Former Philadelphia Eagles standout Vincent F. Papale received the Living Legend Award on Jan. 17 from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association in a ceremony in Cherry Hill, N.J. Papale, who turned 78 on Feb. 9, was joined by his wife Janet and their children Vinny and Gabriella at the ceremony that paid tribute to the athlete who inspired the feature film “Invincible.”

As a young man, Papale excelled at track and field while attending Interboro High School in Prospect Park, Pa., and St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, where he won acclaim in pole vault, long jump and triple jump. He played semi-professional football in the Aston Green Knights of the Seaboard Football League and then the World Football League’s Philadelphia Bell, where he was a standout on special teams.