It was a ceremony fit for a king and that's exactly how Liberty treated Chuck Bednarik during a ceremony last Friday afternoon to honor the Hall of Fame NFL player.

Bednarik, a 1943 Liberty graduate, who went on to star at the University of Pennsylvania and for the Philadelphia Eagles, was honored in a special event organized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in partnership with Allstate titled "Hometown Hall of Famers" to honor members of the hall of fame across the country.

The ceremony was equipped with the Grenadier Marching Band playing Liberty's alma mater, a video montage of Bednarik's illustrious career, as well as having two of his childhood friends, Bill Werpohoski and legendary Princeton basketball coach Pete Carril, speak and present Bednarik to Liberty's student body inside of Memorial Gymnasium.

A plaque commemorating Bednarik's career will forever be inside of Liberty's halls, as well as a seven-foot bronze statue of the famous two-way player in the southwest corner of Frank Banko Field, which was unveiled prior to Liberty's victory over Central Catholic last Friday night.

"It's a historic day for a lot of reasons and I love this school," said Carril. "Chuck was a great athlete and he's a great friend. We're all very honored to be here to honor him."

Liberty athletic director Fred Harris had to contain the football teams excitement following the ceremony, as players came to the stage for pictures to meet 'Concrete Charlie,' which was Bednarik's nickname during his playing career that was coined by a Philadelphia sportswriter due to Bednarik's off-season job as a concrete salesman for the Warner Company, as well as his noted toughness on the football field.

Bednarik is considered one of the most ferocious players to ever play the game, but the 88-year-old exposed his soft side last week, by smiling throughout the event, pumping his hands to the Liberty student body and being in good spirits. Bednarik, who walks with the assistance of a cane, spoke briefly to the media following the ceremony in a soft tone.

"I've been through many, many things and this is my all-time number one," said Bednarik in regards to how he felt about receiving the honor at Liberty. "I love it here."

Liberty athletic director Fred Harris opened the ceremony as the main speaker and was still in awe of what he was apart of following its conclusion.

"It was overwhelming today to be apart of Bethlehem history," he said. "To hear Chuck's friends speak and see how these guys grew up in Bethlehem is very special. This is a great town to live in and I'm just proud to be apart of it."

Harris hoped the students in attendance also felt the same way.

"The kids were so excited and to see and be around a Hall of Famer," said Harris in reference to the football teams post-ceremony gathering around Bednarik. "I just think when you put it in perspective, it's great for the kids.

"Everyone that was involved with putting this together gave back to Bethlehem today and it was an honor to be here and present Chuck."