RADNOR — Twice this week, Radnor officials recognized one of the township’s favorite sons, Emlen L. Tunnell, on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Tunnell is best remembered for his football career with the New York Giants and later the Green Bay Packers. In 1967, he became the first defensive player and the first African American to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
But before his football fame, Tunnell saved the lives of his fellow crew members on two occasions while serving in the United States Coast Guard.
At Monday night’s board meeting, Radnor commissioners issued a proclamation honoring Tunnell.
Then, on Friday, Radnor hosted a rededication of a plaque prominently displayed at the township park named in his honor. Both ceremonies were to remember the 100th anniversary of Tunnell’s birth, March 29, 1924.
“Now therefore, the Radnor Township Board of Commissioners do hereby honor Emlen Lewis Tunnell and pay tribute to all of his accomplishments and proudly proclaim that on Friday, April 12, 2024 there will be a celebration to honor his centennial birthday with a plaque dedication at Emlen Tunnell Park and encourage all members of the community to attend,” Maggy Myers, president of the Radnor commissioners, said as she read from Radnor’s proclamation during Friday’s ceremony.
Just before reading the proclamation from Radnor, Myers also read one issued by the Philadelphia City Council.
Numerous officials came out during the sometimes heavy rainfall to honor Tunnell. They included Radnor officials, members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, a color guard from Valley Forge Military Academy, the president of the New York Giants and Delaware County officials were on hand for Friday’s ceremony.
“This is just so exciting to have me here to celebrate the 100th birthday of such an amazing man from Delaware County,” Monica Taylor, chair of Delaware County Council, said Friday.
M.D. Schlitt, public affairs specialist 3 U.S. Coast Guard/United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, led off Friday’s ceremony by outlining a brief biography on Tunnell.
“Emlen Lewis Tunnell was born right here in the Garrett Hill section of Bryn Mawr on March 29th, 1924,” Schlitt said. “In his honor, Radnor Township named the street we are on here today, Emlen Tunnell Way. Because of his athletic prowess and carefree nature, Emlen made friends easily. He attended Radnor High School and made the varsity football team as a 13-year-old Freshman.”
Tunnell excelled in football and basketball while at Radnor and graduated in 1942. He then continued his athletic and academic pursuits at the University of Toledo, where he earned a scholarship.
In his fifth game against Marshall, Tunnell was knocked unconscious and suffered a broken neck.
“Emlen awoke in a hospital with a Catholic priest giving him the last rites,” Schlitt said as he continued reading Tunnell’s biography.
Due to the injury, Tunnell was told he could never play football again. But never one to give up, after his military service, Tunnell earned another scholarship and went on to play football at the University of Iowa.
But before Iowa, Tunnell decided to serve his country during World War II when he attempted to join both the Army and Navy. Both rejected him due to his previous neck injury.
Fate had other plans for Tunnell when the Coast Guard accepted him, where he would go on to become a hero for the lives he saved.
During his service in the Coast Guard during and shortly after World War II, Tunnell saved the lives of two shipmates on two different occasions.
One of the cases where he saved his shipmate’s life was while onboard the USS Etamin off the coast of Papua New Guinea. His ship came under attack when a Japanese torpedo struck his ship. Tunnell risked his life to enter a burning engine room and to save another service member.
“He was the only person in the engine room that survived that day because Emlen raced in, grabbed him, put the flames out with his hands — burned his hands severely — and dragged him to higher-level medical care on the ship, the sickbay,” former Commandant of the Coast Guard Karl Schultz said during a 2021 event in Radnor honoring Tunnell.
In a second case, shortly after the war in 1946, Tunnell once again risked his life by jumping into the cold waters off Newfoundland and saving the life of a shipmate who had fallen overboard.
In 2011, Tunnell was recognized posthumously with the United States Coast Guard Silver Lifesaving Medal. In 2021, the Coast Guard honored Tunnell by naming one of its newest ships after him.
After the war, Tunnell turned his skills to the National Football League, playing for the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers. He was a six-time All-Pro and played in nine Pro Bowls.
John Mara, president of the New York Giants, also attended Friday’s ceremony.
Mara, who was with Tunnell the night before he died, said a portrait of Tunnell hangs outside his office. He went on to describe Tunnell as the most humble person he had ever met.
“I can’t think of a more beloved figure in the history of our organization than Emlen Tunnell,” Mara said.
Tunnell suffered a heart attack and died in 1975 at age 51.
