Dan M. Rooney
Dan M. Rooney | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 2009 | |
United States Ambassador to Ireland | |
In office July 3, 2009 – December 14, 2012[1] | |
President | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | Thomas C. Foley |
Succeeded by | Kevin O'Malley |
Personal details | |
Born | Daniel Milton Rooney July 20, 1932 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | April 13, 2017 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 84)
Political party | Republican[2] |
Spouse |
Patricia Regan (m. 1952–2017) |
Children | 9, including CBE (honorary) |
American football career |
|
Career information | |
High school: | Cranberry (PA) North Catholic |
College: | Duquesne |
Position: | President/Owner |
Career history | |
As an executive: | |
Career highlights and awards | |
Daniel Milton Rooney (July 20, 1932 – April 13, 2017) was an American executive and diplomat best known for his association with the Pittsburgh Steelers, an American football team in the National Football League (NFL),[3] and son of the Steelers' founder, Art Rooney. He held various roles within the organization, most notably as president, owner and chairman.
Rooney implemented a philosophy and management style that emphasized open, practical and efficient management. The Steelers were very successful during his tenure, winning 15 division championships, eight AFC Championships, and an NFL record six Super Bowl Championships. In 2000, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game. He was also credited with spearheading a requirement that NFL teams with head coach and general manager vacancies interview at least one minority candidate, which has become known as the "Rooney Rule".
Outside of football, Rooney served as the United States Ambassador to Ireland, from July 2009 until his resignation in December 2012.[4] He was also co-founder of the Ireland-related fundraising organization The Ireland Funds.[5]
Early life and education
Daniel Milton Rooney was born in
Career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/DanRooney.jpg/235px-DanRooney.jpg)
In 1960, Rooney originally worked as director of personnel for the Steelers. By early 1969, Rooney was managing the day-to-day operations of the team and personally selected the coaching hire of Chuck Noll. Rooney was appointed team president in 1975 and was officially given full operational control of the franchise. His father remained chairman and President Emeritus, as well as the public face of the franchise, until his death in 1988.[citation needed]
Rooney generally avoided the spotlight, but he was a very active owner behind the scenes. Rooney helped lead the negotiations of the collective bargaining agreement of 1982, and is largely credited both by owners and players for ending a strike that lasted half of the season. He was also one of the main architects of the salary cap, which was implemented in 1993. Rooney became the patriarch and controlling owner of the team, following the death of his father. In 2003, Rooney followed in his father's footsteps by slowly ceding day-to-day operations of the franchise to the next generation of the family. While Rooney was still chairman, and to many fans, the public face of the team, his son Art Rooney II assumed full operational control of the Steelers.[7]
In 1995, Rooney tried to stop the Steelers' biggest rival, the Cleveland Browns, from moving to Baltimore. He and Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson were the only owners to vote against the move and he was a driving force in ensuring the Browns return to Cleveland in 1999.
Sale of the Steelers
On July 7, 2008, Rooney and his son, team president Art Rooney II, announced that they were seeking to buy out his brothers' shares in the team. The team initially said that some of Rooney's four brothers want to "get out of the NFL and focus their business efforts on their
The Steelers' statement said that NFL commissioner
According to The Wall Street Journal,
On November 21, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Tim and Pat planned to sell each of their 16% stakes in the Steelers, so they could remain involved in racetracks and casinos in Yonkers and West Palm Beach. John and Art Jr. each planned to keep a little less than half of their 16% stake, and Dan and Art II, were trying to acquire 30% of the team to abide by NFL policy and compiled a list of investors who, in essence, would become their new partners in the franchise.[13]
Controversies
James Harrison vs. Cedrick Wilson
On March 19, 2008, Rooney released wide receiver Cedrick Wilson from the Steelers, after he was arrested for punching his former girlfriend. However earlier that month, on March 8, Rooney failed to offer any type of discipline to linebacker James Harrison for slapping his girlfriend. When asked about the incident involving Wilson, Rooney stated that "the Steelers do not condone violence of any kind, especially against women". However, he was then confronted about this by Ed Bouchette and Michael A. Fuoco of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who asked why Harrison was not punished for committing the same crime.[14] Rooney said that the cases were different and stated that "I know many are asking the question of [why] we released Wilson and Harrison we kept. The circumstances—I know of the incidents, they are completely different. In fact, when I say we don't condone these things, we don't, but we do have to look at the circumstances that are involved with other players and things like that, so they're not all the same. What James Harrison was doing and how the incident occurred, what he was trying to do was really well worth it. He was doing something that was good, wanted to take his son to get baptized where he lived and things like that. She said she didn't want to do it."
Rooney later said that Harrison had no intention of harming his girlfriend when he went to her house to pick up his son. "The situation angered him. He didn't go there with intent." Meanwhile, Rooney stated that the Wilson case was different. According to Rooney "[Wilson] knew what he was doing. He knew where his [former] girlfriend was and went to the bar looking for her. When he got there he punched her. That's different and I understand he expressed no regret.[15]
Afterwards, Rooney was criticized by the Women's Center and Shelter of Pittsburgh as a result of his comments.
Steelers taxes and taxpayer funding
In August 2004,
Ambassador to Ireland
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Barack_Obama_at_%C3%81ras_an_Uachtar%C3%A1in.jpg/235px-Barack_Obama_at_%C3%81ras_an_Uachtar%C3%A1in.jpg)
On March 17, 2009, President Obama announced he had nominated Rooney to become the next
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton swore him in as the new ambassador to Ireland on July 1, 2009. Rooney presented his credentials to Irish President Mary McAleese on July 3, before making his first official speaking engagement at a lunch hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland.[18] In a leaked diplomatic cable to Clinton in 2009 Rooney described Irish politics as having an "often unaccountable political class" which allows itself "perks".[19]
In an April 2011 interview with The Irish Times, Rooney mentioned that he would consider resigning his ambassadorship in order to campaign for Obama's re-election.[20] In a prepared statement released after that interview was published. Rooney stated, "I was asked what I could do to help [Obama] in the next election and I responded that the best thing I could do would be to help him campaign. Were I to do so, it would require my resignation as ambassador to Ireland. However, I am very pleased with my accomplishments to date and I intend to continue to carry out my duties."[21] On December 14, 2012, he resigned as ambassador to Ireland and returned to Pittsburgh.[1] He would eventually be replaced in June 2014 by Kevin O'Malley.[22]
Personal life
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Dan_Rooney_2008.jpg/175px-Dan_Rooney_2008.jpg)
Rooney was married to his wife Patricia Regan for sixty-five years.[23][24] They first met in the office of the Steelers where she was working, and got married soon after.[25] The couple had nine children together, although he was predeceased by two of his daughters.[26] Rooney was also the maternal great-uncle of actresses Kate Mara and her sister Rooney Mara.
In 2008, he surprised many with his public endorsement of Barack Obama for president. The family had traditionally been very private on politics, even being rumored to have a Republican bent. Rooney responded to his public endorsement with: "When I think of Barack Obama's America I have great hope. I support his candidacy and look forward to his Presidency."[27]
Rooney was the benefactor of the
Death
Rooney died at the age of 84 on April 13, 2017.[33] Attendees at his funeral in Pittsburgh included former president Barack Obama and former secretary of state John Kerry.[34] His burial was in Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Cemetery, Ross Township, Pennsylvania.[35]
See also
- List of U.S. political appointments that crossed party lines
References
- ^ a b "Ambassador Dan Rooney Resigns | Embassy of the United States Dublin, Ireland". Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ^ "Obama remembers lifelong Republican Dan Rooney".
- ^ "Dan Rooney returns as Steelers' chairman". Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ^ a b Rhee, Foon (March 17, 2009). "Obama nominates Dan Rooney as Irish ambassador". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- ^ "Our History". irelandfunds.org. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ^ Wise, Mike (November 3, 2008). "Mike Wise: The Spy Who Loved Rooney". The Washington Post.
- ^ Marczi, Matthew (April 26, 2017). "'Rooney: The Next Generation' Could Already Be On Staff". steelersdepot.com. Steelers Depot. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ "Dan Rooney exploring buyout of brothers". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (from AP). July 7, 2008. Archived from the original on August 2, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- ^ Prisuta, Mike (July 8, 2008). "The selling of the Steelers". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on August 1, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- ^ Robinson, Alan (July 11, 2008). "Rooney brother may decide Steelers ownership fight". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (from AP). Archived from the original on August 8, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- ^ Gorman, Kevin; Mike Prisuta (July 11, 2008). "Estate tax threatens NFL's old guard of owners". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- ^ Prine, Carl; Mike Dudurich (July 9, 2008). "'Low key' billionaire eyes Steelers". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on August 8, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- ^ Bouchette, Ed; Gerry Dulac (November 21, 2008). "Two Rooney brothers to sell all shares". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- ^ Street and Smith's SportBusiness Daily. March 25, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- ^ "UPDATED: Dan Rooney mea culpa". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 20, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
- ^ Steigerwald, Bill (August 29, 2004). "Rooney family values". Retrieved March 17, 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Schouten, Fredreka (March 18, 2009). "Steelers owner drafted as envoy to Ireland". USA Today. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
- ^ "Daily Appointments Schedule for July 1, 2009". July 1, 2009.
- ^ "Clinton was kept in loop on expenses scandals". Irish Independent.
- ^ Marlowe, Lara (April 23, 2011). "I told Obama, you gotta go to Ireland. He said, I will". The Irish Times. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
- ^ Conte, Andrew (April 25, 2011). "Rooney says he's staying in Ireland". Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
- ^ Itkowitz, Colby; Kamen, Al (June 5, 2014). "Obama nominates Kevin O'Malley as Ireland ambassador". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- ^ Rutter, Joe (April 18, 2017). "Dan Rooney remembered for living life guided by faith, family and football". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- ^ Bouchette, Ed (April 13, 2017). "Remembering an NFL icon: Steelers owner Dan Rooney". Pittsburgh Journal Star. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- ISBN 9780803222830.
- ^ Belson, Ken (April 13, 2017). "Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, 84, Dies; N.F.L. Force and Link to Football's Past". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- ^ Rooney, Dan (April 14, 2008). "Dan Rooney endorses Sen. Barack Obama (open letter)". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- ^ "About The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern PA" Archived July 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved June 18, 2009.
- ^ "Sy Snyder's Power 50". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2002. Archived from the original on April 21, 2002.
- ^ Bouchette, Ed (August 2, 2008). "Steelers Notebook: Rooney honored for work for peace". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
- ^ "Jack Horrigan Award". profootballwriters.org. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ^ Popejoy, Curt (March 7, 2016). "Steelers chairman Dan Rooney to be honored by Jackie Robinson Foundation". steelerswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ^ "Steelers chairman Dan Rooney dies at 84". ESPN.com. April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Sanserino, Michael; Carswell, Simon (April 18, 2017). "Obama attends funeral of ex-ambassador to Ireland". The Irish Times. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
- ^ "'Faith, family, football:' Steelers owner Dan Rooney mourned at funeral Mass in Pittsburgh". WTAE.com. April 18, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Dan Rooney at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Biography for Ambassador Daniel M. Rooney – via archive.org