Patrick Rooney, Son of Steelers Founder, Dies at 84

Patrick J. Rooney Sr., the son of Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney and a former co-owner of the team, died on Sunday at the age of 84.

Born on March 7, 1939 in Pittsburgh, Rooney was one of five children of the Steelers founder, including Daniel M. Rooney, who succeeded his father as team chairman. Rooney was the uncle of current Steelers president Art Rooney II.

All five children were at one point co-owners of the franchise, but Patrick and his twin brother John Rooney both sold their shares during a restructuring of the ownership in 2006 that was caused by the necessity to have one owner with at least a 30% share and the NFL wanting owners to divest in gambling interests.

John and Patrick ran and owned the Palm Beach Kennel Club, which was purchased by the Rooney family in 1970. Rooney is still listed as the CEO of the PBKC on its website, with his son Patrick J. Rooney, Jr. the president and son Joe A. Rooney the vice president.

Co-ownership with the dog racing track was always allowed by NFL rules, but when the property took advantage of changes to Florida laws to incorporate other gaming around the turn of the century, owners had to choose between industries.

The Rooneys recently reached an agreement to sell the track to Frisbie Group of Palm Beach.

Patrick was preceded in death by his parents, Art and Kathleen McNulty Rooney, brothers Daniel and John Rooney, who died last December. He is survived by brothers Timothy and Art Rooney Jr., wife Sandra Sully Rooney, and numerous children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.