I guess it's official?" he laughed.
"I'm extremely happy — very proud. He has done so much for the game," said McNally's wife, Sharon, adding that McNally worked for the NFL until January 2015 at age 90. "His last job was as a part-time observer from 2007 to '15, reviewing video of game officials."
Recounting his start in the NFL as a field judge and referee in 1959, McNally knew early on he was destined to officiate some sport.
"As I recall, (NFL) was short at the position and I decided to go for it." McNally brought experience in officiating football, baseball and basketball, from sandlot level to high school and college.
After leaving the supervisor position in 1991, McNally served in a similar capacity in the World Football League for one year before returning to the NFL as an assistant supervisor.
Born in Philadelphia, McNally graduated from Roman Catholic High School and Temple University. The couple have resided in the township for nearly 60 years.
Also being enshrined at Aug. 6 ceremonies in Canton, Ohio, will be former Philadelphia Eagles coach Dick Vermeil, who is one of six coaches to take two different teams to the Super Bowl (his Eagles lost in 1981 to the Oakland Raiders and he led the St. Louis Rams to the title in 1999).
The new inductees were announced late Thursday night.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Lower Makefield's Art McNally selected to Pro Football Hall of Fame
