Former Super Bowler honors Polytechnic

A unique halftime ceremony Thursday toasted Fort Worth Polytechnic for its place in the NFL’s first 50 years of Super Bowl history.

Retired NFL player Greg Hawthorne presented his former school with a gold football at halftime of the Parrots’ game against Eastern Hills at Scarborough-Handley Field. The ceremony was part of the league’s campaign to honor the high schools that produced the players who performed in American football’s premier game.

Hawthorne, 59, was one of two Polytechnic graduates to play in Super Bowl games. The 1975 graduate played in Super Bowl XIV as a rookie on the Steelers’ fourth title of the 1970s in ’79 season and Super Bowl XX as a member of the New England Patriots.

Hawthorne’s teammate at Poly, Don Bass (Class of ’74), went to college at Houston and then was a tight end on the Cincinnati Bengals’ team that lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI in 1982.

“I never had any idea I’d wind up in the NFL,” said Hawthorne, who played at Baylor and lives in Waco. “It’s not a game for everybody, but if you love it and you’ve got the dedication and discipline and desire, you can get there.

“It takes a little luck, too.”

And a whole lot of ability God gave to the very few.

The Parrots of 1973 that featured Bass, who passed away in 1989 at age 33 in Waxahachie, and Hawthorne won its district and played Fort Worth Arlington Heights in a bi-district game that doubled as the “city championship.”

Heights, with future NFL veterans Mike Renfro and Tony Franklin, ended the Parrots’ season with a 9-0 victory.

Frankin, too, went on to play in Super Bowls as a place-kicker for the Philadelphia Eagles and as a teammate of Hawthorne’s in Super Bowl XX in January 1986.

Another Fort Worth product, Raymond Clayborn of Trimble Tech, was also on that ’85 Patriots team.

In all, 11 Fort Worth prep stars have played in Super Bowls. All but one, Patrick Jeffers of Country Day, played in the Fort Worth school district.

Eastern Hills had three former players, including Doug Hart, who attended Handley, which became Eastern Hills. Uwe Von Schamann and Byron Chamberlain each played in two league championships for the Dolphins and Broncos.

Von Schamann and Chamberlain will be on hand for the Highlanders’ ceremony on Nov. 6 at Scarborough-Handley Field.

“Three guys from Fort Worth were on that team,” said Hawthorne, who was coached by Clyde Tillman at Poly. “Usually there aren’t any guys from your home state much less your hometown.

“It was comforting to know I had a couple of homeboys on the team.”

In all, nearly 3,000 players and head coaches, and more than 2,000 high schools are being recognized nationwide.

The NFL Foundation, which has invested $1 million toward the campaign, will provide the schools with a character education curriculum and the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $5,000 to help support and grow their football programs.

“The reason this is a big deal for our kids is these are folks who grew up in the same neighborhood and made it,” Fort Worth school trustee Tobi Jackson said. “It shows our kids that our schools in east Fort Worth have produced some wonderful champions and they’re champions, too.

“It also engages the community and brings them back into the schools.”

Hawthorne, who played mostly in third-down situations as a running back, wide receiver and tight end, grew up a Cowboys fan, but changing allegiances was fairly simple the first time he lined up with Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris and John Stallworth.

He remembers well NFL Draft day in 1979. A future Steelers teammate who also lived in the area knocked on his door to welcome him to Pittsburgh.

“My mom didn’t know anything about football,” Hawthorne said. “She said ‘somebody’s at the door for you.’ It was Joe Greene.

“You never know what’s going to happen. I loved the game and it paid off.”

This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 10:06 PM with the headline "Former Super Bowler honors Polytechnic."