Dwight White
July 30, 1949 - June 6, 2008


The Steelers are saddened by the death of Dwight White today, a member of the Steel Curtain and the Steelers 75th Season All-Time Team.

 

 

Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, June 11 at noon at Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

 

 

Please note that in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Dwight’s memory be sent to The August Wilson Center of African American Culture at 425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1750, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

 

 

 

Dwight White Bio Information

 

 

 

Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney on the Death of Dwight White

 

 

Dwight White was one of the greatest players to ever wear a Steelers uniform. He was a key member of the Steel Curtain defense and a member of the greatest defensive line in NFL history. He played with a relentlessness that led us to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s. Dwight refused to be denied, as was evidenced when he walked out of the hospital with pneumonia to play in Super Bowl IX and had an outstanding game, scoring our first points by sacking Fran Tarkenton for a safety.    

 

 

Dwight will be remembered by those who knew him even more for being a wonderful and caring person. He was committed to the city of Pittsburgh and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself.  Our prayers go out to his family. We will miss Dwight, but we will never forget everything he meant to the Steelers organization.

 

 

 

Steelers President Art Rooney II on the Death of Dwight White

 

 

We have lost an important member of the Steelers family in Dwight White. His sudden death is a shock to us all. He was a dear friend.

 

 

Dwight should be remembered by fans as a great football player, one who perhaps did not receive the accolades he deserved for helping make the Steelers truly a national team. He always seemed to rise to the occasion when it counted most, and added an element of toughness that was synonymous with our teams of the 1970s.

 

 

We all knew him as “Mad Dog”, but Dwight was a caring person who was very active in local charities. He also had a special gift that enabled him to liven up any room that he entered. Our prayers go out to Dwight’s family at this extremely difficult time. They will remain a member of the Steelers family, just as Dwight will always be in our thoughts.


 


Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell on the Death of Dwight White

 

Governor Edward G. Rendell today expressed sorrow upon learning of the death of his friend, former Pittsburgh Steeler defensive end Dwight White. White served as chairman of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

 

“Dwight was not only a world-class athlete, he was a thoughtful and outspoken individual who cared deeply about his family, his community, and his state,” Governor Rendell said. “His NFL nickname, Mad Dog, belied the fact that he was a true gentleman and an accomplished business leader. After retiring from football, he entered the financial services industry with the same tenacity and determination he showed on the football field.

 

“Midge and I express our condolences to Dwight’s wife, Karen, and their daughter, Stacey.”

 

White most recently served as senior managing director of public finance for Mesirow Financial and worked out of the firm’s Pittsburgh office. He was involved with numerous charities, including the Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries, the Boy Scouts of America, PACE School and Rebuilding Pittsburgh.

 

White was a member of the board of trustees for Seton Hill University and was a motivational speaker for many organizations and corporations.