Flashback | Shorecrest athlete was super success as Steeler

Athlete: Ray Pinney, Shorecrest High School, Class of 1972

Sport: Football

High-school rewind: All-Metro League offensive lineman and football team captain also participated in track and field, and played basketball three seasons.

After high school: Played football for University of Washington, becoming All-Pac-8 selection. Co-captained Huskies for two seasons. Drafted by Pittsburgh, he was the Steelers' starting right tackle in Super Bowl XIII win over Dallas in 1979. They repeated as NFL champs the following season, but Pinney was injured and did not play in the Super Bowl. Played in USFL 1983-85, and was two-time all-league offensive tackle.

After athletics: Pinney returned to college and earned an MBA from Seattle University. Within months, he was hired by his current employer, Wells Fargo Insurance.

Personal: Pinney, 52, lives in Seattle with his wife of 29 years, Pam. They have two sons, Ray, 24, and Darren, 20.

Fast forward: After little team success in high school and college, Pinney joined an NFL team with 10 future Hall of Famers, including Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert and coach Chuck Noll.

"Winning was great, but I enjoyed the whole process of being on a team like that," said Pinney. "Terry Bradshaw was the quarterback, and he was just spectacular. The defense was strong, and we had a great coaching staff."

Last month, Pinney directed a golf tournament through NFL Alumni to raise money for children's charities. In August, he celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Shoreline Univac youth athletic club. Pinney and former NFL players Marc Wilson and Mark McGrath played little-league football for Univac.

Pinney's NFL allegiance? This ex-Steeler has always supported his hometown team.

"It was great to root for the Seahawks last year," he said.

Joshua Mayers