We all agree a Packers fan shouldn’t lose a job for supporting the Green Bay Packers. But what about a Steelers fan working in the heart of Packers country?
Firing a certain employee isn’t exactly on the mind of Keith Williams, vice president of First National Bank in Iola. He would, however, like to banish that employee to the drive-up window. Problem is, she already works at the drive-up window on a daily basis.
Jon Ann Kasson grew up a Pittsburgh Steelers fan in Nemacolin, a small coal mining town in southwestern Pennsylvania about an hour south of Pittsburgh.
“My family has always rooted for the Steelers,” she said. “When you are from southwestern Pennsylvania, the Steelers are in your blood.”
After college, she joined the Army, where she met her husband, Bob. As fate would have it, he was a Packers fan from Clintonville.
“No matter where we lived, either in the States or the two times in Germany, we would watch as many of the football games that we could – either Packers or Steelers,” Kasson recalled. “We have lived in Iola for the past 12 years, and we still watch the Packers and the Steelers.”
“Never in my wildest dreams would I think that these two teams would be in the Super Bowl!” she exclaimed. “But I am glad they are. I feel that whoever wins, I will be happy.”
“Somebody will be crying on Monday,” commented Kasson’s co-worker Ann Bydynkowski. “But whoever wins, deserves to win.”
“We just have a good rivalry here,” Kasson said. “It’s all in fun.”
“That’s what she thinks!” replied co-worker Fran Moen.
Kasson admits that the Pittsburgh area still holds a special place in her heart because her family is there. “When I root for the Steelers, I feel like I’m closer to home and family,” she said.
Rumor is that the loser will wear the other team’s jersey to work on Monday.