Forty years ago, Jack McVay sacrificed his ambitions to play professional football so that he could serve the public. However, both paths crossed last night when McVay finally saw his name on the Steelers’ scoreboard.

McVay, a judge on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, is the Democratic nominee for a seat on the Superior Court.

Steelers President Art Rooney, Jr. hosted a fundraiser for McVay at Heinz Field. From the stadium club, the guests could see the scoreboard from across the field light up with the “Judge Jack McVay, Superior” logo.

“My advisors tell me last night’s event raised more than $50,000 for the campaign,” McVay said. “But what will standout for me the rest of my days was seeing my name in lights on the Steelers scoreboard. I am deeply grateful to Art and everyone who joined us for my Steelers debut.”

As law school classmates, McVay and Rooney organized a flag football team, Rooney’s Raiders, at Duquesne University.

McVay played college football as a starting center for the Duquesne Dukes forty years ago.

McVay has not disassociated himself from football entirely. On Sunday afternoons, he works in the Steelers’ press box for networks as a keeper of statistics and as a spotter.