Ron St. Angelo

Last updated
Ron St. Angelo
RSA photographing the Dallas Cowboys.jpg
Born
Ron St. Angelo

December 29, 1948
Beaumont, Texas
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPhotographer
Years active55
Known forSports photography
Notable work"Triplets"
Military career
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Service / branch Flag of the United States Navy.svg United States Navy
Years of service1967–1973
Rank PO3 NOGC, winter.svg Boatswain 3rd Class
Unit USS Brinkley Bass (DD-887)
Battles / wars Vietnam War
Awards National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg Vietnam Service Medal 3 Campaigns
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon, with 60- clasp.svg Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with palm.svg Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Website http://www.ronstangelo.com/

Ron St. Angelo (born 1948) is an American photographer. From 1979 until 2010, St. Angelo served as the official photographer of the Dallas Cowboys. He is best known for his photographs of athletes, including Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, and Michael Irvin, who are pictured together in his best-known work, dubbed "Triplets." [1] He has published several books, including Greatest Team Ever. [2]

Contents

Early life

Born in Beaumont, Texas, Ron St. Angelo took interest in photography from a young age. [2] He helped start the photography department at Beaumont High School in 1965, constructing a lab and darkroom to process film and print black-and-white prints.

Upon graduating in 1967, St. Angelo enlisted in the United States Navy. [3] St. Angelo served two combat tours of duty in Vietnam as Boatswain's Mate stationed on a Man-O-War U.S. Destroyer based out of Naval Station Long Beach, California. During his service, he was exposed to Agent Orange, which left him "100% disabled" later in life. [2] After an honorable discharge from military service in 1973, St. Angelo returned to his studies at the University of Houston. [4]

During this time, he began working for a portrait studio with locations in Houston and Dallas, where he was mentored by the company's senior photographer. In 1978, he opened his own professional photography studio, St. Angelo Photography. [1]

Career

In 1979, the Dallas Cowboys hired St. Angelo as their official photographer. In this role, he provided coverage of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, to game action, coaches, and front office officials.

His tenure as the Cowboys' photographer overlapped with the team's "dynasty" period, in which they won three Super Bowls in four years. [5] Most notably, Emmitt Smith, Troy Aiken, and Michael Irvin were drafted during this period. A photograph of the three future Hall of Famers taken by St. Angelo is the most famous photo in the team's history. [6] In 2002, he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in photojournalism for his photograph of Emmitt Smith breaking the rushing record; he was not selected as a finalist. [4] [7]

St. Angelo's "Triplets," one of the most famous photos of the Dallas Cowboys. Ron St.Angelo's DC.jpg
St. Angelo's "Triplets," one of the most famous photos of the Dallas Cowboys.

St. Angelo began to withdraw from sports photography as the job became too physically demanding with age. [8] After his retirement in 2010, St. Angelo donated around 700 photographs to the NFL Hall of Fame Archives. [4]

In 1989 the Professional Photographers Association of China invited him to present his work, and he earned a Master of Photography. [9] In 2002, he received a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize in Journalism. In 2004, Nikon Camera honored him for his work and featured him in their Legends Behind the Lens. [2]

In 2009 he worked for the Roman Catholic diocese of Dallas, publishing four books over the course of 12 years, including Kevin Joseph Cardinal Farrell and the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in 2011. In 2021, he donated a collection of photographs to the Diocese. [10] A collection of his work was inducted into the Dallas Historical Society. [11]

Exhibitions

St. Angelo's photographs are on permanent exhibit at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys. [12] His work was exhibited at Cathedral Guadalupe on the publication of his book, Dallas, Texas. His work was exhibited at Eastman Kodak's Corporate Headquarters in Las Colinas, Texas. Goodrich Gallery Presents Ron St. Angelo One-Man Show / February 1991. He had a one-man show at the Club Corp Country Club in Irving, Texas in 2019. One man show Stage West Theatre Fort Worth, Texas 2013. The White House, Washington D.C. 2005. ESPN Headquarters Las Colinas, Texas 2012.

Awards

Personal

St. Angelo is married to Joanna St. Angelo, executive director of the Sammons Center for the Performing Arts. [13] He is a devout Catholic. [10]

Works

References

  1. 1 2 "'Triplets': A look behind the lens of the photographer who spent decades capturing the Dallas Cowboys". wfaa.com. 2022-02-13. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Dillard, Tracey. "The Man Behind the Camera: Ron St. Angelo". University of Dallas News. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  3. ↑ "KAILON - by Bludomain".
  4. 1 2 3 "Cowboys Photographs Added to the HOF Archives | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  5. ↑ Roberts, Mike (2023-04-08). "Dallas Dynasty: Revisiting the iconic 1990s Cowboys". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  6. ↑ "'Triplets': A look behind the lens of the photographer who spent decades capturing the Dallas Cowboys". wfaa.com. 2022-02-13. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  7. ↑ "2002 Pulitzer Prizes". www.pulitzer.org. Pulitzer. 2002. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  8. ↑ "The Triplets: Through the Lens of Ron St. Angelo". Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  9. ↑ Angelo, Ron St (2020-05-20). Dynasty: DALLAS COWBOYS Team of the 1990's 30th Anniversary. St. Angelo Photography. ISBN   978-0-578-69756-7.
  10. 1 2 "Photographer gives collection to Dallas Diocese, credits his talent to God". 2021-03-17. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  11. ↑ "Legendary Photographer's Exhibit to Be Displayed at UD". University of Dallas News. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  12. ↑ "Legendary Photographer's Exhibit to Be Displayed at UD". University of Dallas News. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  13. ↑ "About Sammons Art Center". Sammons Center for the Arts.


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