Mercer, Bill 1926-

(William A. Mercer)

PERSONAL: Born February 13, 1926, in Muskogee, OK; son of Frank (a clinical assistant) and Maynie (a homemaker) Mercer; married Ilene Love Hargis (a teacher); children: F. David A., Daniel Evan, Martin Andrew, Laura Ilene Mercer Tiedemann. Ethnicity:“Caucasian.”Education: Attended Northeastern State College (now State University), 1946-48; University of Denver, B.A., 1949; North Texas State University (now University of North Texas), M.A., 1966. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Episcopalian. Hobbies and other interests: Tennis, reading.

ADDRESSES: Home—Richardson, TX. E-mail—w-mercer@sbcglobal.net.

CAREER: KMUS-Radio, Muskogee, OK, sports reporter and staff announce, 1951-53; KRLD-Television and Radio, Dallas, TX, sports and news reporter, 1953-64; Dallas Cowboys, Dallas, announcer, 1965-72; Texas Rangers, Arlington, announcer, 1972-73; Chicago White Sox, Chicago, IL, announcer, 1974-75; KVIL-Radio, Dallas, affiliate, 1976-83. Dallas Texans, announcer, 1960-62. University of North Texas, affiliate, 1957-94. Military service: U.S. Navy, signal operator, 1943-46; received four battle stars.

MEMBER: American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (retired member).

AWARDS, HONORS: Inducted into Texas Baseball Ex-Pros Hall of Fame, 1983, Hall of Fame, Athletic Department, University of North Texas, 1992, and Texas Radio Hall of Fame, 2002; Bill Teegins Award, Oklahoma Sports Museum 2006; cowinner, Katie Award, Dallas Press Club, 2006, for best play-by-play.

WRITINGS

(With Bob Huffaker, Wes Wise, and George Phenix) When the News Went Live: Dallas 1963, Taylor Trade Publishing (Lanham, MD), 2004.

Play-by-Play: Tales from a Sportscasting Insider, Taylor Trade Publishing (Lanham, MD), 2007.

Sports columnist, Denton Record Chronicle. Contributor to periodicals.

SIDELIGHTS: Bill Mercer told CA:“As a radio-television journalist and sports announcer my writing had been limited to current stories, narrations, and public relations material. My thesis for my master’s degree was on the how-to of sports play-by-play broadcasting—never published. In 2002 Bub Huffaker, a former fellow journalist at KRLD-Television and Radio, was approached about writing a book on the coverage of the Kennedy assassination in Dallas. Bob called on me, Wes Wise, and George Phenix (all former journalists at KRLD) to contribute chapters about our experiences covering the assassination for KRLD. The book is When the News Went Live.

“After that publication I was asked to write a book on the history of radio and television broadcasting as they relate to the evolution of sports broadcasting. Play-by-Play: Tales from a Sportscasting Insider includes chapters on baseball, football, and professional wrestling. I had broadcast all of these from high school, college, and minor leagues to the highest level in each sport. I trace the beginning of sports broadcasting from its inception to the current time.

“In the early 1990s I had been asked to write a summary history of landing craft infantry, large (LCI-L) for the national LCI association annual publication. It is this brief history that I intend to enlarge for my next book. The LCI was originally designed to transport troops from an embarkation point to island or area being invaded. It was considered expendable. However, as World War II progressed, the LCI was probably the most versatile ship created for that war. I promised my shipmates during one of our reunions that I would write a book about our 439. There are fewer of those mates left. It is that story that I wish to tell.

“I never expected to become a college teacher or writer. These evolved out of my early efforts to become a respected professional play-by-play sports broadcaster. At the age of eighty, I imagine the LCI book will be my final chapter as an author.”