A proud alumnus of Bon View, Mariposa, and Lincoln Elementary Schools and Imperial Jr. High School. After attending Chaffey High School and excelling in three sports – football, basketball and baseball; Mr. Muñoz went on to play football and baseball at the University of Southern California.
Mr. Muñoz was the third overall pick in the 1980 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. After an extremely successful football career, Mr. Munoz retired in 1993. Upon retirement, his Pro Bowl selections were tied for the most ever by an offensive lineman in league history. In 1991, Mr. Muñoz was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, honoring his volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field. In 1994, Mr. Muñoz was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. In 1999, he was ranked #17 on Sporting News’ list of the 100 greatest football players and was the highest-ranking offensive lineman. In 2010, he was ranked #12 on the NFL Network’s the Top 100 NFL’s Greatest Players and again was named the highest-ranking offensive lineman. Mr. Muñoz played in two Super Bowls and elected to the Pro Bowl 11 times. He is widely regarded as the greatest offensive lineman in the history of the National Football League. In 1998, Mr. Muñoz was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In honor of this accomplishment, the City of Ontario renamed Colony Park as the “Anthony Muñoz Hall of Fame Park.”
Mr. Muñoz established the Anthony Muñoz Foundation in 2002 to work with communities to positively impact youth. Over the years, his foundation has reached over 30,000 youth and teaches young people that they can overcome their challenges while remaining focused on higher education.Mr. Muñoz “strongly feels that youth need to be encouraged and inspired, as well as recognized and rewarded for their accomplishments.” Beginning in 2007, Mr. Muñoz began hosting annual character football camps at his alma mater, Chaffey High School. The camps are free to all participants and emphasize football and life skills including honor, integrity, loyalty, responsibility, self-control and truthfulness. In 2012, Allstate dedicated a Hometown Hall of Famer’s plaque to Mr. Muñoz at Chaffey High School. In 2015, Mr. Muñoz received the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Medallion of Excellence for his contributions to the Hispanic community.
In his acceptance speech into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Mr. Muñoz thanked many people including the strength of his mother, Jim Semon from Ontario Parks and Recreation who provided a baseball glove to him, and his assistant coach at Chaffey High School, Mr. Michael Alonzo who encouraged him during high school. For his excellence in football, his dedication to this community and his work off the football field, Mr. Muñoz makes the OMSD community proud. For these reasons, the Ontario-Montclair School District proudly recognizes Mr. Anthony Muñoz as a 2017 Model of Excellence. His commitment to excellence is evident through his relentless service, dedication, and belief in OMSD students, educators, parents, and community.