Sports
NFL Legend Ken Riley Hosting Celebrity Golf Tourney
Ken 'The Rattler' Riley will host an upcoming scholarship fundraiser that includes a celebrity golf tourney and auction.
BARTOW, FL — He based his NFL career on taking things away. Now, he’s giving back.
Only four other players in NFL history have more interceptions than Ken “The Rattler” Riley, whose 15-year NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals actually started in Bartow at Union Academy. From 1969 to 1983, Riley played for the Bengals while recording 65 interceptions – including eight interceptions his final season at 36-years-old – as well as 18 fumble recoveries and five touchdowns.
Today, the Bartow resident is focused on helping financially challenged students who are pursuing an advanced education – whether college or vocational school – reach their goals.
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“All of us aren’t gifted hitting the books,” said Riley, who was a Rhodes Scholar candidate. “Some are gifted with their hands, or a skill. And those are worthy pursuits, too.”
To help worthy students, the Ken Riley Foundation is teaming up with the Eastside Positive Action Committee and the Union Academy Alumni Association, Inc., for a fundraising weekend. Starting on Friday, May 5 with a celebrity auction, the event will wrap up the next day after the group hits the fairways at Cleveland Heights for a best ball golf scramble.
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Joining Riley will be the only two time Heisman Trophy winner, fellow former Bengal Archie Griffin. Also attending will be former Buffalo Bill and Los Angeles Ram quarterback James Harris, Detroit Tigers legend Willie Horton, and Ray “Sugar Bear” Hamilton, whose eight year NFL career was spent with the New England Patriots. Other former NFL players expected to participate are Parnell Dickinson, Glen Edwards, Isaac Curtis, Larry Little, Paul Krause, James Jones and Barry Smith, though others may join as well.
“We expect the tournament to grow and grow,” said Riley. “And the cause will draw out more celebrities as well.”
After he retired from the NFL, Riley went to the Green Bay Packers as a coach for two years before becoming the head coach at Florida A&M. There, from 1986 to 1993, his Rattlers compiled a 48-39-2 record, and served as Florida A&M’s athletic director from 1994 to 2003. He was inducted into the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
For more information about the tournament, visit kr13.org.