ALPHA ATHLETES Brother Art Shell elected to the NFL Hall of Fame Brothers Gene Upshaw and Art Shell are once again in the same gridiron lineup. After 14 successful years side by side on the offensive line of the Oakland Raiders and a briefer stint as "line brothers" preparing to cross the sands, both will now be permanently enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame. When Brother Art Shell was elected to the National Football League's pantheon of super-stars in January, he became the sixth squad member from the Oakland Raiders heyday in the 1970s to be so honored. In that era, the Silver and Black was almost universally loved — you either loved the NFL's bad boys or you loved to hate them. More poignantly, this selection means that Brothers Art Shell and Gene Upshaw are once again in the same gridiron lineup. Brothers Shell and Upshaw anchored the Raiders' left offensive line for'14 seasons, with Upshaw at left guard and Shell lining up next to him at left tackle. Further the two were "Line Brothers" — pledging Alpha Phi Alpha via Gamma Chi Lambda Chapter in San Francisco and crossing the sands in June of 1981. While their professions keep them on opposite coasts of the continental United States, with Gene based in Washington as Executive Director of the NFL Players Association and Art in Los Angeles as Assistant Coach of the relocated Raiders, their visages will enjoy a perpetual reunion at the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Brother Shell, selected in his second year of eligibility, was one of four pro standouts selected for inclusion in the Hall of Fame for 1989. The others are Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Willie Wood of the Green Bay Packers. The quartet will be inducted on August 5th. Recalling a visit to the Hall of Fame a decade ago, prior to a preseason exhibition game, Shell pulled no punches about his pleasure at being selected. "I'm estatic," he said. " I had no idea then I'd ever be in there," he told reporters. "You never think in those terms when you're playing. I was in awe, looking at busts of the greatest players in football history and reading about them. It is hallowed ground. To be included in this group is almost to much to believe. The Sphinx/Spring 1989
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Brother Art Shell, former Oakland Raiders terror, is among football's all-time greats. During his playing days, the 42-year-old Shell was a 6-foot-6, 300 pounder who was both an enormous physical talent and a master of the artistry of the game. An exceptional pass protector and rush blocker, he was a stalwart of the Raiders' offensive line from 1968 to 1982. He played in eight Pro Bowl games and started in 23 postseason games, including eight AFL or AFC championships and the 1977 and 1981 Super Bowls. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Arthur L. Shell, Jr.
graduated from Maryland State College (now the University of MarylandEastern Shore) in 1968. He was drafted by the Raiders in the third round and has spent his entire creer with that franchise. He is married to the former Janice Jeter and they are the parents of two sons: Arthur III, 15, and Christopher, 13. The Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha join his family and many friends in extending a hearty congratulations on this most deserved honor to Brother Art Shell, Hall of Famer. Page 17