Canton, Ohio ? The Pro Football Hall of Fame induction became a family affair Saturday night.

Michael Irvin lauded the Dallas Cowboys family for inspiring him to make it to Canton. Thurman Thomas punctuated his acceptance speech by asking his wife to marry him again. Charlie Sanders finally got to say “Hi Mom.”

Bruce Matthews campaigned to have his brother, Clay, join him in Canton. Roger Wehrli praised the timing of his election because it allowed his grandchildren to share something special with him.

And Gene Hickerson’s son, Bob, accepted on behalf of his father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Then Gene was brought onto the stage in a wheelchair guided by former teammates Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell – all running backs he helped into the hall.

Irvin kissed his hall bust then commended Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and fellow “Triplets” Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman for motivating him.

Thomas, a second-round pick in 1988, set a record by leading the NFL in total yards from scrimmage four consecutive seasons. The 1991 league MVP, he rushed for 12,074 yards in his career, and only all-time rushing leader Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders ran for more yards in the 1990s.

Thomas didn’t kiss his hall bust, but he rubbed the head when it was unveiled, and mentioned “it’s really, really scary up here.”

He spent most of his time at the podium at Fawcett Stadium thanking the dozens of people who helped him get to Canton. He later turned to wife Patti, seated in the crowd of 12,787, and asked if, after nearly 20 years together, she would marry him again.

Finally, Thomas saluted the thousands of Bills fans in the crowd.

Citing what he called a “simple but memorable life,” Sanders entered the hall by thanking a mother he never knew – she died when he was 2 years old.

Speaking for his father, who was too ill to talk or sit on stage, Bob Hickerson remembered his dad as “still leading the way for” Brown, Kelly and Mitchell. Then those three great runners turned things around by leading Hickerson onstage.

Wehrli was a shutdown cornerback from 1969-82 who also excelled as a punt returner. He recovered a franchise record-tying 19 fumbles during his career and made the NFL’s all-1970s team, plus five All-Pro teams.