Bill Mercer

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.