Scattered Clouds
Ken Riley is FINALLY Enshrined Into Pro Football Hall of Fame
PUBLISHED
Fri, Aug 4, 2023 4:13 PM
(CANTON, OHIO) -- It took 35 years of eligibility to see this today. And after annual chants and chatter about one of the biggest snubs by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton did what was right. Ken Riley is set to be enshrined finally into the vaulted lore of gridiron immortality. Riley will be one of 9 enshrined into the coveted Class of 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
Photo: Pro Football Hall of Fame
HIGH SCHOOL: Bartow Union Academy -- Bartow, FL
COLLEGE: Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU)
NFL: Cincinnati Bengals
UNION ACADEMY (Bartow, FL) -- FIAA
Riley attended Union Academy in Bartow, FL. Union Academy was a school founded in 1897 by the Freedmens Bureau in Gainesville. During a time of segregated South, blacks and white attended their own high schools. Most black high schools were part of the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association (FIAA), which was from 1932 to when many high schools in Florida integrated in 1968.
Bartow Union Academy, the 1st black school in southwest Polk County, now has one of its beloved reach the ultimate pinnacle of gridiron greatness. Bartow Union Academy integrated into now Bartow High school, with the last graduating class being in 1969.
The Polk County native shined on the gridiron at Union Academy. Union Academy was loaded with talent... Riley was one of many players from the high school to make it to the NFL. In a time predating the FHSAA's unified State Championships history, which dates back to 1963, the Union Academy Tigers had undefeated football seasons in 1954, 1958, 1960, and 1963 seasons.
Riley graduated in the Union Academy High School Class of 1965.
As a football power, Bartow Union Academy would send 12 players to the NFL, with many if not all finding their way through a Historic Black College and University en route to the National Football League.
Ken Riley, James Battle, Marshall Bush, Leroy Hardee, Major Hazelton, Nathaniel James, Lavon Johnson, Lewis Johnson, Alton Lavan, Sam Silas, Jerry Simmons, and Donald Smith.
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY RATTLERS (Tallahassee, FL)
Historically Black College & University
Riley took his talents to Florida A&M, which was a powerhouse in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), having won 21 of the last 24 SIAC conference titles. Bartow was a known powerhouse and they had a pipeline already established to FAMU. Riley went to play and star under the legendary FAMU Head Coach Jake Gaither. Riley starred as captain of the Rattlers ultimately to be inducted into the Black College Hall of Fame Class of 2015 to join other HBCU Greats Walter Payton, Jerry Rice. Pledged Alpha Phi Alpha while the Highest of the Seven Hills.
ONE OF 33 ON FLORIDA'S ALL CENTURY TEAM BY THE FHSAA
Ken Riley, Union Academy (Bartow), 1965. One of 9 Union Academy graduates who made it to NFL before school closed in 1968. Played offense and defense in high school and QB at FAMU, where he was a 3-time All-American. Moved back to the secondary in the NFL, where he played 14 seasons with 65 INTs. Was later head football coach (1986-93) and athletic director (1994-2003) at his alma mater FAMU.
Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)
ALSO READ: We Mourn the Passing of a Legend, Ken Riley
At the time of entering Florida A&M, FAMU was in the one of powerhouse of black college football, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). The SIAC included notable HBCU football programs at Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State, Tuskegee .... Several of these SIAC teams produced NFL Hall-of-Famers:
+ Alabama A&M (John Stallworth)
+ Bethune-Cookman (Larry Little (Miami Booker T. Washington HS))
+ South Carolina State (4 - Harry Carson, Deacon Jones (Eatonville HS), Marion Motley, Donnie Shell).
Riley will join fellow Floridian and fellow FAMU Rattler Bob "The Bullet" Hayes as the only two inductees from Florida A&M to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Olympian track star Hayes reached the final decision round in 2004, ultimately to be inducted five years later in the Class of 2009.
FAMU ultimately left the SIAC in 1979 to enter the new Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) alongside their in-state rival, the Bethune-Cookman College Wildcats.
NFL CAREER
CINCINNATI BENGALS 1969-1983
Although Riley starred as FAMU's QB, he was converted to a CB when he got to the NFL. He was drafted in the 6th round as a QB/WR, or "Athlete". In a time, when it was very rare for Black quarterbacks in the NFL, Riley wasn't given the reigns to guide the team offensively; he was placed on defense, and he excelled through a stellar NFL career that is Hall-of-Fame worthy/
In a league coined Not For Long, Riley played until he was 36 years old... in the original NFL where blistering hits were commonplace, and linebackers and DBs gratefully donned snaggle teeth as celebrated war wounds.
15 SEASONS of exhibiting brilliance as a corner, earning him the moniker "Mr. Consistency", Riley was one of several greats to spend his entire career in the beloved city of Cincinnati. In 1976, Riley set that standard as a standout corner in the league with an eye-popping 9 INTERCEPTIONS, a record that wouldn't be conquered until in 2005.
HOF Finalist: 1 | Year of Eligibility: 35
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 181
NFL Career: 1969-1983 Cincinnati Bengals
Seasons: 15 | Games: 207
College: Florida A&M
Drafted: 6th Round (135th Overall), 1969
Born: Aug. 6, 1947, in Bartow, Fla.
Died: June 7, 2020, in Bartow, Fla.
Known by various nicknames – "The Rattler," "Mr. Bengal" and "Mr. Consistency" … Selected by the Bengals in the 1969 AFL-NFL Draft after playing quarterback at Florida A&M … Converted to cornerback and played 15 NFL seasons over three decades (1969-1983) … Played in 207 NFL games, amassing 65 interceptions … Selected AP All-Pro in 1983 … Selected AP All-AFC in 1975, 1976 … Held or shared six Cincinnati team records through his final season with the Bengals … Led team in kickoff return yardage during his rookie season … Earned the AFC interception title in 1976, 1982, 1983 … Led the Bengals in interceptions seven times (1969, 1974-76, 1981-83) … Ranks fifth (tied with Charles Woodson) on the NFL’s career interceptions list … Described by Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown as “a model football player and a real gentleman. Youngsters would do well to pattern themselves after him."
CHILDREN: Kimberly R. Connor, Kenneth Riley II, and Kenisha R. Avery
Photo: Pro Football Hall of Fame
KENNETH "THE RATTLER" RILEY
HIGH SCHOOL: Bartow Union Academy -- Bartow, FL
COLLEGE: Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU)
NFL: Cincinnati Bengals
UNION ACADEMY (Bartow, FL) -- FIAA
Riley attended Union Academy in Bartow, FL. Union Academy was a school founded in 1897 by the Freedmens Bureau in Gainesville. During a time of segregated South, blacks and white attended their own high schools. Most black high schools were part of the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association (FIAA), which was from 1932 to when many high schools in Florida integrated in 1968.
Bartow Union Academy, the 1st black school in southwest Polk County, now has one of its beloved reach the ultimate pinnacle of gridiron greatness. Bartow Union Academy integrated into now Bartow High school, with the last graduating class being in 1969.
The Polk County native shined on the gridiron at Union Academy. Union Academy was loaded with talent... Riley was one of many players from the high school to make it to the NFL. In a time predating the FHSAA's unified State Championships history, which dates back to 1963, the Union Academy Tigers had undefeated football seasons in 1954, 1958, 1960, and 1963 seasons.
Riley graduated in the Union Academy High School Class of 1965.
As a football power, Bartow Union Academy would send 12 players to the NFL, with many if not all finding their way through a Historic Black College and University en route to the National Football League.
Ken Riley, James Battle, Marshall Bush, Leroy Hardee, Major Hazelton, Nathaniel James, Lavon Johnson, Lewis Johnson, Alton Lavan, Sam Silas, Jerry Simmons, and Donald Smith.
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY RATTLERS (Tallahassee, FL)
Historically Black College & University
Riley took his talents to Florida A&M, which was a powerhouse in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), having won 21 of the last 24 SIAC conference titles. Bartow was a known powerhouse and they had a pipeline already established to FAMU. Riley went to play and star under the legendary FAMU Head Coach Jake Gaither. Riley starred as captain of the Rattlers ultimately to be inducted into the Black College Hall of Fame Class of 2015 to join other HBCU Greats Walter Payton, Jerry Rice. Pledged Alpha Phi Alpha while the Highest of the Seven Hills.
ONE OF 33 ON FLORIDA'S ALL CENTURY TEAM BY THE FHSAA
Ken Riley, Union Academy (Bartow), 1965. One of 9 Union Academy graduates who made it to NFL before school closed in 1968. Played offense and defense in high school and QB at FAMU, where he was a 3-time All-American. Moved back to the secondary in the NFL, where he played 14 seasons with 65 INTs. Was later head football coach (1986-93) and athletic director (1994-2003) at his alma mater FAMU.
Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)
ALSO READ: We Mourn the Passing of a Legend, Ken Riley
At the time of entering Florida A&M, FAMU was in the one of powerhouse of black college football, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). The SIAC included notable HBCU football programs at Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State, Tuskegee .... Several of these SIAC teams produced NFL Hall-of-Famers:
+ Alabama A&M (John Stallworth)
+ Bethune-Cookman (Larry Little (Miami Booker T. Washington HS))
+ South Carolina State (4 - Harry Carson, Deacon Jones (Eatonville HS), Marion Motley, Donnie Shell).
Riley will join fellow Floridian and fellow FAMU Rattler Bob "The Bullet" Hayes as the only two inductees from Florida A&M to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Olympian track star Hayes reached the final decision round in 2004, ultimately to be inducted five years later in the Class of 2009.
FAMU ultimately left the SIAC in 1979 to enter the new Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) alongside their in-state rival, the Bethune-Cookman College Wildcats.
NFL CAREER
CINCINNATI BENGALS 1969-1983
Although Riley starred as FAMU's QB, he was converted to a CB when he got to the NFL. He was drafted in the 6th round as a QB/WR, or "Athlete". In a time, when it was very rare for Black quarterbacks in the NFL, Riley wasn't given the reigns to guide the team offensively; he was placed on defense, and he excelled through a stellar NFL career that is Hall-of-Fame worthy/
In a league coined Not For Long, Riley played until he was 36 years old... in the original NFL where blistering hits were commonplace, and linebackers and DBs gratefully donned snaggle teeth as celebrated war wounds.
15 SEASONS of exhibiting brilliance as a corner, earning him the moniker "Mr. Consistency", Riley was one of several greats to spend his entire career in the beloved city of Cincinnati. In 1976, Riley set that standard as a standout corner in the league with an eye-popping 9 INTERCEPTIONS, a record that wouldn't be conquered until in 2005.
HOF Finalist: 1 | Year of Eligibility: 35
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 181
NFL Career: 1969-1983 Cincinnati Bengals
Seasons: 15 | Games: 207
College: Florida A&M
Drafted: 6th Round (135th Overall), 1969
Born: Aug. 6, 1947, in Bartow, Fla.
Died: June 7, 2020, in Bartow, Fla.
Known by various nicknames – "The Rattler," "Mr. Bengal" and "Mr. Consistency" … Selected by the Bengals in the 1969 AFL-NFL Draft after playing quarterback at Florida A&M … Converted to cornerback and played 15 NFL seasons over three decades (1969-1983) … Played in 207 NFL games, amassing 65 interceptions … Selected AP All-Pro in 1983 … Selected AP All-AFC in 1975, 1976 … Held or shared six Cincinnati team records through his final season with the Bengals … Led team in kickoff return yardage during his rookie season … Earned the AFC interception title in 1976, 1982, 1983 … Led the Bengals in interceptions seven times (1969, 1974-76, 1981-83) … Ranks fifth (tied with Charles Woodson) on the NFL’s career interceptions list … Described by Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown as “a model football player and a real gentleman. Youngsters would do well to pattern themselves after him."
CHILDREN: Kimberly R. Connor, Kenneth Riley II, and Kenisha R. Avery
