Emlen Tunnell, a graduate of Radnor High School, is the first African American inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame,

For most, that would be enough. But Tunnell, born in Bryn Mawr, is also a Delco hero who recently had a Coast Guard cutter named after him, writes Ashley Johnson and the 6abc digital staff for 6abc.com.

“He wanted to do as much as he could, as long as he could,” said his goddaughter Mialee Anderson. “If you go through his history, you see he did a lot of firsts. And in doing so, he set precedent for others to follow.”

Tunnell was the first African American to play for the New York Giants in 1948.

He is a two-time national champion, and played in many Pro Bowls.

In April 1944 he suffered burns while in the U.S. Coast Guard at Papua New Guinea when he saved two shipmates with his bare hands after a Japanese torpedo hit cargo.

He was awarded the Silver Life Saving Medal.

Recently, the U.S. Coast Guard named the 45th Fast Response Cutter after him.   Number 45 was Tunnell’s number with the New York Giants.

He passed away at 50 in1975.

Read more at 6abc.com about Emlen Tunnell.

Here’s a video tribute to Emlen Tunnell.