In the Book of Samuel, Abner (Hebrew אבנר "Avner" meaning "father of [or is a] light"), is first cousin to Saul and commander-in-chief of his army (1 Samuel 14:50, 20:25). He is often referred to as the son of Ner.

Abner is only referred to incidentally in Saul's history (1 Samuel 17:55, 26:5), and is not mentioned in the account of the disastrous battle of Gilboa when Saul's power was crushed. Seizing the youngest but only surviving of Saul's sons, Ish-bosheth, Abner set him up as king over Israel at Mahanaim, east of the Jordan. David, who was accepted as king by Judah alone, was meanwhile reigning at Hebron, and for some time war was carried on between the two parties.

Abner Haynes (born September 19, 1937 in Denton, Texas) is a former college and professional football player in the United States.

Haynes is a graduate of North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) where he and his then teammate Leon King integrated college football in the state of Texas in 1956. In 1960 he chose to play for the American Football League's Dallas Texans and led the league in rushing attempts, yards, and TDs in its first year. Haynes helped launch the AFL in 1960, when he was the fledgling league's first Player of the Year, and its first Rookie of the Year. He captured the AFL's first rushing crown with 875 yards, and also led the Texans in receiving, punt returns, and kickoff returns. Haynes spent three years in Dallas and two with same franchise when it became the Kansas City Chiefs. The Kansas City Chiefs, and the North Texas Eagles will later retire his number (28) Jersey in honor of his many achievements.

Haynes still owns 10 franchise records, including most points in a game (30), most touchdowns in a game (5), and most career combined yards (8,442). Over his career he was regularly among the American Football League's top ten rushers, ranking third all-time, and the all-time leader in touchdowns, with 46. He was Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram's most versatile and dangerous weapon from 1960–62, amassing 43 touchdowns and 4,472 yards on rushes and receptions. In 1962, he helped the Texans win the AFL Championship in the classic double-overtime victory over the two-time defending champion Houston Oilers. At the time it was the longest professional football championship game ever played. In that game, Haynes scored touchdowns on a 28-yard pass reception from quarterback Len Dawson, and on a 2-yard run.

Bill Mercer (born February 13, 1926) is an American sportscaster, educator and author, originally from Muskogee, Oklahoma, who now lives in Richardson, Texas. In 2002, he was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.

During World War II, Mercer served in the United States Navy from 1943-1946 aboard the USS Rixie and USS LCI(G)439 as a Signalman. Mercer headed to college after the war where he received a Bachelors degree from the University of Denver in 1949 and a masters degree from North Texas State University in 1966.

Mercer was best known as a play-by-play radio announcer for baseball, football, basketball and wrestling. He was also a news reporter for KRLD covering the John F. Kennedy assassination in 1963. He and fellow reporters George Phenix, Wes Wise and Bob Huffaker wrote When the News Went Live about their experiences during that time. Mercer also wrote Play-by-Play: Tales from a Sportscasting Insider about his experiences in sportscasting. Mercer also had a stint during the 1980s as sports anchor for KVIL morning host Ron Chapman, and spent over 35 years teaching new generations of sports broadcasters in the University of North Texas Radio/TV Department .