Patrick Rooney Sr. 1939-2023: Former CEO of Palm Beach Kennel Club made mark on community

Patrick Rooney Sr., the son of late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney Sr., former Palm Beach Kennel Club CEO and a long-time Palm Beach County resident, died Sunday. He was 84.

One of five sons of Art Rooney, Rooney Sr. moved to Palm Beach County in 1984 to oversee the greyhound track for his father, who bought it in 1970 for about $7 million. A member of the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, Rooney Sr. handed over running PBKC to his son, Patrick Rooney Jr., in 2009. By the next year, it was the nation's No. 1 dog track in terms of money wagered at $199 million counting live and simulcast.

"Pat Sr.’s contributions to Palm Beach Kennel Club and other Rooney family businesses were immeasurable," the Kennel Club said in a statement released Tuesday. "Pat was also known for giving back to the community and he has been honored with several prestigious awards. He shall be known for his generosity, his faith, a lively personality and especially the love for his family, friends, and golf. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Sandy, his children, family and his many friends."

Though the Rooneys grew up in western Pennsylvania — Patrick Sr. also had a home in Hellertown — most of the family eventually had homes in Palm Beach County. Besides Patrick Jr., a former member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2010-16, other sons included Tom Rooney, a former U.S. congressman from 2009-19 and Joe Rooney, who helped open the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott and teamed with Pat Jr. to launch Rooney-themed restaurants in West Palm Beach, Jupiter and Palm Beach International Airport.

At one point, four of Art Rooney's sons made Palm Beach County their home. Patrick lived in Palm Beach Gardens; his twin brother, John, who died last December, Tim and Art II all lived seasonally in Palm Beach. The Rooneys also were a familiar presence on the local social and charitable scene. "The Rooneys should unequivocally be considered the first family of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast," Palm Beach-based sports business analyst Rick Horrow once told The Palm Beach Post. "Not just because of their sports and recent political ties, but because in fact they are interwoven into every aspect of the community fabric."

This past January, Patrick and his wife, Sandra, were honored by the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society at its annual gala. The evening's highlight was the presentation of the Gala Stewardship Award to the Rooneys for their decades of dedication and generosity to the zoo through action and philanthropy.

"From the beginning of time, the balance of the world depends on how animals, plants and humans are intertwined so that the system of life continues," Patrick Rooney said that evening. "By preserving wildlife for future generations, we guarantee them the right to live in a natural world."

Pat Rooney Sr. was a pioneer at the Palm Beach Kennel Club

Under Rooney's direction, millions of dollars have been donated to community projects, educational activities and charitable institutions through his years in Palm Beach County. He was a pioneer in the promotion of PBKC through advertising, events, stakes races and retired racer adoption programs. In 2004, he was the recipient of the Providencia Award, which honors the exceptional contributions of one individual to the county’s most important industry: tourism. The Palm Beach Kennel Club was voted 2013 “Business of the Year” by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

His service includes serving on the board of directors for the following organizations: American College Dublin, Hanley Foundation, Inner City Youth "Getting There" Inc. (a founding board member), Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums and Ave Maria University.

More: Rooney: Slots for PBKC could lead to $150 million casino, 2,000 jobs

Patrick also was a pretty good golfer. On March 19, 2016, he and his friend, Dan Boyle of Philadelphia, made holes-in-one on the 135-yard fourth hole at Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter. At the time, Patrick was 77 and it was his fifth hole-in-one. Having two golfers make an ace on the same hole beat the odds of 1-in-26 million. Of course, he knew those odds would be long; his father used gambling winnings to buy into the NFL and Pat had been working at race tracks since 1963.

That is why it was no surprise when Art Rooney Sr. bought the greyhound track in West Palm Beach. However, a lot has changed through the years, especially with the elimination of greyhound racing after Florida voters passed a constitutional referendum in 2018 banning the sport after December 31, 2020.

Today, the Palm Beach Kennel Club is now under contract to be sold to a real estate firm that plans to redevelop the site into a massive mixed-use complex featuring up to 2,000 housing units. But the family will retain control of the betting franchise. Pari-mutuel wagering will remain operating at a clubhouse, either in its current location or elsewhere on the site.

Patrick Rooney Sr.'s father founded the six-time world champion Steelers

Patrick Rooney Sr. was born in Pittsburgh on March 7, 1939, one of five sons of Arthur J. and Kathleen Rooney. His father founded the six-time world champion Steelers. He attended St. Peter’s Catholic Grammar School on the north side of Pittsburgh, went to high school at North Catholic and graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1960 with a major in history and business. He played football and baseball at North Catholic and Mount St. Mary’s and was captain of the college tennis team. After graduation from Mount St. Mary’s, he worked at the C.G. Hussey & Company of Pittsburgh as a sales representative from 1960-63. He was a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard from 1960-66.

Rooney married Sandra Sully of Hazelwood, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 20, 1962. They had seven children.

In 1963, Rooney began his pari-mutuel career, starting as assistant racing secretary at Brandywine Raceway in Wilmington, Delaware, and serving in the same capacity at Liberty Bell racetrack in Philadelphia. From 1964-69, Rooney was general manager at Liberty Bell. He and his brother John were instrumental in making it possible for thoroughbred racing at Liberty Bell, leading to his election to the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. He served as president of Continental Racing Association in Philadelphia (1969-73), Green Mountain Racetrack in Pownal, Vermont (1973-92) and the Palm Beach Kennel Club (1978-09). From 2009-23, he held the position of CEO and Chairman of the Board for PBKC.

Patrick Rooney Sr. is survived by his wife Sandra Sully Rooney, sons Patrick Rooney Jr., Joseph Rooney, Christopher Rooney, Brian Rooney and Thomas Rooney, and daughters Theresa Rooney Meis and Monica (Molly) Rooney Smith. A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Patrick Rooney’s life will be Saturday, Nov. 4 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 13591 Prosperity Farms Road, Palm Beach Gardens. Family and friends are invited to visitation at the church from 12:30 to 1 p.m., followed immediately by the Mass of Christian Burial. Interment at Our Lady Queen of Peace cemetery in Royal Palm Beach will be private. For those who wish to express their condolences following the mass are invited by the family to the Palm Beach Kennel Club, 1111 N. Congress Ave., West Palm Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Patrick Rooney Sr., son of Steelers founder Art Rooney, dead at 84