Edward J. Debartolo Sr.

ABOUT EDWARD J. DEBARTOLO SR.

Businessman best known as the founder of shopping mall industry leader the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation.

He earned a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Notre Dame.

He bought the NFL's San Francisco 49ers in 1977 and handed the team over to his son.

He was the second of six children born to Anthony Paonessa and Rose Villani.

He and NASA's Edgar Mitchell both received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.