Ron St. Angelo

Ron St. Angelo (born 1948) is an American photographer who has been the official photographer of the Dallas Cowboys since 1979. He has photographed athletes, such as Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Herschel Walker; Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders; coaches Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson; General Manager Texas E. "Tex" Schramm; and President and General Manager Jerry Jones. He has published several books, including Greatest Team Ever, which featured a cover photograph of the "Triplets".

Early life
Born in Beaumont, Texas, Ron St. Angelo 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. In 1968, as Boatswain's Mate stationed on a Man-O-War U.S. Destroyer based out of Naval Station Long Beach, California, he served two combat tours of duty in the Vietnam War and was decorated for his service. After his honorable discharge from military service in 1973, St. Angelo returned to Houston and majored in philosophy at the University of Houston. In 1976, he began working for Gittings Portrait Studio in Houston and Dallas; photographer Arthur Heitzman mentored him. In 1978, he opened his own professional photography studio, St. Angelo Photography.

After 1978
From 1978 he has photographed musicians for Wild West Productions including Rolling Stones, Beyonce, and Neil Young. In 1979, the Dallas Cowboys hired him to photograph all aspects of the team, from Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, led by Suzanne Mitchell and choreographer Texie Waterman, to game action, coaches, and front office officials. He continued that role through three World Championship wins and the Cowboys' becoming the Team of the Decade with multiple future NFL Hall of Famers.

St. Angelo also photographed for commercial and advertising clients like Rolls-Royce, The Houstonian and President George H.W. Bush.

In 1989 the Professional Photographers Association of China invited him to present his work, and he earned a Master of Photography. 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.

In 2007 he became an adjunct professor of photography at the Art Institute of Dallas, and he served as board president of the Photographers Advisory Board.

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.

Exhibitions
St. Angelo's photographs are on permanent exhibit at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Star, Dallas Cowboys Headquarters in Frisco, Texas. 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

 * 1989: Master of Photography, Republic of China
 * 1991: Board Ten Thousand Eyes Project / 150th Anniversary of Photography Eastman Kodak
 * 2002: The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences / Lone Star Chapter / Sports Emmy Documentary on Official Photographer Dallas Cowboys
 * 2004: Nikon Camera / Legends Behind the Lens
 * 2009: St. Angelo Signature Collection Dallas Cowboys Football Club

Personal
St. Angelo is married to Joanna St. Angelo, executive director of the Sammons Center for the Performing Arts.