Amongst all the hoopla and spectacle, a few area residents had a particular reason to cheer for one of the two teams competing in Super Bowl LX. One Seattle Seahawk football player has ties to Lexington. That is, in a roundabout way.

Defensive Safety Julian Love (#20), Pro Bowler and former Notre Dame Fighting Irish football player, has ties to Lexington. His father, Detraiter “D.T.” Love attended Wentworth Military Academy in the 80s and played junior college basketball while there.

The elder Love played for current Mayor and former WMA Coach Tom Hughes. Hughes shared found memories of Love’s time at WMA. Hughes was one of those residents cheering from the sidelines for the younger Love, just as he did several years ago for the elder Love.

“D.T. was not only a great athlete, but also a quality individual. He was a leader on and off the court,” said Hughes. “He was a recruit who opened doors for other talented athletes from the Memphis, TN area to come to WMA and play sports.”

While at WMA, Love earned All Region Honors for high scoring record for a two-year career and served as Company Commander of Foxtrot Company. Love went on (career wise) to manage a Hilton Hotel in downtown Chicago, IL.

He is a member of the WMA Athletic Hall of Fame as both an individual and with his basketball team.

Love has ties to another local mayor. Randy Florence, former Lexington resident

and current Mayor of Wellington, MO, also played junior college basketball with Love at WMA.

In addition to Julian, D.T. has two other children who played Division One sports.