Many Pennsylvania residents, especially Steeler fans, may recognize the names John Stallworth, Lynn Swann, Louis Lipps and Greg Lloyd.
However, there are probably far less who know these four, along with many others, teamed up once again for the John Stallworth Scholarship Foundation’s Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament in Huntsville, Alabama.
Stallworth, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 14 seasons, plays a different role these days as President and CEO of Madison Research Corporation in Huntsville.
He also is a major part of the John Stallworth Scholarship Foundation, which provides tuition assistance for students attending Alabama A&M University, Stallworth’s alma mater.
The celebrity golf tournament, which reunites many of Stallworth’s former Steeler’s teammates, is the primary fundraising effort supporting the foundation.
The golf tournament began in 2002, held in honor of Stallworth’s induction into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Oh.
Now in its third year, the tournament saw players on two different courses on June 17. Attendees included numerous sports celebrities and entertainers, along with approximately 400 participants.
Tyrone native, Bill Saylor, had the opportunity to attend the event this summer, helping to assist the celebrity participants.
Saylor, who currently lives in Huntsville, said he loves golf. He said it was just by luck that one day he ran into his neighbor who told him about Stallworth’s golf tournament. He told Saylor he could put his name on a list to help out at the following year’s event.
Well things worked out and Saylor was assigned as a cart driver for former Pittsburgh Steeler and all-pro linebacker, Greg Lloyd.
“It was something,” said Saylor of the opportunity, “the way it worked out was just something, running into my neighbor and everything.”
Saylor had many exciting memories from the event and was able to get a Steeler’s hat signed by many of the former players. He said he was missing one signature though, that of Lynn Swann.
Saylor said he asked Swann to sign his hat but Swann refused, saying he didn’t like to take away attention when it came to charities. Although he refused, Swann left Saylor with something more special than a name scribbled on a hat. Swann posed for pictures with Saylor and even put on the autographed hat as the two joked together.
Overall, Saylor was glad to have been a part of the charitable event.
“Stallworth is really an asset to the community,” he said.
Saylor is originally from Tyrone and is a 1954 graduate of Tyrone Area High School.
Upon graduation, he joined the Marine Corps, where he served for eight years. Afterwards, Saylor was employed as a computer and network engineer by NASA contractors, Boeing, CSC and NTI in support of the Saturn 5 and STS shuttle program.
After retiring in 2000, Saylor stayed in Huntsville with his wife of 50 years, Cookie. The couple has two children, a daughter, Katrina and a son, Michael. They have nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Saylor is currently visiting family in the area including Mary and “Spook” Dixon, John Saylor, Shirley Wheland, Fran Phoenix, Donna Rupert and Bob Saylor.
