Poster
Object number2009.85.4
Artist
Dennis Karchner
Date2009
Mediumphoto paper; ink
Credit LineGift of Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
DescriptionPoster of Pittsburgh Steelers football player Bill Dudley.Dimensions23.25 x 16 in. (59.1 x 40.6 cm)SignedArtist signature on print at bottom center above "PITTSBURGH" is "©Karchner 2009 / KARCHNER".
InscriptionsSubject wears a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey with "35" in white on front.
Black and yellow text at top "Bill Dudley / 1942 1945 1946 / 35"; at bottom: "HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 1966" / "[image of Dudley's Hall of Fame ring] PITTSBURGH [image of Dudley's Hall of Fame ring] / STEELERS".
Simulated handwriting on left side: "For the "Boss Man" & Bert Bell"; right side, “ "Bullet Bill" ”.
MarksText at bottom center of print "©RUANAIDH CARDS".
Handwritten on print, in bottom left corner, in marker, "7/20 / aJR".
Black text along bottom of print in white border "ALL COPY, ARTWORK AND IMAGING ARE COPYRIGHT 2009 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED".
Historical NotesPoster featuring Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Bill Dudley. Commissioned by Arthur J. Rooney, Jr. Dennis Karchner is a native Pittsburgher and graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, who now resides in Florida. View his original artwork: http://www.karchnerwesternart.com/steel.htm Bill Dudley was a Pittsburgh Steelers halfback (1942, 1945-1946; his career was interrupted when he served with the Army Air Corp during World War II) who ran, passed, punted, and even placekicked. He returned punts and kickoffs, caught passes, and was a deadly defender. Dudley, who was nicknamed "Bullet Bill," was a first round draft pick of the Steelers in 1942. He demonstrated from the start that his relatively small size and lack of blazing speed wasn't a detriment. In the first game of his pro career he ran for a 55-yard touchdown and in his second game scored on a kickoff return. He finished his rookie season as the league's leading rusher with 696 yards and earned all-league honors. The 1946 season was, for Dudley, one for the record book: he led the league in rushing, punt returns, interceptions, and lateral passes attempted. Never before had an NFL player led the league in four distinctly different statistical categories, and it's not likely to happen again anytime soon. Naturally, Dudley was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player that year. [Edited from Football Hall of Fame: http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PLAYER_ID=61#]
Related person
William McGarvey Dudley
Related person
Bert Bell
Related institution
Pittsburgh Steelers
On View
Not on view
