Richter: About time

Good job by the veterans committee for recommending Les Richter for the Football Hall of Fame. He was overlooked by the regular committee people for all these years, but the veterans put him up and he went right in. Too bad he didn’t live to see it.

I saw Richter play in many games as I lived in Los Angeles when the Rams were battling it out with the Cleveland Browns. Les Richter was the best linebacker in pro football.

I was listening to a game with Detroit on the radio (before TV) and a huge roar was heard. The announcer said, “Tackle by Richter.” Then he explained that Richter had said he was sick of reading about Joe Schmidt, the Detroit linebacker who many thought was the best in the league. Richter demonstrated by his play that he was head and shoulders above all others.

Teammate and fellow Hall of Fame member Deacon Jones said, “Les was a tough, hard-nosed football player who gave it his all on every play and in every practice. He knocked the hell out of people. I mean, he’d really hit you. Les Richter was a great teammate.”

A long overdue recognition has been corrected. Good job by the veterans committee.

Bill Witthuhns

Coeur d’Alene