PITTSBURGH -- Long-time Pittsburgh Steelers scout Bill Nunn died Tuesday night of complications from a stroke. He was 89.
Through 46 seasons in the NFL, Nunn was considered one of the premier scouts of the traditionally black colleges. In 2010, Nunn became part of the inaugural class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame, along with such NFL stars as Deacon Jones, Walter Payton, Willie Lanier and Tank Younger.
Among the players scouted by Nunn who went on to lead the Steelers to their 1970s dynasty were Mel Blount, John Stallworth, L.C. Greenwood, Donnie Shell and Ernie Holmes.
"We have lost a great friend and a great person who did so much for the Steelers organization with the passing of Bill Nunn," Steelers owner Dan Rooney said. "Bill was a special person who did everything in his career, from playing sports to being an excellent journalist, all of which led to his outstanding career in scouting for the Steelers."
Born William Nunn Jr., he played basketball at West Virginia State and was asked to help integrate the NBA after World War II. Nunn entered journalism, first as a sports writer, then sports editor, then managing editor of The Pittsburgh Courier, one of the most influential black publications in the United States.
He also did some promoting, including boxing bouts and Negro League baseball games involving the Indianapolis Clowns at Forbes Field, the home of the Pirates.
Copyright 2014 by The Associated Press
