IUP Athletic Hall of Fame
ArtRooney
- Class
- Induction
- 1997
- Sport(s)
- Football, Baseball
When many learned that Art Rooney would be inducted in memory to its Athletic Hall of Fame, their first reaction was one of surprise that the legendary founder and 55-year owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers had enjoyed ties to IUP that predated his pro football affiliations.
But Rooney did indeed possess roots at IUP that were very special to him, from the time he came to college at what was then Indiana Normal School in 1919 and '20, to having a residence hall on campus named for him, to being awarded an honorary doctorate at the university's Centennial commencement in 1975.
As a student at what is now IUP. Rooney was regarded as a future major league baseball centerfielder while also playing football and basketball, competing in track and field, and winning the AAU welterweight boxing crown to earn an invite to compete in the 1920 Olympics (which he declined).
After playing minor league and semi-pro football. Rooney purchased a pro gridiron franchise for the city of Pittsburgh in 1933 (for $2,500) that became today’s Steelers.
The Steelers had to wait until 1942 for their first winning season and saw only two after that (1947 and 1963) before entering their Super Bowl era, but Rooney persevered. This paid off in the Black and Gold winning four Super Bowls in six seasons (1974, '75, '78 and '79) and remaining one of the premiere franchises in the NFL.
But more than that, it had been Rooney who helped hold pro football together in World War II, was a driving force in the foundation of the NFL players association, and a mediating force in merging the original National Football League with the much newer AFL in 1967.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio (and into the Indiana County Hall of Fame).
More than the publicized achievements, though, those who knew Rooney best will always remember are how he never forgot his roots and how he gave so much to others.
From the time he moved to Pittsburgh's North Side when he was one year old, he stayed there all his life. And his contributions to charity, through agencies such as Divine Providence Hospital and personally to countless individuals whose identity may never be known, were truly large-scale.
Professionally, Rooney was also respected as the owner of a 350-acre horse breeding farm in Maryland (becoming chairman of the William Penn Racing Association in Philadelphia) and as a first-rate boxing promoter. A high point in this regard was his bringing the 1951 world heavyweight title bout to Pittsburgh in which Jersey Joe Walcott upset Ezzard Charles.
The father of five sons. Rooney before passing away at the age of 87 had turned over his reins to Dan, president of the Steelers since 1975, Art Jr., Timothy, John and Patrick.
But Rooney did indeed possess roots at IUP that were very special to him, from the time he came to college at what was then Indiana Normal School in 1919 and '20, to having a residence hall on campus named for him, to being awarded an honorary doctorate at the university's Centennial commencement in 1975.
As a student at what is now IUP. Rooney was regarded as a future major league baseball centerfielder while also playing football and basketball, competing in track and field, and winning the AAU welterweight boxing crown to earn an invite to compete in the 1920 Olympics (which he declined).
After playing minor league and semi-pro football. Rooney purchased a pro gridiron franchise for the city of Pittsburgh in 1933 (for $2,500) that became today’s Steelers.
The Steelers had to wait until 1942 for their first winning season and saw only two after that (1947 and 1963) before entering their Super Bowl era, but Rooney persevered. This paid off in the Black and Gold winning four Super Bowls in six seasons (1974, '75, '78 and '79) and remaining one of the premiere franchises in the NFL.
But more than that, it had been Rooney who helped hold pro football together in World War II, was a driving force in the foundation of the NFL players association, and a mediating force in merging the original National Football League with the much newer AFL in 1967.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio (and into the Indiana County Hall of Fame).
More than the publicized achievements, though, those who knew Rooney best will always remember are how he never forgot his roots and how he gave so much to others.
From the time he moved to Pittsburgh's North Side when he was one year old, he stayed there all his life. And his contributions to charity, through agencies such as Divine Providence Hospital and personally to countless individuals whose identity may never be known, were truly large-scale.
Professionally, Rooney was also respected as the owner of a 350-acre horse breeding farm in Maryland (becoming chairman of the William Penn Racing Association in Philadelphia) and as a first-rate boxing promoter. A high point in this regard was his bringing the 1951 world heavyweight title bout to Pittsburgh in which Jersey Joe Walcott upset Ezzard Charles.
The father of five sons. Rooney before passing away at the age of 87 had turned over his reins to Dan, president of the Steelers since 1975, Art Jr., Timothy, John and Patrick.
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