I met George Halas in 1981, a couple years before he died. This was back in my newspaper reporting days and I brought my copy of Halas's autobiography to the Soldier Field press box hoping to get it autographed. During pregame warmups I walked to the owner's box area and asked if he was available. His son-in-law, Ed McCaskey, said, "Well, that's up to Mr. Halas." Then I saw George turn in his seat down front and motion to me saying, "Come in, come in." I shook his hand, handed him the book and he asked my name, pulling a pen from his suit jacket. He autographed it to me personally; excellent handwriting, by the way. And I remember he had big hands. That was my meeting with the man who invented the National Football League in 1920, 102 years ago.
