Former St. Louis Cardinals running back and special teams star Willard Harrell was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday at a ceremony in Springfield, Missouri.

Harrell was one of 22 inductees that included former Kansas City Royal Matt Damon, St. Louis Cardinal Matt Adams, and Mizzou Tiger Brock Olivo.

The Stockton, CA native was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1975 and played in the NFL for 10 years. Harrell scored a touchdown the first time he ever touched the ball when he raced 82 yards on a punt return in the Packers first exhibition game. In his second season, he led the team in rushing. After being released by Green Bay in 1978, Harrell had a tryout with the Cardinals where he eventually signed and played seven seasons.

According to the Missouri Hall of Fame enshrinement program, Harrell had one man to thank for becoming a St. Louis Cardinal.

“A few days later (after the tryout), they contacted my agent with an offer and I became a Cardinal,” Harrell said. “I found out later that Hanifan (former St. Louis head coach Jim Hanifan) was responsible for me becoming a Cardinal. He remembered me from my college days and always wanted me to play for him.”

Hanifan once called Harrell “A Back of All Trades” because he effectively filled so many roles.

“He could do many things so well,” he told the St. Louis Post Dispatch after Harrell announced his retirement in 1985. “He was a great receiver, a great blocker. He had great speed and quickness.”

Harrell says his biggest thrill was a last-minute 36-yard pass he caught from Cardinal quarterback Neil Lomax in a late-season contest in 1982. The catch set up a game-winning Lomax to Roy Green score a few plays later that lifted the Cardinals into the playoffs.

That catch was also Hanifan’s favorite memory of Harrell.

“It was in the final minute and Willard went down the gut,” he said. “He caught the sonofagun and got the hell kicked out of him, but he held onto the ball and I’ll never forget that catch.”

Harrell was also on the receiving end of Lomax’s first NFL touchdown pass in a 1981 game at Dallas.

“I wish it would have been a planned play,” Harrell said about the 62-yard score. “It was supposed to be a quick out to me, but when they blitzed, I just ran down the field and tried to get open. I looked back and he was scrambling, so I kept on running and he laid it in there perfectly.”

Harrell starred at the University of Pacific, setting a career rushing record of 3,324 yards and scoring 33 touchdowns. In 1973, he led the nation with an average of 177.7 all-purpose yards per game. The University retired his number “39” and inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 1984..

Many friends, family and former teammates of Harrell attended the Hall of Fame ceremony and a few of his pals sent congratulations in a short video tribute.

“You know, we’ve had some wonderful moments together as friends,” said his friend Ozzie Smith, “and you’ve always told me what a bad man you were. Well, I guess now, I can believe you.”

Former teammates Roy Green and Ottis “O.J.” Anderson also expressed their feelings in the video.

“I love you for everything you taught me on being a professional,” Anderson said.

“Everybody wants to be around him because he’s that kind of guy,” said Green. “Never had a bad day. He’s a guy who had a lot of compassion for his teammates.”

After retiring from football, Harrell and his wife remained in St. Louis and are the parents of Paul, Patrick, and Christine. He has been a successful insurance agent with State Farm for many years.

“This induction is the icing on the cake for my professional career,” Harrell told the Hall of Fame, “and it’s an honor to be enshrined and a part of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.”