I never heard of this Steeler before today. Interesting read on Lowell Perry

https://www.steelers.com/news/perry-broke-barriers-across-the-board

Evidently he was an extremely successful man away from football.

 

Great story, thanks for posting! I had never heard the story before and I’ll add this one to my collection of reasons that I’m proud to be a Steelers fan. Art, Sr. was a quality individual and whether it was Rocky Bleier or Lowell Perry, he took care of his players. It’s easy to see why he was universally loved.

 

I remember him as a Steelers announcer back in the 1960's but I didn't know that he was a former Steelers or all of the success that he had off the field.
His story is reminiscent of Brady Keys who had a dream to start a fried chicken franchise and Dan Rooney lent him the money to start it. He later managed several KFC and Burger King franchises and became an economic advisor to President Nixon.

 

Art Rooney Sr (The Chief) was most definitely a class act guy. I remember him when I was really young, those brownstones..
The kids in his neighborhood loved the guy, he always had candy for them. If the kids like you, you can't be all bad.
But no, Rooney Sr did a lot for his players. Almost every player that's been here has said you never really want to play anywhere else.

I think of Joe Gilliam who Sr tried to help. That was a sad story.
I sat with Joe once, at the early stages of his fall.

I admire the Rooney family immensely.
To be honest, I don't remember Perry but can recall some of the details from the article though they are very cloudy.
Just another great tale. Thanks.

 

One more positive about The Chief

No one likes to go to funeral homes, but he had a reputation for stopping in for respect when people, not necessarily friends, passed away in his neighborhood

 

This is not a Chief post, but I’m not starting a new one, so one more Chief comment

I lived on the North Side not real far from the home of the Chief and now his son Dan. In the 70’s that was not a good neighborhood. The Chief would walk to work. Someone asked him if he was afraid? He responded:

Who would mug me, I’m Art Rooney

 

We can talk about the Chief all we want here! Loved that guy

 

Can I throw Franco in?

He also lives near the Rooney home. Maybe not the same current house as when he was a rookie. His rookie year he was walking to the stadium. A coach picked him up and offered a ride. He asked why he was walking. Franco said he didn’t have a car, he couldn’t afford on yet. Coach asked what Franco did with his signing bonus. He said he gave it to his mom.

 

Good Lord how times have changed.