A new piece of memorabilia is now on display at the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in Lambeau Field.
The Purinton family donated their late father's autographed football. It has 44 player signatures from the 1961 roster. That's the Packers' first NFL championship season under Vince Lombardi. 28 of the former players are now in the Packers Hall of Fame. Ten are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"It hasn't only grown in importance but in legacy," Richard Purinton said of the football.
His father, singer Harry Purinton, received the signed football 54 years ago during a barber shopper convention in Green Bay. Harry was a judge, newsletter editor and historian. Richard says the football was also a special award to his father for his service. It used to sit on the family's living room shelf, but the family knows it has found the perfect new home. It's now displayed near the replica of Vince Lombardi's office at Lambeau Field.
"The Hall of Fame here has Lombardi's office and a lot of Lombardi artifacts. It does not have a wonderful, signed 1961 football. This is a really complete football," said Hall of Fame archivist Don Spies.
Although their dad isn't around to see the ball in the Hall of Fame, they know he'd get great joy knowing Packers fans will appreciate it as much as he did for years to come.
