Past/Present: Former broadcaster Mercer dies at 99

Dallas Cowboys
25 Mar 2025, 03:20 GMT+10

Kurt Daniels

Former Cowboys play-by-play broadcaster Bill Mercer died on Saturday, March 22, at the age of 99.

Current play-by-play man Brad Sham noted in a post on X.com that Mercer was, "Truly the Godfather of DFW sports broadcasting, a national treasure, mentor, teacher storyteller & friend."

A World War II Navy veteran, Mercer first made a media name for himself through his coverage of the President John F. Kennedy assassination as a reporter for Dallas' KRLD radio. He later entered the Cowboys' radio booth as a color commentator in 1965 before moving into the play-by-play role in 1966. He would hold down that position for the next six years, which included calling the famed Ice Bowl, the team's first trip to the Super Bowl in the 1970 campaign and then the Cowboys' victory the next season in Super Bowl VI.

Mercer's vast career also involved him being the Texas Rangers' first play-by-play caller when the MLB franchise moved to North Texas in 1972 and covering Southwest Conference football and basketball games. He also called games for the AFL's Dallas Texas in the early 1960s as well as for a variety of minor league teams. However, his most popular role may have come as a play-by-play wrestling announcer, particularly for the Dallas-based World Class Championship Wrestling.

The longtime voice of University of North Texas athletics, Mercer also taught sports broadcasting at UNT for 35 years. He has been inducted into a number of Halls of Fame, including the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.

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