Rooney Steps Down in Pittsburgh

[Fritz]

Report: Rooney Passes Steelers' Torch

By Associated Press

July 22, 2003, 5:25 AM EDT

PITTSBURGH -- Dan Rooney named his son, Art Rooney II, to replace him as president of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Tuesday.

The change was made very quietly, and there was little to note it -- except for barely noticeable changes in the Steelers' media guide.

"I just thought it was time," Dan Rooney, 71, told the newspaper. "Art has been involved with a lot of the business of the team. He was very much involved in the building of Heinz Field."

"I'm still going to be here; it's not like I'm not going to be here. He's going to take on more of the tasks and things like that."

Rooney was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

The low-key transition is the same way Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr. turned over the team to Dan Rooney in 1975.

When the torch was passed, however, Dan Rooney had been guiding the Steelers behind the scenes for about a decade, making big decisions, including hiring Church Noll in 1969.

"I have been much more active than my father was, so it will be a little bit different from that standpoint," Dan said. "I'll still be doing those things."

And Art Rooney II, 50, says his father may not be as hands off.

"He has never said it, but I think my dad's philosophy always has been, go ahead and make a decision, but if it's wrong I certainly reserve the right to second-guess you," Art Rooney II said.

Both Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II, who started with the team as a ball boy in 1960 and has been the team's legal counsel and a vice president, say they see little changes in store for one of the NFL's most consistent teams.

Dan Rooney will spend as much time in the Steelers' offices as he always has and he'll keep his office, next door to his son's.

[scooper]

I'm not a Steelers fan, but you have torespect the Rooneys and the way they handle things. Before it's done, all three may be hall of famers.

[SteelerFan448]

http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/20030722rooney0722p1.asp

Art Rooney II replaces father as Steelers president

Tuesday, July 22, 2003

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

In keeping with family tradition, Art Rooney II has replaced his father as President of the Steelers and also will assume many of his duties running the ballclub. Dan has taken the title of Chairman of the Steelers, a designation held previously by his father, Art Sr., until his death in 1988.

"I just thought it was time," Dan Rooney said yesterday. "Art has been involved with a lot of the business of the team. He was very much involved in the building of Heinz Field.

"I'm still going to be here; it's not like I'm not going to be here. He's going to take on more of the tasks and things like that. I'll still do the community work and league work and things like that and still be available to do things here."

There was no announcement to note the change in leadership. It was discovered after media guides were distributed to news media yesterday.

A check of the club's directory on the second page revealed, in small type, the title changes beneath the names of Dan and Art Rooney II, his eldest son and previously the club's vice president and general counsel.

It's the same way reporters discovered in the summer of 1975 that Art Rooney Sr. had turned over the team's presidency to Dan.

There is no other mention of the change in the media guide, which also has no photos of Art II, 50, or his father, who turned 71 Sunday.

Dan Rooney, who has been working for the team since 1955, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. His father, who founded the team in 1933, was inducted in 1964.

Neither Dan nor Art II sees any significant changes taking place in the operation of the franchise or its philosophy.

Art Rooney II has been the team's legal counsel for nearly two decades and one of its vice presidents for the past decade. He served as a Steelers ballboy in the 1960s and pursued a law career. He was managing general partner of the Downtown law firm of Klett Rooney Lieber & Schorling before he stepped down two years ago as his duties with the Steelers increased. He will remain with the firm but not on a full-time basis.

After U.S. Sen. John Heinz was killed in a plane/helicopter collision in 1991, Gov. Robert Casey wanted to appoint Art Rooney II to his seat. Rooney discussed it with Casey's political team of James Carville and Paul Begala before deciding not to pursue the opportunity.

Instead, he became president of the Steelers.

His father plans to spend as much time in the Steelers UPMC offices on the South Side as he always has. They will not switch their offices, which are side by side. Art Rooney also has an office at Heinz Field, where he spends much of his time.

Until his death, Art Rooney Sr. maintained an office at Three Rivers Stadium and showed up for work, where he suffered the stroke that took his life at age 87.

By the time Art Rooney Sr. turned the team's presidency over to his son, Dan had already been running the show unofficially for nearly a decade. He made most of the big decisions, including the hiring and firing of coaches. He was the one who hired Chuck Noll as coach in 1969.

"I have been much more active than my father was, so it will be a little bit different from that standpoint," Dan said. "I'll still be doing those things."

Dan Rooney recalled one piece of advice his father gave him when he turned some of the decisions over to him.

"He'd say go ahead and do what you want but don't make any mistakes," Dan said.

Art II gets a different vibe from his father.

"He has never said it, but I think my dad's philosophy always has been, go ahead and make a decision, but if it's wrong I certainly reserve the right to second-guess you."



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I'm sure Art will continue to keep up the tradition of the Rooney family.

[Swaggs]

I love Dan Rooney. In a world where most owners do crazy, crazy things, he has always seemed very sensible to me. By far the sports team that is easiest for me to follow because of that. Hopefully his son will act similarly.

[Alf]

Smart owners