UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State All-Sports Museum is proud to announce the unveiling of a new project – a memorial photomosaic mural honoring one of the school's greatest alums, Franco Harris. The mural will be available for public viewing starting on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 11:30am in the museum lobby and will be on display until December 2024.
The museum's mural project asked the public to submit their photos with Franco, from every intersection in his life. The collected photos were then compiled into a photomosaic mural to be installed in the museum's main lobby, creating a memorial that befits Franco's well-deserved reputation as a true "man of the people." Family, friends, and fans submitted almost 2000 different photos to the project, many captioned with the stories of when and where they met Franco, and celebrating the kind, generous person he was.
Franco Harris was a football letterman and a 1972 graduate of Penn State's College of Health and Human Development. He went on to see success in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning 4 Super Bowls and, along with quarterback Terry Bradshaw authored one of pro football's most famous plays, the "Immaculate Reception." He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1990.
Beyond football, Harris was a successful businessman, political activist, and supporter of social causes – in particular, the Special Olympics. Franco passed away unexpectedly almost a year ago, on December 20, 2022, at the age of 72.
Opened in 2002, the Penn State All-Sports Museum is located at the southwest corner of Beaver Stadium and honors the achievements of all the men and women who have built the proud tradition of Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics over the past 148 years. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and on Sunday 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Admission is by a suggested donation of $5 for adults and $3 for children, seniors, and students.
