GREEN BAY, Wis.- Former Western Illinois offensive lineman Frank Winters was elected into the Green Bay Packers' Hall of Fame, Saturday, July 19, at the Lambeau Field Atrium.

"It is an honor," said Winters. "The Packers are an organization where a lot of players and great people have been in and a part of and to be selected and honored to be with these guys is a great honor for me and my family."

Winters, who was introduced by close friend and former Packers quarterback Brett Favre, played 11 of his 16 NFL seasons with the Packers, including being the starting center for eight straight seasons (1993-2000). He played in the 1999 Pro Bowl and earned USA Today All-Pro honors in the same year. Winters won a Super Bowl with the Packers in 1996.

"In describing Frank, when you think of great linemen, there are some great names within this organization," Favre said. "You think of (Fuzzy) Thurston and (Jim) Ringo and (Jerry) Kramer and (Forrest) Gregg. I think you need to think of Winters as well."

At Western Illinois, Winters played in 42 consecutive games for the Leathernecks from 1984-86 and earned All-American honors from Kodak, The Sporting News, and The Associated Press his senior season. Winters was also named to the Gateway Football Conference's All-Decade Team in 1994.