Bennie Cunningham Park in Seneca

One of Seneca’s late and great footballers is being honored posthumously with the naming of the city’s new park.  Bennie Cunningham grew up near the former J-N Kellett school property.  The city, which is committed to making the acreage there a green space, made official last night it shall be called the Bennie Cunningham Park.  Scott Moulder, city administrator, announced last night that Kapp Field, which sits at a corner of the property, will remain Kapp Field. The local sports world first heard about Cunningham’s extraordinary football talents when he played for the Seneca Junior High football team.  Then it was a standout career at Seneca High, followed by tight end play at both Clemson University and the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. Cunningham’s Seneca High jersey was retired in 2013.  After football, he worked several years as a West-Oak High counselor.  He’s a member of the state’s Athletic Hall of Fame and the Seneca High Athletic Hall of Fame.  Once when Cunningham made an off-season visit to the original WSNW Radio at Seneca, he bent down for a swig from the station’s water fountain and one of his Steeler Super Bowl rings glistened in the room light.