From NFL to Judge's Bench - Judge Dwayne Woodruff

Professional Athlete Goes From NFL to Judge's Bench

VOA - Tala Hadavi | Pittsburgh April 21, 2011

Photo: VOA Photo T. Hadavi

Judge Dwayne Woodruff hands down rulings from the bench in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Juvenile Court

What does a judge have in common with a professional athlete?  Actually, more than you might think.  Both jobs involve a lot of dedication, preparation, and just plain hard work.  Dwayne Woodruff is a man who can testify to that because he's done both.

When he hands down rulings from the bench in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Juvenile Court, Judge Woodruff is an imposing figure, who commands respect.

He was just as imposing - and commanded just as much respect - in his earlier career as a defensive specialist for the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers.

Woodruff says he fell in love with football at an early age.  Back then, it provided an opportunity to bond with his father.

"I just remember every Sunday afternoon, it would be me and him sitting on the sofa," Woodruff recalled.  "We'd lock all the doors, close all the shades, and watch the football games all day.  That's what we did every Sunday.  I was just destined to play football."

Woodruff was drafted into the NFL in 1979.  He won a Super Bowl championship ring with the Steelers the following year and went on to spend a total of 11 years in the league.  But along the way, he realized he needed to plan for life after football.

"I wanted to find something that gave me that same feeling as football, that same excitement, where I'd want to get up in the morning and go to work and compete, and law seemed to fit that bill," explained Woodruff.  "It's that competitive process.  The only big difference is you can't hit anybody."

So although he was still playing football full-time, Woodruff began law school at nights, while his wife Joy took on the rest.

"She was mom, dad, taxi driver, cook and everything for four years that I was in school," Woodruff said.  "I would get up in the morning, get ready go to practice, go to work for football, and after that grab a sandwich and go to Duquesne [University] where I went at night."

"It was definitely a lot of work," recalled Joy Woodruff.  "It was important to our family that he pursued his education in order to take care of our family.  And so I felt I had to do my part."

But Dwayne Woodruff did not stop there.  After 16 years of practicing law, with the children grown and out of the house, he felt he needed to pursue his passion further.

"Being a judge felt right in regard to what I wanted to do in life," explained Woodruff.  "In particular being a juvenile court judge [was rewarding] because I have a passion dealing with young people and kids, helping them achieve their dreams.  It was just sort of a perfect position for me.  Being a judge, dealing with kids and being in a servant position."

Judge Woodruff's passion goes far beyond the courtroom.  He and his wife are also involved with multiple charities and continue dedicating their lives to children.

"I think that's the only way to get America back on the right track, to start out with youngest of kids first," added Woodruff.

While the transition from the playing field to the judge's bench may not seem to be an obvious course, Woodruff says playing football and being a judge have a lot in common.  He says both take a lot of work, preparation and determination, along with a lot of belief and faith in what you are doing.

Professional Athlete Goes From NFL to Judge's Bench

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NFL Football - Are NFL footballs made in China?

Football Makers Show Off Their Stuff

Tala Hadavi | Dallas, Texas February 28, 2011 - VOA

It may never win a 'Most Valuable Player' award but Wilson’s football is the star of every professional and collegiate game played in the United States.

In these days of automation, it's rare to see a company manufacturing its products completely by hand. Still, there are places where this happens. The National Football League wrapped up the 2010 season with the biggest football game of the year: Super Bowl XLV - played in a huge stadium in Arlington, Texas.

But without the small, Midwestern town of Ada, Ohio -- population 5,400 - the game would not have been the same.  Ada is where the Wilson Sporting Goods company makes footballs.  Wilson has been the official football maker of the National Football League since 1941, and many of the 130 employees at its factory in Ada have spent most of their lives there - many working for 25 to 45 years.

Every year, during Super Bowl week, Wilson showcases a small piece of its factory for the fans.

At this year’s display, fans could see five of the 13 steps it takes to make a football. One of the workers, Tina explains that after applying 120 pounds of air pressure the seams will be smooth and the laces flattened.

The Wilson employees make from 3,000 to 4,000 balls a day.  One employee, Tina can lace up a ball in two minutes. After that, it’s time for the final step.

The people at Wilson love their jobs.  And the workers in Ada, Ohio, would not have it any other way.

It may never win a “Most Valuable Player” award or get to sign autographs, but Wilson’s football is the star of every professional and collegiate game played in the United States.

Football Makers Show Off Their Stuff

Article and video from VOA