Bill Mercer

Born

1926-02-13

Died

2025-03-22

Birthplace

Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S.

Biography

William A. Mercer was a prominent figure in American sports broadcasting, journalism, and education. A native of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Mercer is remembered for a multifaceted career spanning more than six decades, during which he served as a sportscaster, news reporter, and university professor. He was best known for his broadcasts with the professional wrestling promotion World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) and for covering local sports in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, as well as for his notable journalistic role during the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. During World War II, Mercer served in the United States Navy as a signalman aboard the USS Rixey and USS LCI(G)–439, participating in five Pacific invasions. After the war, he pursued his education at Northeastern State College, later earning degrees from the University of Denver and the University of North Texas (UNT). His legacy in broadcasting continues through his granddaughter, Emma Tiedemann, a play-by-play announcer for the Portland Sea Dogs. Professionally, Mercer had an extensive career calling baseball, football, basketball, and wrestling games. He served as the official voice for various teams, including Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, as well as multiple minor league and collegiate teams. He was also a prominent voice for the NFL, AFL, and regional college sports. His coverage included major events such as the famed 1967 “Ice Bowl” and the Dallas Cowboys' second Super Bowl appearance in 1972. As a journalist, Mercer played a pivotal role during the JFK assassination coverage for Dallas station KRLD. He was present at the midnight press conference with Lee Harvey Oswald, and it was Mercer who informed Oswald that he had officially been charged—an exchange that became historically significant and was later recounted in the book When the News Went Live: Dallas 1963, which Mercer co-authored. In professional wrestling, Mercer gained international recognition as the announcer for WCCW between 1982 and 1987. His involvement in wrestling dated back to the 1950s in Oklahoma and Dallas, where he called matches televised from the Dallas Sportatorium. He worked closely with emerging stars like Kevin Von Erich and Steve Austin (Steve Williams) and became a key voice during the peak years of regional wrestling. He also appeared in the 2005 documentary Heroes of World Class. Beyond his broadcasting work, Mercer devoted over 35 years to educating future sportscasters at the University of North Texas, earning respect as a distinguished academic mentor. He was also honored by the University of Texas at Dallas for his role in their live sports broadcasts. Bill Mercer passed away on March 22, 2025, at the age of 99, leaving behind a lasting legacy in sports media and American broadcast journalism.