PITTSBURGH — Applause and cheers filled the David L. Lawrence Convention Center’s Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom Tuesday night for each honoree at the Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction.

But there was no mistaking the loudest roar of all was for East Brady native Jim Kelly.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 79th annual charity event.

More than 500 people attended to recognize the award recipients, who also were: Neal Huntington, general manager of the Pirates, recipient of the Dr. Freddie Fu Sports Leadership Award; Antonio Brown of the Steelers, receiver of the Sportsman of the Year award; and Olympic athlete and Penn State graduate Christa Harmotto Dietzen, named Sportswoman of the Year.

Huntington took time out of his speech to deliver a message to Kelly, which became a trend for most of the speakers.

“You’re an inspiration to us all,” Huntington told the former Buffalo Bills quarterback.

KDKA’s Larry Richert echoed that sentiment by telling Kelly he “represents everything good about Western Pa.”

Before speaking, Kelly got to see highlights from his life and career played on four big screens. They depicted the “roller coaster ride” he calls his life.

From going to and losing four consecutive Super Bowls to the death of his son, Hunter, to battling and beating cancer twice, Kelly has fought through it all.

The NFL great wiped away tears multiple times during the clips, especially when highlights played from his hall of fame induction speech with Hunter in the crowd.

Another quarterback who knows a bit about being tough had the honor of introducing Kelly.

Steelers signal caller Ben Roethlisberger said he had a poster of Kelly on his wall growing up because “he’s tough. I mean, is there anyone tougher than Jim Kelly?

“I always thought, if you look up toughness in the dictionary, there are two things for certain you would see: the city of Pittsburgh and Jim Kelly, no doubt about it.”

To show just how much he meant it, Roethlisberger removed his tie and unbuttoned his shirt to display a red, white and blue “Kelly Tough” T-shirt as the crowd went wild.

Kelly received a standing ovation as he stepped behind the podium, and he reminisced about those formative years in East Brady, where he graduated from high school in 1978. He said having five brothers helped create that toughness, but it also meant he always had support with whatever he was experiencing.

“Most importantly, I thank my family,” Kelly said.

He explained when he was at his lowest points fighting cancer, it was his wife, Jill, and his two daughters, Erin and Camryn, who would get him through.

Kelly joined an impressive list of past Lifetime Achievement honorees, including Pro Football Hall of Famers Mike Ditka, Franco Harris, Joe Greene and Dan Marino and golf legend Arnold Palmer.

The annual dinner and auction, which included about 100 pieces of sports memorabilia, benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania.

Despite hosting celebrities from a plethora of sports — from wrestler Bruno Sammartino to Penguins head coach Mike Johnston — the night was for the honorees, in particular Kelly.

And although he turned out to be one of the all-time greats, it was just another unexpected turn on his roller coaster journey.

“Growing up in East Brady, you don’t dream about the hall of fame,” he said. “It was hard to dream that big.”