Brady Keys, Steelers Cornerback, 1961-1967

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Brady Keys:

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself these days and about the Keys Group?

The Keys Group is the parent company of Airport Concessions – it’s what I have left of the many restaurants that used to be part of the Keys Group.

It started in 1968 as a fried chicken franchise. It grew to 135 restaurants – which then grew into Kentucky Fried Chicken and Burger and King franchises.

It was a concept I developed – my own fried chicken batter – when I played for the Steelers. I called Art Rooney in the offseason from Los Angeles and told him what I did – about the idea and asked if he’d help me with money to start the business. All I heard was silence on the line. I had to ask if anyone was still on the line. Mr Rooney answered back “I am. I’m just trying to figure out how fast to get you the money!”

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Dan Vitchoff, Hypnotist That Works with Steelers, Olympians

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First, how did you get started doing hypnosis?

I had an undiagnosed learning disorder growing up – ADD. I loved playing sports but hated school. My father was heavily invested in me going to college and graduating. It was an issue between us. When he suffered his second heart attack I went back and worked in a memory program at school with a Bulgarian professor and jumped in with both feet ever since.

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L.C. Greenwood, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1969-1981

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First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself these days?

I have a number of things – business ventures I’m doing. Coal, electric marketing, electrical supply company…these are just some of the things.

How did you get involved in these business ventures?

I’ve been working at this since 1973. I decided I needed something outside of football while I was still playing. I knew my career wouldn’t last forever. The people I ran into while I played I talked to to help me take advantage of these opportunities for when my NFL career ended.

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Gerry Mullins, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1971-1979

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First, can you let readers know what you are up to these days – about your Industrial Metals & Minerals business and how you got started?

MM sells raw materials that are used in the production of glass. I started with them in January 1981 after retiring from the Steelers. Bob Prince, the Pirate Announcer, was my old boss. Bob Keaney was my neighbor and he introduced us shortly after my retirement. We hit if off and he offered me a job. I purchased the business upon Bob`s retirement in 1995..

Any lessons from playing with the Steelers that you were able to take and apply to this new career? If so, how?

I guess the work ethic that’s required to play professional sports. You must dedicate yourself to the task at hand.

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Terry Hanratty, Steelers Quarterback, 1969-1976

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First, can you tell readers what you are up to these days – how you are enjoying your retirement?

I’m retired – worked on Wall Street for thirty years. Now I raise money for funding a hedge fund. It’s related to what I did on Wall Street. Didn’t want to keep trading and get up at five am every day. Get’s tiring….

I can’t ever fully retire. You’ve got to stay busy – three guys in my old firm and I work together now with the hedge fund business – it’s a natural progression.

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Chuck Beatty, Steelers Safety, 1969-1972

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First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself these days?

Living out my motto, “Give something back,” in my hometown of Waxahachie, Texas, serving on the City Council, working as a Realtor with Century 21 Judge Fite.  I was elected to the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame, to the University of North Texas Hall of Fame, and to the Prairie View UIL Coaches Hall of Fame.

I am a widower with two grown children, daughter Lauren, who is married to Odarron Lacey; they have an 18-month old daughter, Emory,  (Call me Pops!)

From Boy Scout Senior Patrol Leader, and Team Representative, Missouri Valley Conference, not to mention running for Player Representative for the Steelers, I think politics was a natural. First elected in 1995, I am the longest-serving member of the Waxahachie City Council, including serving as Mayor from 1997 through 2002. I also serve on a variety of state and local boards and commissions as requested.

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Jack Bogut, Pittsburgh Radio

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Jack Bogut:

Can you give readers a quick idea on how you decided to enter into broadcasting and what made you decide to pursue this career – and how you landed in Pittsburgh in 1968?

A friend got a job at a brand new radio station in Dillon,Montana and when I heard his voice coming out of the radio in my Mom’s car, I wanted some of that fame for my self. (The whole story is contained in track #2 of my storytelling CD, “Mental Movies” entitled – “Failing Your Way to Success.”)

While working at KCAP in Salt Lake City, I was asked to do a pro bono recorded presentation sampling all the radio stations in the market for The National Association of Broadcasters convention being held in our city. It was heard by the National Program Manager for Westinghouse Broadcasting who stayed in town to listen to my show and ultimately offered me a job at KDKA.

 What have been the favorite – and least favorite – parts of the job?

Favorite: the chance to be accepted by a large audience, useful to the community, have fun, and get paid for it.

Least favorite – Negotiating contract renewals.

You’ve been in the broadcasting business for over 50 years now – how has the business changed over the years – and has it been for the better?

The number of radio stations competing for listeners is much greater today, to the extent that we all “narrowcast” to a specific age and gender niche instead of “broadcast” to a general audience of men, women and children of all ages. We were also encouraged to be personalities on the air and develop a personal relationship with the audience.

It is the nature of things to change so radio is no better or worse than it was, just different.

You’re so well-known for your on-air storytelling. How did that begin for you – and how hard is it to come up with so many new story ideas?

Listening to music always creates mental images for me. Playing that music on the air and extemporaneously verbalizing what I see or feel over it became a form of word jazz I called “Home Movies (or videos) on Radio.” Sometimes I would have an ending in mind and make up a story to fit, or have a beginning in mind and have to find a way to end it before the music ran out.

It was a little scary but great fun to do.

Is oral storytelling becoming a “lost art”?

I think people are becoming reluctant to tell stories because of the need to be politically correct. Society has become very territorial about individual space and rights and seems to look for ways to be offended. A wise person once said that adversity brings us together; prosperity pushes us apart. What happened on 9/11 is a good case in point.

What sports and teams have you enjoyed most – and why?

I have long been a fan of The Steelers, The Pirates, and The Penguins. All of these teams are metaphors for the rest of us. When they work totally together as with no thought about individual achievements, they are unbeatable. When they don’t, individual players still shine but other teams can win.

Who have been some of the most enjoyable athletes and coaches you’ve met – and what made them so?

Steve Blass, Dave Guisti, Kent Tekulve, Chuck Tanner, Dan Rooney, Chuck Noll, Andy Russell, Jack Ham, Mike Wagner, Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Mel Blount; all were great leaders and team players first, and individual stars, second. They were also outstanding members of the community with their support of local charities and organizations.

What have you experienced that you think would surprise fans most about Pittsburgh and/or any of it sports teams?

When it comes to giving, Pittsburgh is one of the most generous communities per capita in America.

Any last thoughts for fans?

All of the athletes and owners I have met and known say essentially the same thing. “Fan support can be the difference between a championship and “almost…”

Go Steelers! Come back Pirates! Thank you, Mario! And return safely, Sid!

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William Dagen, President of the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame

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First, how and when do the Beaver County HOF get started?

The Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame had its first banquet in 1976 and has been running yearly ever since.  The organization originally consisted of 13 sports-minded figures in the county.  One of those happened to be Tito Francona, by the way.  The first President and generally known as the founder of the BCSHOF was Alex Scassa, Sr.  It was always Alex’s goal of writing a history of sports in Beaver County.  An annual banquet basically took the place of detailing Beaver County’s rich heritage in sports.

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Frank Lewis, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1971-1978

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First can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself these days?

I am currently employed through the Workforce Investment Act program in Houma, La,

You were a first round pick in 1971 – how much pressure did you feel as a first round pick and how did you deal with it?

If I would have received a lot of media attention and action that first year maybe I would have felt pressure as a first round pick. The way you deal with pressure, competition is to be ready when your number is called.

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Andre Hastings, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1993-2000

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First, can you let readers know about your training work with Makeplays – what you are doing, how you got started and where you want to go from here?

I started out there as a player – me, McNabb, Charles Johnson and other guys trained there together, When I retired I’d still go work out there and talked to those guys a lot. I’d give other guys pointers and they saw I knew what I was doing. That I knew what it took to make it – I knew the real life picture of the NFL.

So I started working there. I love being able to give back – to help guys prepare and get the opportunity to play in the NFL like I had – to be succesfull and realize their dreams.

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