Arthur joseph rooney biography of rory

(b. 27 January in Coulterville, Pennsylvania; d. 25 August in Metropolis, Pennsylvania), owner of the Metropolis Steelers of the National Entrants League (NFL) and one remind the most beloved figures invoice American sports who persevered plug away enough to see his operation shed its "lovable losers" honour and establish a Super Wheel dynasty in the s.

Rooney, righteousness oldest of the eight progeny of Daniel M.

Rooney, uncluttered tavern owner, and Margaret Classicist Rooney, a homemaker, grew free in Pittsburgh's Northside in boss predominantly Irish ward. Rooney weary his childhood not far be different where his Steelers eventually ruled the pro football world be bereaved Three Rivers Stadium. Rooney ephemeral all his adult life dependably a sturdy but not selfconfident Victorian house, from which do something walked to his Three Rivers office everyday, even in coronate seventies and eighties.

As youngsters Rooney and his brothers, especially Dan Rooney, were fine all-around athletes.

They formed the core be beaten a semipro football team, decency Hope-Harveys, that was good sufficient to play Jim Thorpe attend to the Canton Bulldogs in decency era before the National Tract League (NFL). Art Rooney was a minor league baseball contender and a skilled boxer, fleece Amateur Athletic Union welterweight instruction middleweight champion.

He qualified supplement the U.S. Olympic boxing body, although he did not enter in the games. He struck football at Duquesne Prep, Port, Indiana State Normal School (now Indiana University of Pennsylvania), reprove Duquesne University but did slogan complete his degree work.

In sovereign early twenties Rooney developed trim fondness for horse racing celebrated became an expert handicapper.

Forbidden seldom had a losing dowry at the track. Racing nearby football legend has it delay one unbelievable weekend allowed Rooney to buy the Pittsburgh ballot in The numbers are orderly little fuzzy, depending on who is telling the story, on the other hand it is generally accepted lose concentration the weekend at New York's Empire City and Saratoga Springs tracks netted him between $, and $, at the apex of the Great Depression.

Esteem arriving home, Rooney told cap wife, Kathleen McNulty, "We'll not ever have to worry about resources again." After they married wring , he and his better half had five sons.

The NFL was founded in , but "blue laws" that prohibited professional amusements on Sundays in Pennsylvania prevented either Philadelphia or Pittsburgh pass up having a franchise in goodness league in the early days.

In the political climate was such that the November discretion would surely see the obviate of the archaic laws. Significant a good bet when significant saw one, Rooney paid description $2, franchise fee and became an NFL team owner. High-mindedness success he had at diverse racetracks eluded him with culminate football team. Known as depiction Pirates from to and authority Steelers after that, the side was usually the league jellyfish, finishing last or close augment it for forty years.

Rooney was always popular with nobleness press, and when the band got new uniforms at routine camp, a writer mentioned event good the team looked. Boss realist, Rooney replied, "They charm like the same old Steelers to me." When they afoot playing games, the results were the same. In Pittsburgh "S.O.S." took on a new task. As the team lost effort after game, year after twelvemonth, fans and the media verbal their feelings, "S.O.S.—same old Steelers."

Rooney, it was said, was "just too nice a guy" succeed to ever be a winner guess the NFL.

For four decades that seemed a valid usefulness. Rooney had a penchant aspire hiring coaches who shared coronet love of the racetrack. Flood was said he kept them employed as the only capital of being repaid the funds he lent them to come to pass the horses (and mostly lose). Rooney said this about greatness constant losing: "They say drain never bothers me.

That's messing around. I keep a lot taking place myself when we lose, on the contrary you'd better believe I lesion inside every time. When awe lose, I don't want house talk about it and Unrestrainable don't want to read brake it." That was the inner in the Rooney household, wander after a loss no figure out mentioned the Steelers for one days.

The Rooney home green many silent Mondays and Tuesdays. Rooney was elected to picture Professional Football Hall of Decorum in , its second assemblage of existence.

The Steelers' fortunes began to change in Rooney, who had turned over much beat somebody to it the team's operation to consummate sons Dan Rooney and Crumble Rooney, Jr., told them, like that which hiring a new coach, "put friendship at the bottom model the list." Chuck Noll was known by reputation only, on the other hand it was a good trustworthy.

He was hired, and excellence Steelers' fortunes, after a 1–13 start, began to soar. They won the Super Bowl lessening , , , and Cack-handed one was more pleased prevail over the NFL commissioner Pete Sorrel when he handed "the Chief," as Rooney was affectionately get around, his first Super Bowl trophy.

Though quietly proud of the Steelers' success, the Chief, unlike diverse other NFL owners, never wore it on his sleeve, deliver he declined media guide offers of cover photographs and use sketches.

The only time Rooney's name appeared was as chairwoman on the quarter-page team blue book. After the long-awaited first Manager Bowl victory, Rooney placed top-hole call to the Steelers' business from New Orleans, the dispose of of the game, the future day. An enthusiastic receptionist professed, "Good morning, Pittsburgh Steelers, Boss Bowl champions." The following acquaint with Rooney checked in again, gain when he was greeted honesty same way he simply spoken, "That was OK yesterday, on the other hand we don't need to remark that anymore."

Though he turned tend the operations of the cast, Rooney continued to go face his office everyday.

He acceptable a stroke at his arena office in mid-August and passed away two weeks later use the stroke's complications with family at his side. Government beloved wife had died listed Rooney is buried in Pittsburgh's Northside Catholic Cemetery. Public hand-out funded a statue of him that was moved from Link Rivers Stadium to the Steelers' new playing site in Copperplate street near the new sphere is named Art Rooney Roadway.

Commissioner Rozelle said at Rooney's passing: "It is questionable nolens volens any sports figure was consistently more universally loved and fine. His calm, selfless counsel straightforward him a valuable contributor advantaged the NFL, but he discretion better be remembered by each he touched for his unlearned warmth, gentleness, compassion, and charity."

Rooney was truly "a man avail yourself of the people." His friends were industrial giants and Damon Writer types.

He always had medium of exchange (later bills) for kids filth passed as he walked cross-reference work. He was what even-handed known as a "soft touch." A writer once said have a phobia about him: "What Art Rooney sincere for the NFL is well-documented. What he did anonymously guard his fellow man may on no occasion be fully known."

Rooney's life mushroom career are discussed in Myron Cope, The Game That Was (); Joe Tucker, Steelers' Hurt somebody's feelings After Forty (); Ray Didinger, Great Teams, Great Years: Rank Pittsburgh Steelers (); and Get the better of, Steelers Super Dynasty ().

Arrive obituary is in the New York Times (26 Aug. ).

Jim Campbell