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Proclamation congratulating former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Abram Bettis Sr. for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on August 8, 2015.
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WHEREAS, Jerome “Roney” Abram Bettis was born on February 16, 1972, in Detroit, Michigan to Johnnie and Gladys Bettis, the youngest of their three children. He was a standout running back and linebacker at Mackenzie High School in Detroit, where he was also a member of the National Honor Society; and
WHEREAS, as a high school senior, Bettis was the Gatorade Circle of Champions Player of the Year award winner, and selected the top player in Michigan by the Detroit Free Press; and
WHEREAS, Jerome Bettis began playing football at the University of Notre Dame in 1990 and was nicknamed “The Bus” for his bruising running style. He finished his career at Notre Dame with 337 rushing attempts for 1,912 yards and made 32 receptions for 429 yards; and
WHEREAS, after three strong seasons with the Fighting Irish, the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams drafted Bettis in the first round, 10th overall in the 1993 National Football League (NFL) draft; and
WHEREAS, Jerome Bettis was named Offensive Rookie of the Year for his astonishing 1,429 rushing yards and was chosen as a first-team All-Pro and All-NFC. He led the Rams in rushing each of his three seasons with the club before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a second and fourth round draft pick; and
WHEREAS, Jerome Bettis rebounded from a subpar year in 1995 with the Rams to earn NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1996) and was again named first-team All-Pro in 1996, his first in the Steel City. Bettis gained 1,431 yards on 320 carries and scored 11 touchdowns for the division-winning Steelers. He was the Steelers’ leading ground gainer eight times in 10 seasons; and
WHEREAS, on February 5, 2006, Jerome Bettis, a six-time Pro Bowler, retired following his lone Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XL (2005 season) in which the Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10, in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan; and
WHEREAS, Jerome Bettis’ eight 1,000-plus yard seasons tied for third-best in NFL history at retirement, and he finished his 13 NFL season career as the NFL’s fifth leading all-time rusher with 13,662 yards on 3,479 carries, and he also scored 91 rushing touchdowns. In addition to his rushing totals, Bettis amassed 1,449 yards on 200 receptions, and completed three passes, all for touchdowns in his 192-game career; and
WHEREAS, although the Steelers no longer retire numbers, they have not reissued Bettis’ No. 36 since he retired, and it is generally understood that no Steeler will ever wear that number again; and
WHEREAS, first diagnosed with asthma at age 15, Jerome Bettis has joined with other world-class athletes in the Asthma All-Stars Program to show that people with asthma can live without limits. Bettis also devotes considerable time and energy to his aptly named charitable “The Bus Stops Here” Foundation, which works to improve the quality of life for troubled and underprivileged children in Detroit and Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, Pittsburgh’s North Shore is home to Jerome Bettis’ Grille 36. Since its opening in 2007 it has been voted Pittsburgh’s best sports restaurant every year. Bettis’ Urban Mortgage, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is a leader in home loan, borrowing, credit repair and refinancing programs. In addition to serving as a national sports commentator, WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh hosts the Jerome Bettis Show; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2015, Jerome Bettis was selected as a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2015, and he will be formally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 8, 2015 in Canton, Ohio. Bettis will become the 23rd member of the Steelers organization to be elected into the Hall of Fame and the fourth Steelers’ running back in the Hall of Fame joining Bill Dudley, John Henry Johnson and Franco Harris;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Allegheny County Council, along with Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Allegheny County Treasurer John Weinstein, does hereby honor and congratulate Jerome Bettis upon the momentous occasion of his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 8, 2015. FURTHERMORE, Jerome Bettis has set a positive example of excellence for all of Allegheny County, continuing evidence that this is the County of Champions. This achievement has conferred honor on this County and is an accomplishment in which the entire community can be proud.