While the induction ceremony took place a few hours north of Cincinnati, the city where Munoz played 13 NFL seasons with the Bengals and where he and his family still call home, fans from across the country gathered to celebrate the event. 

Amidst the throng, family and friends led the cheers on a sunny and warm August afternoon as the Ontario native took his place among pro football's elite. 

"It's very emotional. You get chills in the spine," said Dominick Copas, Munoz's cousin and a Rancho Cucamonga resident who wanted be in Canton to help celebrate the event. "It's a proud moment. Proud for the family and proud for our community. It's a great experience for everyone." 

Family is very important to Munoz. Many relatives made the trip to Ohio, joining his wife DeDe, daughter Michelle and son Michael for the memorable occasion. 

Michael, who introduced his father during the nationally-televised ceremony, referred to his dad as "a great football player, a great friend, a great father and a great husband. 

"He is a man who stands tall among men because he is a man who walks with God." 

For the Inland Valley residents on hand, there was little question Anthony Munoz's stature has always far exceeded his 6-foot-6 height. 

"We used to call him the gentle giant," said Tom Graham, a teacher and assistant football coach when Munoz attended Chaffey High School. "He was my student and my player. This only happens once in a lifetime and I wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world." 

The person Munoz credits with so much of his personal development, his mother Esther, could not attend Saturday. But while she remained in Southern California recovering from a broken hip, the family was well represented. 

Anthony's older brother, Joe, said this was just the final step in a summer-long tribute. 

"I was so proud when they dedicated the park (in Ontario) and retired his high school jersey," he said. "That in itself was seventh heaven. But to have my brother selected into the Hall of Fame is total ecstasy." 

Anthony mentioned Joe and his other brother, Tom, during his speech, explaining how each played a role in his development. 

But for Joe, being related was just a bonus. 

"I've always told people that if Anthony weren't related to me, he'd probably be my best friend," said Joe. "My son's middle name is Anthony. Of course, now every cousin's son is going to be named Anthony." 

Arthur Hernandez of Rancho Cucamonga finds himself still astonished at cousin Anthony's success. 

"I never thought he'd be the superstar he became. I always thought he was great, but to be one of the greatest ever, I never expected it. It never entered my mind he would be among the guys in there," said Hernandez, pointing at the Hall of Fame building. "There were so many ways he could have gone. To see him here, it's tremendous." 

Munoz made people the theme of his induction speech. He talked not only of family, but of those individuals who made a difference in his life. 

"A lot of times when you strive to reach the pinnacle of our profession, it's like a triangle. You reach the pinnacle and you have a broad base of people - just like each and every one of you - that make it possible," said Munoz. "It's the people that have allowed me to reach the pinnacle of my career." 

For Ontario City Councilman Gary Ovitt, both teacher and coach when Munoz attended Chaffey, linking the young man he knew with the highly-respected pro athlete isn't easy. 

"We expected great things out of Anthony, but we had no idea that it would reach the zenith of pro football and that he'd be considered the best offensive lineman in the history of the game," said Ovitt. "It's hard to put the two together. To have someone you know as a person and have him here with those people you've heard about and idolized for so long, it's hard." 

Upland High School baseball coach Mike Alonso wasn't ready for the impact Canton would have on himself or longtime friend Munoz. 

"It's unbelievable. I did not know how important it is. When you've known the man forever and you hear about the Hall of Fame, that's one thing. But to be here, to see the way this town treats the people who are (enshrined) here, it's really important," said Alonso. 

"To see Anthony in tears and see Tommy McDonald just go crazy, it's amazing. Then to walk into the hall, see all the busts and know Anthony is a part of all this, it's pretty special." 

While Alonso's wife, Ann, also found the event overwhelming, she did manage to capture the unanimous feeling of the day. 

"It couldn't happen to a better person," she said.