He's been back to Canton every year for the enshrinement of new Hall of Famers since going into the Hall back in 1986. This year, he won't be able to make it to the ceremonies, so family and friends got together and surprised him by bringing the Hall of Fame to him.
When Houston arrived at Oakhurst Golf Club in Porter, he had no idea what was waiting for him inside the restaurant. It was a sea of Luv Ya Blue.
"It is just unbelievable," Houston said.
Family, friends, former teammates, and even fellow Hall of Famers were all there to celebrate his 40 years in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"I didn't expect it," Houston said of the surprise celebration. "I was expecting my kids and a few people I know to come here and have these kinds of people turn out for our gathering."
Houston grew up in Lufkin and went to Prairie View A&M University before being drafted by the Oilers with Pick 214 in the ninth round in 1967.
"He was not only a ballhawk, but he'd hit you like a linebacker coming into his area," former Oilers teammate Dan Pastorini said.
As great a player as he was, including accomplishments like being named All-Pro for 12 straight years and being a member of the Ring of Honor for both the Titans and Commanders organizations, to name a few, what so many there know him best for has nothing at all to do with football.
"Kenny was the guy that sort of guided me through, helped me through or kept me calm," Oilers teammate Willie Alexander said.
"You were a mentor to me at a time when you probably didn't even know," fellow Hall of Famer Warren Moon said when referring to Houston.
"He was a fantastic player, but a better human being," Pastorini said.
Joe Greene of the Pittsburgh Steelers shared his thoughts on Houston, who's actually his brother-in-law.
"One thing that you noticed about Kenny is he is a gentleman, a fine man," Greene said. "You know he was a football player until you saw him play. But aside from that, he was known as a Christian man, and he carried himself that way."
The program concluded with a message from Houston.
"It's not about me," Houston said. "We pass on our legacy to the next person. I know we had love everywhere, but I didn't know it was like this."