Danny Villanueva RIP

  By Roberto Orci

Depending on when you met Danny Villanueva he was either a professional football player, first rate television broadcaster, pioneer of Hispanic media, private equity magnate or a philanthropist.  To those who knew him best, Danny was a mentor, cheerleader, role model and somebody always looking for ways to help his community advance.

Danny success was due in part to his discipline, a trait he ingrained into his sons, Danny Jr. and Jim.  It was also due to his unbridled optimism.  After his professional football career with the L.A. Rams and then the Dallas Cowboys, he went on to a brilliant career in television.  He was first a sport broadcaster, then a news director, and in the 1970’s part owner of Spanish International Network which grew, was sold and became Univision.  That made him a rich man.  

When Danny became a multimillionaire one thing did not change.  That was his interest in his community, his “gente.”  When he started in broadcasting he brought his vision to life—and that was that a TV station had to provide more than programming.  It had to help the community stay abreast of what was important to them.  He made KMEX TV a connection to the community by addressing issues that were important to them, and by supporting causes that helped the less fortunate, like Navidad en el Barrio.  The only difference was that later in life he was able to help more people, be more generous and have a bigger impact on his community.

When I met Danny in 1988 he was already an imposing figure in media.  He would sit with you and help find ways to create value for advertisers, many who were tipping their toe in Hispanic advertising for the first time.  His help practically guaranteed success because he was so generous with his support and his creativity.  Stories about him were already plentiful then.  I heard that when he played with the L.A. Rams as kicker he was nicknamed “El Toe-reador.” And whenever he walked onto the field he would be accompanied by bullfighting music.  But he was all business even when it came to sports.  He set the Ram’s record for the longest field goal (51 yards), and the single-season record for punting average (45.5 yards), which lasted for 45 years until it was broken in 2007.  With the Dallas Cowboys he set the record for most extra points made without a miss in a season with 56.  He once told me that his belly from eating all those tortillas never got in the way.

For the longest time I thought I was special because I considered Danny my mentor.  Then at his memorial service this week the truth came out.  One after another spoke about how Danny helped them.  How he took them under his wing.  How he helped them succeed.  How generous he was with them and how he was always there.  Maybe I was not so special, but Danny sure proved that he was.  We celebrated his life and smiled because he made all of us feel special.

Danny was 77. He will be missed by all, but especially by his wife Myrna, his sons Danny and Jim, his siblings, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  His family always came first.

 

 

 

 

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