Bill Mercer: Dallas Cowboys Announcer and Broadcaster Who Covered the JF

Bill Mercer was an American sportscaster and educator best known as the original play-by-play voice of the Dallas Cowboys and as a reporter who covered the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Born William Alfred Mercer on February 13, 1926, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, he had a long career as a broadcaster and teacher.

In 1963 Mercer reported on the Kennedy assassination for KRLD in Dallas and was present at Lee Harvey Oswald's midnight press conference. He served as the Cowboys' play-by-play announcer from 1966 to 1971 and called World Class Championship Wrestling from 1982 to 1987. He was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2002 and taught sports broadcasting for more than 35 years in the University of North Texas Radio/TV Department.

Mercer served as a Navy signalman in World War II, and his ships took part in five invasions. His granddaughter, Emma Tiedemann, is the play-by-play voice of the Portland Sea Dogs. He died on March 22, 2025, at age 99, remembered as a voice that carried generations of Texans through the biggest moments in sports and news.

Achievements: Covered the Kennedy assassination for KRLD (1963), Dallas Cowboys play-by-play announcer (1966-1971), play-by-play voice of World Class Championship Wrestling (1982-1987), inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame (2002).

Birth: February 13, 1926 - Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Profession: Sportscaster, educator and author.

Interesting Facts: Mercer served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He trained many future sports broadcasters at the University of North Texas.