Miami Dolphins HOF Quarterback Bob Griese to Be Recognized by Hall of Fame

Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame Quarterback Bob Griese is set to be recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate as a part of the "Hometown Hall of Famers" next week. Griese will be presented a plaque in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana on April 26.

The official press release, with all the details about the program and the event itself, is below.

Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate Insurance Company to Honor Bob Griese as "Hometown Hall of Famer^TM" at Mater Dei High School in Evansville, Ind.

National Program Recognizes Pro Football's Greatest Players in their Hometown Communities

Canton, Ohio - April 19, 2012 - Pro football legend Bob Griese will be recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate Insurance Company in Evansville, Ind., on Thursday, April 26, as part of "Hometown Hall of Famers^TM," a national program honoring the hometown roots of the sport's greatest players with special ceremonies and plaque dedication events in local communities.

"'Hometown Hall of Famers^TM' has been warmly embraced by communities and Hall of Famers alike," said George Veras, Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises president and CEO. "We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Allstate to bring the Pro Football Hall of Fame to communities across the country and congratulate Bob Griese and Mater Dei High School on bringing a piece of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to Evansville."

A six-time Pro Bowl selection as quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, and former high school standout at the now-closed Rex Mundi High School in Evansville, Ind., Griese will be presented with his "Hometown Hall of Famer^TM" plaque during a special ceremony at 1:45 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 26, at Mater Dei High School. The plaque will live permanently on display at the Ford Center in downtown Evansville to serve as an inspiration for the entire community. The presentation will be made by Bill Griese, Bob Griese's brother.

"To be part of a program that brings the prestige and tradition of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to cities like Evansville is an honor for Allstate, our agents and employees," said Lisa Cochrane, Allstate's senior vice president of marketing.

The ceremony will be attended by Griese's family members and close friends, as well as Evansville, Ind., community members. Mike Blake, WFIE-TV sports director, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

In addition to the plaque, a commemorative Bob Griese "Hometown Hall of Famer^TM" road sign will be on display in Evansville, Ind.

A successful student-athlete in high school, Griese went on to play quarterback for Purdue University. During his career as a Boilermaker, Griese was a two-time All-American and led his school to its first-ever Rose Bowl appearance, defeating the University of Southern California 14-13. Griese was inducted into the the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.

Griese was selected in the first round by the Miami Dolphins in the 1967 draft. His 14-year career as a successful quarterback totaled 1,926 completions for 25,092 total passing yards and 192 touchdowns. Griese also rushed for seven touchdowns during his hall-of-fame career. Griese led the Dolphins to an undefeated season in 1972, beating the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII.

Griese was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

"Hometown Hall of Famers^TM presented by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate" is the Hall of Fame's first nationwide plaque program and will lead into the celebration of its 50^th anniversary in August 2012. For more information on the program and event videos, fans can visit www.profootballhof.com.

About the Pro Football Hall of Fame
In its day-to-day operation, the Pro Football Hall of Fame works very closely with all facets of the pro football family - the National Football League, the 32 NFL clubs, and other entities to ensure the overall success of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In turn, the Hall strives to serve as the best possible historical showplace and repository for the sport of pro football. The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational institution that focuses on education, promoting, preserving, and honoring the great individuals and moments that have shaped the sport's history.

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®" slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate^®. As part of Allstate's commitment to strengthen local communities, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate employees, agency owners and the corporation provided $28 million in 2011 to thousands of nonprofit organizations and important causes across the United States.