RAY SWANSON | Keystoner Kelly, Stallworth deserve HOF honors

Two good old guys from the Keystone State will have their day in the sun on Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, who grew up near Brady's Bend, and John Stallworth, former receiving great with the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on that date. It is an honor highly deserved by both men.
Stallworth, a wide receiver for the Steelers, played his college ball at Alabama A & amp;M. He was a member of four Steeler Super Bowl teams in the 1970s, all victorious, while Kelly also appeared in four Super Bowls with the Bills, all of which were defeats.
Kelly played with abandon. He was a competitor, and played for former Bills coach Marv Levy, one of the greatest coaches ever in the NFL.
Son's illness: It has not been too many years ago, however, that Kelly's son, Hunter, was diagnosed with the rare and deadly illness known as Krabbe's disease.
Hunter is now 5, and one of his father's dreams is to have his son with him on the day he is inducted. It's been a heart warming story for the Bills' great and his son. The entire sports world is pulling for both Hunter and his father.
Jim has devoted his life to heightening the awareness of the dreaded disease and securing funds to fight it. He does a lot of speaking now and has developed Hunter's Hope, a foundation to help those stricken with the disease.
We've witnessed Kelly in action down through the years and I must say, I don't believe I've ever seen a quarterback with as much heart as Jim Kelly. He was a competitor.
Joining Kelly and Stallworth as 2002 inductees in August are Dave Casper, Dan Hampton and the late Rams and Redskins pilot, George Allen.
I was working the Bills vs. Browns playoff game a number of years ago, Jan. 6, 1980, and Buffalo was driving for the go-ahead TD with only seconds remaining. It took an interception by Browns linebacker Clay Mathews to thwart the Bills.
Levy couldn't believe that the Bills had tossed that one away, neither could Kelly, who threw the interception. Final score: Browns 34, Bills 30.
Banquet date set: For those planning to attend the 2003 Mercer County Hall of Fame banquet, we're giving you plenty of time to make plans.
The 2003 induction affair is set for Jan. 18 at the Radisson in West Middlesex. The "ice breaker" will once again be staged on the preceding evening, also at the Radisson. Friday's ceremonies are reserved for the new inductees, the featured speakers and members of the hall's board of directors.
Fast-pitch clinic: Want to get a jump on the 2002 softball season?
The Westminster College softball team, under the direction of head coach Jan Reddinger, will conduct a one-day fast-pitch softball clinic for girls in fifth through 12th grade on March 2 at the Westminster College Fieldhouse.
The clinic will feature both offensive and defensive skills and cover such areas as hitting, bunting, base-running, fielding, throwing and position play.
Time will be set aside for individual work with players interested in pitching. (The session is to show the basic beginning fundamentals of pitching.) The coaching staff of the players is also invited to sit in on the clinic and even work with their players.
Cost of the camp is $30 per person or $25 per person for groups of 10 or more players. Lunch will be provided and is included in the cost of the camp. For more information or to pre-register by telephone, call (724) 946-7319.