Name: Art Still
Alma Mater: The University of Kentucky
Sport: Football
Position: Defensive end
Years Played: 1974-1977
Highlights: First team All-American honors in 1977, first team All-SEC honors in 1976 and 1977, first-round NFL Draft pick, four Pro Bowl appearances, Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame inductee
Business: ABS Support Services Inc. (construction supply and services provider), Liberty, Mo. |
As a defensive end for the University of Kentucky from 1974 to 1977, Still was a four-year letterman and received first-team All-American and All-SEC honors. He broke the UK single season record with 22 tackles behind the line during his senior season and ended his career with 327 tackles. In 1978, Still was an NFL first-round draft choice by the Kansas City Chiefs. Highlights of his 12-year career with the Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills included four Pro Bowl appearances and selection as the Chiefs' MVP in 1980 and 1984. He was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1998.
In 1999, Still started ABS Support Services in Liberty, Mo. The company began as a supplier of environmental products and services, including recycling of oil-absorbent materials. ABS transitioned to the construction industry in 2001 as a concrete, concrete accessories and general contracting provider. Additionally, the company is a licensed producer of Structural Soil, a patented soil mix created by Cornell University.
As an active supporter of his community, Still is involved with the Special Olympics, DARE and The Farm, a foster care association. Also, as a Kansas City Ambassador, he and other Kansas City Chiefs alumni promote goodwill in the community and raise money to award scholarships to local students.
Still has found that his experiences as an SEC and professional athlete have prepared him to play very similar roles in process of running his small business.
"The roles of people on a team and in a small business are very similar — the owner is the coach, the management are assistant coaches, the employees are the players," says Still. "The overall business plan followed by a company parallels a team's game plan for victory."