Former Pittsburgh Steeler John Stallworth delivered an inspiring address on May 3 during the Alabama A&M spring commencement. Stallworth, an alumnus of the Alabama HBCU and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, wasn’t there for just words. Like he did in the NFL for many years, he brought the action.
Following his commencement address, Stallworth presented a generous donation of over $1.2 million to his alma mater in support of student scholarships.
“Playing football was never the end goal,” he says. “My goal was to own my own business. Football was the vehicle I chose to get there. I left A&M with a bachelor’s degree in business and returned in the off season to receive my MBA all in preparation for realizing my dream of having my own business.”
Stallworth is a 1974 AAMU grad who had a phenomenal Pro Football career. The wide receiver had over 8,700 receiving yards and 63 touchdown receptions. In his career Stallworth won four NFL Super Bowl rings. He was First-team All-Pro in 1979 and was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1984. He’s a three time Pro Bowler and a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor.
Despite all of the highlights, Stallworth told the HBCU graduates the low times are often just as important.
“Class of 2024, all the events of your life determine the person you will grow to be, the highlights and the lowlights, we’re shaped by them both,” he said. “If we’re truly honest with ourselves, whether looking back over the last four years or the last 50, I think we can agree that those lowlight events – those times we prayed would never happen again, those days that we were thankful we just made it through – coupled with the highlights, give us a deeper understanding of ourselves.”
John Stallworth was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
Related
Source link : hbcugameday.com
