Duquesne to Host Plaque Dedication to Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney

The University community is invited to attend a ceremony during which the Pro Football Hall of Fame will dedicate a plaque in honor of alumnus and Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 3:30 p.m. in the Power Center Ballroom.

Through its Hometown Hall of Famers program, the Pro Football Hall of Fame presents members with a historical plaque in their hometown. Presented by Allstate Insurance Company, the program honors the roots of the players’ great careers and promotes the positive values of the sport. Rooney was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 1964.

Rooney, a 1924 graduate of the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business, received an honorary doctor of humanitarian service from the University in 1975. He served as the honorary chair of Duquesne’s centennial in 1978 and was inducted into the University’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. Rooney is also the namesake of the home field to the University’s football, soccer and lacrosse teams.

Rooney founded the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise in 1933. For nearly 40 years his team struggled, but Rooney never lost hope. In 1969, he hired head coach Chuck Noll who went on to lead the team to four Super Bowl championships, becoming the most dominant team of the entire decade of the 1970s and laying the foundation for a winning tradition that continues today. Art Rooney was known for his warmth and kindness to all and remains one of the most revered figures in the history of the NFL and the city of Pittsburgh.

To attend the ceremony, employees must RSVP by Friday, Oct. 19, by calling 412.396.1479 or emailing picia@duq.edu.