When was Pete Rozelle born and where did he grow up?
Alvin Ray Rozelle grew up in Lynwood, California during the Great Depression. He graduated from Compton High School in 1944 alongside Duke Snider.
Questions about Pete Rozelle
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How old was Pete Rozelle when he became NFL commissioner?
Owners chose thirty-three-year-old Rozelle as commissioner at a meeting on the 26th of January 1960. Bert Bell died in October of 1959 leaving the NFL without a leader before this selection occurred.
What decision did Pete Rozelle make after President John F. Kennedy died?
Rozelle wrestled with canceling Sunday games but proceeded to play them because White House press secretary Pierre Salinger urged him to do so. Players on the Washington Redskins asked Coach Bill McPeak to send the game ball to the White House after their win over Philadelphia.
When did the AFL-NFL merger take place and how many teams were added?
Rival leagues agreed to a merger in 1966 after signing superstar Joe Namath for the American Football League. By 1970 the NFL stood at twenty-six teams following the absorption of ten AFL franchises.
Why did Judge Earl R. Larson declare the Rozelle Rule an antitrust violation?
Judge Earl R. Larson declared the Rozelle Rule an antitrust violation on the 30th of December 1975. This rule required a team signing a free agent to compensate the former club with players or draft selections.
When did Pete Rozelle die and what award was established in his name?
He died of brain cancer on the 6th of December 1996 at age seventy in Rancho Santa Fe, California. The NFL established the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 1989 to honor contributions to broadcasting.