Former Dallas Cowboys QB And Monday Night Football Host ‘Dandy’Don Meredith,Dead Today At The Age Of 72…”Turn out the Lights,The Party’s Over” And R.I.P.

N.F.L. and A.B.C. Monday Night Football broadcasting fan favorite and legend “Dandy” Don Meredith,72, died Sunday evening after suffering a brain hemorrhage and lapsing into a coma.(Source)

Meredith had battled emphysema in recent years and suffered a minor stroke in 2004.(Source)

Meredith died at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, N.M., a hospital spokesman confirmed this morning. Meredith’s wife Susan and daughter Mary were by his side, according to the family’s attorney, Lisa Fine Moses.

His wife Susan told the press today, “He was the best there was,” she said, describing him as kind, warm and funny. “We lost a good one.”(Source)

Dandy Don was one of the most recognizable figures in N.F.L. broadcasting being one of the original host,along with Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford on Monday Night Football starting in 1970.He also worked on MNF with Keith Jackson for a couple of seasons.(TMZ)

Dandy Don was known to sing Willie Nelson’s song “Turn Out the Lights,the Party’s Over,” as soon as he felt like the game he was calling, was essentially over for the losing team. There is no ‘mercy’ rule‘ in professional football,so Dandy Don’s singing was the equivalent of the mercy rule, and the audience looked forward to his crooning each week after it was apparent that one team had taken control of the game.(ESPN)

(Listen to Don singing “Turn Out The Lights,The Party is Over”…)

Meredith was one of the original Dallas Cowboy’s, signing a personal services contract on Nov. 28, 1959, two months before the franchise officially gained admittance into the NFL.(HuffPo)

Don Meredith was one of the most recognizable players on the Dallas Cowboys team, leading the team as their quarterback to three straight division titles and to consecutive NFL Championship games in 1966 and 1967,which they lost twice to the Green Bay Packers.

MNF Favorite team from the early 70's-Don Meredith,Howard Cosell,Frank Gifford

Don Meredith was a two-time All-American at SMU, and his professional career playing QB for the Cowboys lasted from 1960 until 1968.(Bio)

He retired and walked away from the game forever, at the age of 31.

“I tried to talk him out of it,” Cowboys Coach Tom Landry said, “but when you lose your desire in this game, that’s it.(Source)

(ESPN Cowboy’s Quarterback Ranking For Dandy Don Meredith)

Don Meredith took two years off, then in 1970, he joined Howard Cosell in the broadcasting booth as one of the host on Monday Night Football, endearing himself for many years to come, as a much-loved voice fro the everyday man, each week during his legendary run on the series.

MNF broadcasting team-O.J. Simpson,Don Meredith,Frank Gifford...

As a fan of MNF in the 70’s, just like many other American kids during that period, I would also look forward to the banter between Don Meredith,Frank Gifford, and Howard Cosell, and each week they made broadcasting history.

MNF has continued throughout the years with different host, but they have never been able to replace the homespun common-man goodness that Don Meredith brought to the team, no matter how hard they have tried.(Source)

Dandy Don Meredith was an American sports hero, and a true original. We will never “Turn out the lights” on old Dandy Don, but we will keep a light burning in our hearts in remembrance of the joy and entertainment he provided all of us throughout his entire life and career.

He will be missed.

Dandy Don Meredith...may he rest in peace.

For more on the life and career of Dandy Don, click on this link(Wiki)