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Bill Mercer

William A. "Bill" Mercer (February 13, 1926 – March 22, 2025) was an sportscaster, broadcast , and educator renowned for his decades-long calling major events in the –Fort Worth area. Mercer's broadcasting tenure included serving as the inaugural radio voice of the from their inaugural 1972 season through 1979, delivering play-by-play for preseason and regular-season games in the and 1980s, and providing commentary for the Mean Green football and basketball teams over more than 30 years. He gained prominence in as the lead announcer for from the 1960s into the 1980s, narrating iconic matches and storylines that helped popularize the promotion regionally. Beyond sports, Mercer contributed to news coverage at KRLD in , including on-the-scene reporting of President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963, and he founded and managed the student radio station KNTU-FM at the , mentoring generations of broadcasters. His versatile , spanning over 60 years, earned inductions into multiple halls of fame, including the Hall of Fame and the Athletics Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as a foundational figure in media.

Early Life

Childhood and Family

William A. Mercer was born on February 13, 1926, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, to Frank Mercer, a physician's assistant, and Maynie Mercer, a homemaker. He spent the majority of his childhood and early years in Muskogee. Mercer enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 at age 17, serving as a signalman until 1946 and participating in five invasions across the Pacific theater during . Mercer married Ilene Love Hargis, a teacher; the couple raised four children—F. David A. Mercer, Daniel Evan Mercer, Martin Andrew Mercer, and Laura Ilene Mercer Tiedemann—and had seven grandchildren.

Education and Early Interests

Mercer attended Northeastern State College in from 1946 to 1948, utilizing benefits from the following his U.S. Navy service during . He then transferred to the , where he earned a B.A. in 1949, focusing on studies that prepared him for a career in . From an early stage, Mercer expressed a strong aspiration to become a professional play-by-play sports broadcaster, reflecting his interest in communications and sports narration. His personal hobbies during this period included and reading, which complemented his academic pursuits in and techniques. These interests aligned with his later work for a in communications from State University in 1966, which examined sports play-by-play methods, though this advanced education occurred after he had entered the broadcasting .

Broadcasting Beginnings

Initial Radio Work in Oklahoma

Mercer commenced his professional broadcasting career in 1951 at radio station KMUS in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he served as a sports reporter and staff announcer. His responsibilities encompassed covering and a broad spectrum of area sports events, reflecting the multifaceted demands of small-market radio operations during the early . A key component of his sports duties at KMUS involved announcing matches, which he undertook without prior intention of specializing in the genre; station management incorporated it as part of the general sports portfolio. These broadcasts established him as a prominent wrestling voice in Muskogee during the , alongside his play-by-play coverage of other regional athletic contests. Mercer's work at KMUS from 1951 to 1953 honed his on-air skills in a resource-constrained environment, emphasizing live reporting and audience engagement typical of postwar rural broadcasting. This Oklahoma tenure laid the groundwork for Mercer's transition to larger markets, as his KMUS performances in news, sports, and wrestling drew attention from opportunities beyond the state by mid-.

Relocation to Texas

In , following two years as a sports reporter and announcer at KMUS radio in , Bill Mercer relocated to , , to join KRLD radio and television as a sports and news reporter. This move positioned him in the larger Dallas-Fort Worth media market, where he immediately began covering local sports events and transitioned from radio to televised broadcasts for KRLD-TV. At KRLD, Mercer's responsibilities expanded to include play-by-play announcing for wrestling matches, building on his prior radio experience with the sport in Oklahoma during the early 1950s. He remained with the station through 1964, during which time he reported on significant regional news and sports, including early coverage of North Texas area athletics that later connected to his long-term association with North Texas State University. The relocation facilitated his integration into Texas broadcasting networks, setting the stage for subsequent roles with major league teams and wrestling promotions in the state.

News Reporting

Major Assignments and Events

Mercer joined KRLD radio and television in in 1953 as a news and sports reporter, handling assignments that included on-the-ground for breaking local stories and contributing to daily broadcasts. His tenure at KRLD positioned him to cover high-profile events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during a period of significant national attention on politics and security. The most prominent event in Mercer's news reporting career was his coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, in Dallas. As a KRLD reporter, Mercer provided live updates and on-site reporting from the chaotic scenes following the shooting at Dealey Plaza, including details on the motorcade route and initial witness accounts, amid the station's role in disseminating real-time information to the public. This assignment thrust him into the national spotlight, as KRLD was one of the primary outlets relaying developments, including the transfer of suspect Lee Harvey Oswald, which occurred under the station's broadcast purview. Beyond the Kennedy assassination, Mercer's news work at KRLD encompassed routine assignments such as political rallies, weather emergencies, and community incidents, though specific details on other singular events remain less documented in available records from his 1953–1964 period. By the mid-1960s, his focus shifted predominantly toward sports broadcasting, marking the transition from general news reporting.

Sports Announcing Career

College and Professional Teams

Mercer served as the play-by-play announcer for athletics, particularly and , earning recognition as the original voice of the Mean Green. He broadcast UNT games during significant milestones, including the 1959 season when and became the first African-American athletes to participate in a college following integration efforts. His long-term association with UNT athletics spanned decades, overlapping with his academic role there, and contributed to his induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990. In professional football, Mercer joined the radio broadcast team for the Dallas Cowboys shortly after the franchise's formation in 1960, providing play-by-play commentary through the late 1960s and early 1970s. Notable broadcasts included the 1967 NFL Championship Game, known as the Ice Bowl, where he called the Cowboys' loss to the Green Bay Packers alongside color analyst Blackie Sherrod. Mercer's baseball announcing career began with minor league teams, covering the Dallas Rangers of the American Association from 1959 to 1964 and the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs of the Texas League from 1965 to 1971. He advanced to Major League Baseball with the Texas Rangers, serving as the play-by-play announcer for their inaugural 1972 season after the franchise relocated from Washington, D.C. This tenure lasted two seasons before transitioning to the Chicago White Sox in 1974 and 1975, where he partnered with Harry Caray on WMAQ radio.

Signature Style and Notable Broadcasts

Mercer's announcing style was characterized by a smooth, professional delivery that balanced excitement with fairness, often crediting achievements to both teams during broadcasts for the Mean Green. He emphasized precise play-by-play fundamentals, including clear voice modulation and detailed game analysis, principles he taught in his broadcasting courses at UNT. Among his notable sports broadcasts, Mercer served as the radio voice for the during their inaugural season in 1972, partnering with analysts and for road games. He continued calling Rangers games through 1973 before moving to the for the 1974 and 1975 seasons. Earlier, he broadcast for the of the American Association from 1959 to 1964 and the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs of the from 1965 to 1971. In football, Mercer joined the radio broadcast team in the mid-1960s, covering their early seasons. For , he announced games for over 30 years, including historic matchups in 1956 when and became the first African-American players in Texas . Mercer's basketball broadcasts included UNT Mean Green games from 1969 to 1988, as well as contests. In a late-career highlight, he returned as a guest for a Rangers game on April 8, 2016, at age 90, joining and Matt Hicks.

Wrestling Commentary

World Class Championship Wrestling Era

Mercer joined (WCCW), a Dallas-based promotion, as the primary play-by-play in 1982, a role he held until 1987. During this period, he provided commentary for weekly television broadcasts and major events, including Fritz Von Erich's retirement match on June 4, 1982, where he conducted the post-match interview with the retiring wrestler. His work covered high-stakes storylines, such as the Von Erich family's conflicts with the Fabulous Freebirds and encounters with national stars like , including Kerry Von Erich's title defenses. Mercer's announcing approach emphasized straightforward play-by-play delivery, maintaining a professional demeanor that aligned with his background in sports broadcasting rather than adopting the hyperbolic style common among wrestling commentators of the era. This measured tone lent credibility to WCCW's presentations, which were syndicated across multiple markets and drew significant regional audiences during the promotion's peak in the mid-1980s. He also handled on-air interviews and special segments, such as hosting a February 1984 tribute to shortly after the wrestler's death on February 10, featuring career highlights and family footage. Building on his earlier local wrestling TV work since 1976 on Fort Worth's Channel 11, Mercer's WCCW tenure elevated the promotion's broadcast quality through consistent, event-focused narration that highlighted athletic sequences over scripted drama. His contributions helped sustain viewer engagement amid WCCW's territorial rivalries and national crossovers, though the promotion faced challenges like talent losses and financial strains by 1987, leading to his departure.

Academic and Mentoring Role

Professorship at University of North Texas

Mercer earned a degree in communications from the in 1966. He joined the university's Radio, Television, and Film Department as an during the 1967–1968 , a position he held until 1973, though his teaching tenure extended well beyond that period. From 1965 to 2007, Mercer instructed generations of students in , with coursework focused on practical skills such as sports play-by-play announcing, sports writing and broadcasts, and general announcing techniques. His classes emphasized hands-on experience, drawing from his extensive professional background in radio and television. Mercer also served as the inaugural station manager for the station, KNTU, and played a key role in its establishment and operations, integrating student training with real-world broadcasting opportunities. Throughout his career at UNT, Mercer mentored numerous aspiring sportscasters, influencing both local and statewide media professionals through classroom instruction and extracurricular guidance. His contributions extended to fostering the department's sports broadcasting program, where he combined academic rigor with industry insights to prepare students for professional roles. Upon retirement in 2007, after more than 40 years of service, Mercer left a lasting impact on the university's media education, as evidenced by alumni who credited his tutelage for their successes in the field.

Publications

Authored Works

Mercer authored books reflecting his multifaceted career in , , and . His primary , Play-by-Play: Tales from a Sportscasting Insider, published in 2007 by Taylor Trade Publishing, chronicles over five decades in sports announcing, including coverage of college and professional teams, wrestling events for , and techniques for aspiring broadcasters. Co-authored with fellow KRLD reporter Bob Huffaker, When the News Went Live: Dallas 1963 (Taylor Trade Publishing, 2003; 10th anniversary edition, 2013) provides eyewitness accounts of the November 22, 1963, assassination of President and its immediate aftermath, based on their live radio reporting from and Parkland Hospital. Mercer also documented his World War II naval service in Oklahoma to Okinawa: 18K Miles on the LCI(G) 439: A Personal Account, co-written with his son Evan Mercer and published independently in 2022, detailing experiences aboard the USS LCI(G)-439, a , from training in to Pacific Theater operations including the invasions of and Okinawa. In the early 1990s, he contributed a summary history of vessels to publications by the Landing Craft Infantry National Association, drawing from archival records and veteran interviews.

Awards and Legacy

Honors Received

Mercer was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990, recognizing his over 30 years as the radio voice for university athletics, including serving as the first station manager for the station and teaching sports broadcasting courses. He received induction into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2002, honoring his extensive career in radio play-by-play for sports and wrestling. In 2011, Mercer was enshrined in the UT Dallas Athletics Hall of Honors for his role as public address announcer and radio broadcaster for the Comets since 2006, amid a career spanning professional teams like the and . Further accolades include his 1983 induction into the Texas Baseball Ex-Pros Hall of Fame, reflecting his baseball broadcasting work, and the 2020 enshrinement in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame as a media contributor, noted for iconic calls such as the 1967 Ice Bowl. In December 2005, he was awarded the Bill Teegins Excellence in Sportscasting Award by the Sports Hall of Fame, acknowledging his early broadcasting roots in and lifelong contributions to sports media.

Influence on Broadcasting

Mercer's tenure as a professor of sports at the from 1965 to approximately 2005 profoundly shaped the careers of numerous professionals in the field. Over these four decades, he instructed generations of students, providing foundational skills in play-by-play announcing and production techniques that emphasized clarity, preparation, and journalistic integrity. Notable alumni include George Dunham, co-host of Sports Radio 1310 The in , who credited Mercer with equipping him and others for long-term success in regional media markets. In wrestling commentary, Mercer pioneered a restrained, sports-like delivery during his time with in the 1980s, diverging from the era's prevalent hyperbolic styles. Collaborating with producer Mickey Grant, he elevated the television format by focusing on factual narration and athlete profiles, which enhanced viewer engagement and legitimacy for the promotion's broadcasts. This approach influenced subsequent commentators to blend entertainment with professional detachment, setting a precedent for treating scripted athletic events akin to legitimate competitions. Broader recognition of Mercer's impact came from peers who dubbed him the "Godfather of DFW sports broadcasting," highlighting his role in upholding standards of accuracy and versatility across football, baseball, and other sports. Dallas Cowboys radio voice Brad Sham and others noted his mentorship extended beyond academia, offering practical guidance that prioritized evidence-based calling over sensationalism. His emphasis on meticulous game preparation and neutral tone contributed to a lasting model for regional announcers, fostering a cadre of broadcasters active in Texas markets into the 21st century.

Death

Final Years and Passing

Mercer retired from his long tenure as the play-by-play announcer for athletics after more than 30 years of service, with a banquet held in his honor on August 5, 2005. He had taught sports broadcasting courses at UNT for 35 years, mentoring numerous students who went on to prominent careers in media. Following his professional retirement, Mercer relocated to , after residing for many years in . On March 22, 2025, Mercer died at the age of 99, as announced by UNT athletics and confirmed by his family. His death marked the end of a career exceeding 60 years, during which he covered major events including the assassination of President and multiple Super Bowls. Tributes from colleagues and institutions highlighted his enduring influence as an educator and announcer.

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