'Today, he is perfect:' Cliff Branch is remembered by sister Elaine Anderson at Enshrinement

CANTON — Cliff Branch didn't live long enough to see his Enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His sister, though, brought his words to Saturday's Enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Elaine Anderson spoke on her brother's behalf and opened by sharing a letter written by Branch, who died in 2019 at age 71.

"When it's not in God's time, you cannot force it," Anderson stated in Branch's letter. "When it is in God's time, you cannot stop it. Clifford was delayed, but not denied. "

While it was long overdue for the family, Anderson believed Branch simply would be grateful for the honor of being a Hall of Famer. The way Anderson sees it, his brother is sitting front and center with the late Al Davis, who owned the Raiders, and the late John Madden, his former coach.

"Today it's bittersweet because we miss our beloved Clifford, and sweet because it is now history," Anderson said.

Branch played all 14 seasons with the Raiders, in which Anderson stated, Branch bled silver and black. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion, four-time Pro Bowler, three-time first-team All-Pro, and he shares the record for the longest receiving touchdown in NFL history (a 99-yarder from Jim Plunkett in 1983).

"It was Al Davis who said ' The fire that burns brightest is the will to win.' Clifford was born to win,'" Anderson said. "Thanks to Al Davis and John Madden, who treated Clifford like family.

Anderson also acknowledged Mark Davis, Al's son who helped present Branch during the Enshrinement; Carol, Mark's mother; and another of Branch's coaches, Hall of Famer Tom Flores. They all impacted Branch's career as a Raider. Then she gave thanks to the Raiders fans in her closing.

"Oh how he loved y'all," Anderson said. "It was the fans who posted (a sign) every game, 'Speed kills, No 21 Cliff Branch.' Clifford loved that. Thank you to everyone who poured into Clifford to be the best that he could be."

After talking about Branch's children, Anderson ended by giving her gratitude to the Hall voters for selecting her brother for the Hall of Fame.

"Wow, what a legacy he leaves," she said. "Today, he is perfect."

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Cliff Branch Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement speech