Lynn Swann 

Lynn Swann life was born in Alcoa, Tennessee to Willie and Mildred Swann.   Lynn moved to California at the age of 2 with his parents and two brothers spending summers in Tennessee and getting his education in California.

It was in California where Lynn was faced with his first challenge. Mildred Swann enrolled her 8 year old son into dance class, and it was here that Lynn would develop incredible balance and grace that would serve him well in the future.

While in High School, Lynn would be named an All-American High School Football player. His athletic ability would afford him an opportunity that would forever change his life, the opportunity to go to college. He picked the University of Southern California.

Lynn used the opportunity to play football at the University of Southern California to earn his degree in public relations from the university's school of journalism. While he was there, he excelled on the field as well. Lynn Swann played on two Rose Bowl teams and a National Championship team in 1972.  Lynn was team captain, most valuable player, and an All-American in 1973.

His success on the field led to professional football. In 1974, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lynn would go on to be a cornerstone of the Steelers dynasty, winning four Super Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro-Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

During and following his success with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Lynn pursued and launched a successful career as a sports broadcaster.  He spent 29 years with ABC Sports and a sports analyst and broadcaster before retiring in 2006.  Lynn’s work with ABC covered a variety of events.  He was a host, reporter, and analyst including the 1984 Summer Olympics, the Winter Games in 1988, International Diving Championships. USFL, NCAA, College and Monday Night Football, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, the Irish Derby and Wide World of Sports.   Lynn has traveled the world for ABC Sports.

Lynn has toured the country as a motivational speaker, touting the need for responsibility, strong leadership, and making the most of opportunities that present themselves. He also turned his success on the field into opportunities in the corporate world. Lynn currently sits on the board of directors of H.J. Heinz Company and Hershey Entertainment and Resorts.  He was formerly on the board of directors of and Wyndham International, Inc.  

But out of all of his professional successes, moving to Pittsburgh in 1974 would prove to be the opportunity of a lifetime. Lynn and his family identified with the values that defined Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania; hard work, determination, and the will to succeed. That's why Lynn set out almost immediately to make his community better.

Lynn used his celebrity status to raise money to provide scholarships for the Pittsburgh Ballet. He has received numerous honors for his service toward the growth and improvement of our nation's youth.

Since 1980, Lynn Swann has been the National Spokesman for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He now serves on their National Board of Directors and was President of the national board from 1993 to 1995. He has traveled across the country, testified before Congress and visited the White House on behalf of the nation's premiere one-to-one mentoring organization.

It is this community leadership along with other qualities that led President George W. Bush to ask Lynn to serve as the Chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. In this role, once held by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lynn was responsible for helping to create and implement the President's fitness agenda for America from 2002 until 2005.

From 2005-2006 Lynn Swann ran for Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Lynn did not win, but he ran a very strong and popular campaign.

He and his wife, Dr. Charena Swann, and their two sons reside in Pittsburgh