William Boyd Rooney, Jr.

William Boyd Rooney, Jr. passed away on February 9, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 90. He was born on June 11, 1934, in Tomahawk, West Virginia, to William Boyd Rooney, Sr. and Grace Catherine (Wheeler) Rooney.

Boyd’s work ethic began early, starting as the school janitor in his two-room country schoolhouse when he was just 7 years old. He often joked that he had been continuously employed since the second grade. As soon as he was old enough, he worked alongside his father, uncle, and grandfather in the family orchards.

Boyd attended Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where he worked as a DJ for the college radio station and performed in a number of plays. He frequently shared the story of playing Moody in Golden Boy, where he caused an uproar by opening the play with a line that included a swear word. He left West Virginia in 1955 for Lincoln, Nebraska, where he earned a master’s degree in broadcasting from the University of Nebraska. He went on to have a long and distinguished career in public broadcasting, first with Nebraska Public Television and then with KUAT at the University of Arizona.

Boyd is survived by his sister, Judy Erskine (Hugh); his three daughters, Cathy Littleton (Brad), Lisa Walz (Jeff), and Susan Edgington (Clo); and his grandchildren Jennifer (Jamie), Lauren, Matt (Ronni), Zach, Abby, Natalie, and Nathan.

Boyd’s final wishes were to dip his feet in the cool water of the Tomahawk Run spring, where his ashes will be spread and his life will be celebrated.