Mr.
Rooney Dublin 1997
Dan
Rooney elected to
the Hall of Fame 2000.
Steelers
fan, Eddie Dalder, posted this tribute to the Steelers list in 2000
and kindly gave me permission to put it on the site.
Over the past few years, I have written a eulogy for the Chief on his remembrance day. I hope that many of you were pleased by the results. However, I moved it up a bit this year because Dan Rooney has now been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
It seems to be an appropriate moment to examine the link between Dan Rooney and his father, fellow Hall of Famer, Art Rooney, Sr. Father and son have both well and should be honoured for their accomplishments.
Dan Rooney once said that his early memories of football recalled when he was a five year old ball boy for the early Steelers teams at training camp. Dan would also eat huge ice cream cones and make a complete mess of himself. Over sixty years later, Mr. Rooney runs his father's football team.
Many times, a parent's legacy to their children are prized possessions, a home or a retail business. Art Rooney's most tangible legacy to his sons was a pro football team. Dan Rooney has been around football his entire life. My father dated one of the Chief's nieces in the early 1960's before he met my mother. Dad actually went to one of the Rooney family dinners. He told me one of the topic discussed around the dinner table was, of course, football and how to improve the Steelers fortunes. Some things never change.
Some children have either the ability or the desire to take control of the family business at the right moment. Fewer still have the ability and desire to keep it successful. The Rooneys are only the second father and son pair to be inducted into Canton. The other pair are New York Giants founder Tim Mara and his son, the current owner, Wellington Mara.
Dan Rooney has managed well as the Steelers continued to thrive and remain successful when many said it was not possible. Rooney first joined the Steelers front office in 1955 as a young man who had just graduated from Duquesne University. Dan took over control of day-to-day operations in the 1960s. He was named team president in 1975 as the Steelers Dynasty came to fruition. Dan Rooney was instrumental in hiring Chuck Noll and one of his greatest supporters after the 1-13 showing in Coach Noll's first season.
When Dan Rooney first started, there were only twelve NFL teams. Many were owned by families or individuals. You usually only had three channels on the television as opposed to the cable universe that television is today. Art Rooney had gained a reputation as a fair minded mediator who was able to compromise with strong willed people like George Halas, Curly Lambeau, George Preston Marshall and Tim Mara.
Those gentlemen did not always agree with each other, but they all respected the Chief. He worked in the background and was inducted into Canton in 1964.
Dan Rooney has lived to see the NFL become a thirty-two team entertainment business where the average owner is a self made multimillionaire. The most extreme examples of this archetype are Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder. A football team is not a business, it is the ultimate power toy. Their success in other fields makes them believe that winning in pro football is their right.
All success is due to their divine insight because they are infallible. Blame for their mistakes shall be piled onto others who are easily fired. The orientation of Mr. Jones and Mr. Snyder is to win now and at all costs and care only for the money that they can make for themselves.
Dan Rooney has the wisdom and patience to see that there is a long term and that the NFL is successful only if all of its teams are secure. He helped resolve two strikes in the 1980's and was a driving force behind the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. Dan Rooney was the quiet reflective mediator just like his dad. All sides can speak to him as he remains a voice of reason. Dan has learned his lessons well. Art Rooney has cast a large shadow over his sons.
The Chief was probably one of the few people who did not have an enemy. Dan seems to live his life as a tribute to his father. Dan admitted in an interview in 1986 that his father's principles set the tone for the Steelers organisation. Dan said of the Chief, "Our differences are that my father grew up in a different time from me, and the business has grown, so we have to be a little more formal today. But his values, his ideas of people, hopefully I got those things from him." The younger Rooney has managed to make his own way and be respected for his own contributions.
The average fan may not know his name, but my father asked some friends in the Raiders front office about Dan Rooney. Their response was, "Pure Class." He is not perfect, but his combination of wisdom and humility are appreciated now that qualities seem to be in short supply in today's big business NFL.
"Football Digest" recently asked Dan about his election to The Hall of Fame. He said that he wished Lynn Swann and John Stallworth were already in Canton. Mr. Rooney hoped that he had not been elected in their place.
Dan Rooney is his father's son. The Rooney sons are constantly reminded of their father. One story goes that Dan and Art Jr. met an older African American gentlemen at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh shortly before the Chief's death. This gentlemen said that he was Art Rooney's best friend. It turns out this older man had been a steward who had often helped the Chief with his bags when he used the Pittsburgh airport.
Many of us have Chief stories of a quick glance or a simple hello. When Art Rooney spoke to you, he genuinely cared about how you felt. The Chief represents a sense of community that seems lost today. Dan Rooney understands the link that his father set forth between the Pittsburgh community, the fans, and the Steelers football team.
At one time, the viability of the franchise was in doubt without a new stadium. Dan Rooney said, "It is one thing to keep to say that you are going to keep them (The Steelers) in Pittsburgh, but keep them in Pittsburgh viable, so they can compete to win and be a good citizen to the community both in their deportment and their contributions."The Rooneys helped cured my cynicism about people.
Living near Baltimore, I vividly remember seeing the Colts sneak out of town in Mayflower moving vans under cover of darkness in a driving snowstorm. It was covered live on the six o'clock news for goodness sake. March 31, 1984 was the day my innocence ended. I was destroyed and my heart was broken because the Colts had been my team. It was the ultimate betrayal and violation. The name "Indianapolis Colts" will never sound right to me. You never forget it or fully recover from it, just ask Cleveland. I hated sports and thought all owners were mean people who wanted to soak the fans.
Some months later, my grandma and grandpa Dave visited. Grandpa Dave was Dave Packard. He was my grandmother's second husband and grandpa by marriage. Grandpa Dave was a good surrogate because both of my natural grandfathers had died before I was born. Grandpa had been a Steelers season ticket holder for years and knew the Chief. This time, he gave me signed glossies of all of the Steelers players and a team photo. I kick myself now because I lost them. I was still bitter and could not look at a football game without feeling a part of me was gone forever. I was a young boy whose football team had deserted him.
Grandpa Dave died in September, 1987. He had had a long illness. I was happy because I will always remember seeing him in great pain and feeling powerless to help him. I was sad because I love my grandpa very much. I started to come around when Art Rooney attended Grandpa Dave's funeral. It was a quiet display of dignity and class. I was not able to attend because I had to be in school, but I was touched that someone so prominent would do that I pledged my allegiance to the Steelers (just like Grandpa Dave would have wanted.)
As I learned more about the Chief, I became proud of the tradition and organisation that he built and Dan Rooney has strengthened. I was born on May 25, 1972. I was six months old at the time of the Immaculate Reception and was probably napping in my crib or taking a bottle. I don't remember much about the 70s. I have never understood the magic of those years, but those lucky people who saw it first hand still smile at the memories. On January 14, 1996, I began to understand. The Steelers earned a spot in Super Bowl XXX on that day.
At the final gun, I was happy beyond words. The NBC feed showed a picture of Art Rooney as the announcer spoke about him. To my surprise, I put my head in my hands and began to cry out of pain and total despair. I never knew that I had these feelings until that moment. They pent up because I think I had never gotten a real chance to say goodbye to Grandpa or Art Rooney. I was crushed that neither of them could see it. I'm happy that I was not in a public place. I don't know if anyone would have understood.
I finally understood, in some small way, why some many people love the Chief. He was like the uncle or grandfather we wished we had. Art Rooney always seemed full of encouragement and willing to give good advice. He also had his principles and would give you a good object lesson if needed. Most of all, the Chief cared about you and knew all people had an inherent sense of worth. He did it with the power of kindness and persuasion , not ambitious display.
I root for the Steelers because they are the only tangible link I have with Grandpa Dave, whom I miss a great deal, and the Chief. Cheering for the Steelers is how I show my respect for Art Rooney. It's also how I show my love for my grandpa. It's like pulling for family. Dan Rooney has done well. His father would be proud of him.
Dan's son, Art Rooney II, is a team vice-president and head legal counsel. His law degree is useful in today's football business. There may one day be a third generation Rooney running the Steelers. That will mean the same combination of shrewd judgement, faith, respect, and love that had made the Rooneys and the Steelers so widely respected in The NFL.
Dan Rooney has continued his father's legacy in good stead. The memory of Art Rooney, Sr. will always bring smiles and a few tears to many of us. The famous lawyer Edward Bennett Williams once said that the Chief was friends with every hoodlum in America. Dan said Mr. Williams meant that anyone could be his father's friend. Some would say Art Rooney was an angel sent by Providence. He was just a good man who always tried to do the right thing.
The Chief's legacy is best understood by helping someone without the expectation of external rewards. The Chief is irreplaceable, but his lessons can be used by anyone. Understand that the needs of the many are greater than the needs of the one. Build bridges and strengthen your community so that all individuals can contribute to their fullest. Know that the greatest ideas usually come from commons sources with uncommon elegance.
People are not just mere consumers of products, but full participants with emotion and energy that can be used for a good purpose. We miss Art Rooney, but are comfortable that his wisdom continues to shape the shape of the Steelers organisation. Time will not dim the love many of us have for the Chief and Dan.
Hearty congratulations to Dan Rooney Rest in Peace Chief, I Love You.
P.S. I want to thank a fellow lister for their support. Hulda Hilme, you helped through a massive bout of writer's block, which is the ultimate frustration for a writer. You also gave the general theme for this essay and proofed my first draft. I don't have kids, but this is my baby and I am one nervous parent who's never finished until I hit the "Send" button. Hulda, this is as much yours as it is mine. I think I owe you a cigar. Your suggestions and words of encouragement were invaluable. Thanks for your help, partner.
Ed's note 2003: Since this was posted, Dan Rooney has quietly handed over the helm to his son.