Art Rooney II
Encyclopedia
Arthur Joseph "Art" Rooney II (born September 14, 1952) is the president and co-owner of the NFL's
Pittsburgh Steelers
.
and Patricia Rooney. The Rooney family
has owned the Steelers since the team's founding by Art II's grandfather and namesake Art Rooney
in 1933. Art II grew up around the team, serving as an unofficial ball boy from the age of nine.
from which he received a B.A
in political science
in 1978. He then attended law school at Duquesne University
earning his (J.D.
) and receiving highest honors in legal ethics and responsibilities in 1982. He also attended Exeter University in Exeter, England where he studied international business transactions and the law of the European economic community.
in 1982, Rooney spent the next 20 years practicing law. He served as chairman of the firm Klett Rooney Lieber & Schorling and currently is a partner in Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney following a merger of the two firms. His legal practice has concentrated in the areas of corporate finance, sports law and government affairs. In the 1980 Rooney II joined a Pittsburgh law firm and there he met and became good friends with Jack Barbour. When it came time for the Steelers to restructure ownership Rooney turned to his long time friend and colleague Jack Barbour to oversee the deal. This restructuring was one of the most complicated deals that Rooney II had ever seen and that Barbour had ever handled.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
.
Biography
Rooney is the oldest of nine children of DanDan Rooney
Daniel Milton "Dan" Rooney is the United States Ambassador to Ireland. He is chairman emeritus of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team in the National Football League , which was founded by his father, Art Rooney. Rooney was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 for his contributions...
and Patricia Rooney. The Rooney family
Rooney family
The Rooney family has been the majority owners and operators of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania since the formation of the franchise in 1933. Art Rooney was the founder and owner of the team until his death in 1988; ownership of the team was then transferred to...
has owned the Steelers since the team's founding by Art II's grandfather and namesake Art Rooney
Art Rooney
Arthur Joseph "Art" Rooney, Sr. , often referred to as "The Chief", was the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers American football franchise in the National Football League.-Family history:...
in 1933. Art II grew up around the team, serving as an unofficial ball boy from the age of nine.
Education
Rooney attended the University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
from which he received a B.A
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1978. He then attended law school at Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
earning his (J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
) and receiving highest honors in legal ethics and responsibilities in 1982. He also attended Exeter University in Exeter, England where he studied international business transactions and the law of the European economic community.
Legal career
After being admitted to the Pennsylvania barBar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1982, Rooney spent the next 20 years practicing law. He served as chairman of the firm Klett Rooney Lieber & Schorling and currently is a partner in Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney following a merger of the two firms. His legal practice has concentrated in the areas of corporate finance, sports law and government affairs. In the 1980 Rooney II joined a Pittsburgh law firm and there he met and became good friends with Jack Barbour. When it came time for the Steelers to restructure ownership Rooney turned to his long time friend and colleague Jack Barbour to oversee the deal. This restructuring was one of the most complicated deals that Rooney II had ever seen and that Barbour had ever handled.