Difference between revisions of "Monument of George Preston Marshall"

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[[File:Monument of George Preston Marshall.jpg|200px|thumb|Monument of George Preston Marshall]]
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[[File:Monument of George Preston Marshall.jpg|thumb|Monument of George Preston Marshall]]
George Preston Marshall was operating a laundry business in Washington, D.C., when, in 1932, he made the fateful decision to become part owner of the new Boston Braves franchise in the National Football League. <Ref>https://www.profootballhof.com/players/george-preston-marshall/</ref> Marshall is known more for many of the frills which now mark the modern football game. During the early days of the NFL, college football was more popular. Marshall decided to incorporate elements of the college atmosphere into the professional league. Innovations which he introduced include gala halftime shows, a marching band, and a fight song. <ref>[https://americanfootball.fandom.com/wiki/George_Preston_Marshall George Preston Marshall]. American Football Wiki. Retrieved January 24 2021.</ref>
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George Preston Marshall became one of the part-owners of the new Boston Braves franchise in the National Football League in 1932.  
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<Ref>https://www.profootballhof.com/players/george-preston-marshall/</ref> Marshall is known more for many of the frills which now mark the modern football game. During the beginning of the NFL, college football was more well known. Marshall chose to consolidate components of the college atmosphere into the professional league. He introduced some innovations to the professional league, such as marching band, fight song, and gala halftime shows. <ref>[https://americanfootball.fandom.com/wiki/George_Preston_Marshall George Preston Marshall]. American Football Wiki. Retrieved January 24 2021.</ref>
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
Marshall was born in Grafton, West Virginia on October 11, 1896 to Thomas Hildebrand ("Hill") Marshall and Blanche Preston Marshall. In 1932, while he was the owner of a chain of laundries in Washington, D.C., founded by his father, he and three other partners were awarded an NFL franchise for Boston. This team became known as the Boston Braves, as they played on the same field as baseball's Boston Braves. Marshall's partners left the team after one season, leaving him in control. In 1933 he moved the team from Braves Field to Fenway Park, changing the team nickname to the Redskins. In 1937 he moved the team to Washington. He was romantically tied to silent screen actress Louise Brooks throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and she gave him the nickname "Wet Wash" due to his owning of the laundry chain. He was married to film actress-author Corinne Griffith from 1936 to 1958.<ref>[https://americanfootball.fandom.com/wiki/George_Preston_Marshall George Preston Marshall]. American Football Wiki. Retrieved January 24 2021.</ref>
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Marshall was born in Grafton, West Virginia on October 11, 1896 to Thomas Hildebrand ("Hill") Marshall and Blanche Preston Marshall. In 1932, while he was the proprietor of a chain of laundries in Washington, D.C., set up by his dad, he and the other three accomplices were granted an NFL franchise for Boston. This team got known as the Boston Braves, as they played on a similar field as baseball's Boston Braves. Marshall's partners left the team after one season, leaving him in charge. He moved the team to Fenway Park and changed the nickname to Redskins in 1993. Then, he moved the team again to Washington in 1937.
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In 1933 he moved the team from Braves Field to Fenway Park, changing the team nickname to the Redskins. In 1937 he moved the team to Washington. <ref>[https://americanfootball.fandom.com/wiki/George_Preston_Marshall George Preston Marshall]. American Football Wiki. Retrieved January 24 2021.</ref> Marshall owned the Redskins from their initiation as an establishment in 1932 in Boston until his death in 1969.
  
 
== Controversy ==
 
== Controversy ==
But Marshall resisted efforts and pressure to integrate his roster, becoming the last NFL owner to do so in 1962. Marshall once said he would sign African American players when the Harlem Globetrotters signed white players. The Redskins were the southernmost franchise, and Marshall had their marching band play "Dixie" on the field for 23 years. The NAACP protested against Marshall at a meeting of league owners in 1957 and once picketed outside his home. Because of this controversy, The Washington Redskins are removing George Preston Marshall's name from their Ring of Fame at FedEx Field less than a week after his statue was removed from their former home. The Redskins also will remove him from their history wall outside the locker room at their practice facility. Marshall was the last NFL owner to integrate his franchise.  <Ref>Keim, John [https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29358399/source-redskins-removing-name-former-owner-george-preston-marshall-ring-fame Redskins removing name of former owner George Preston Marshall from Ring of Fame]. ESPN. 24 January 2020. Retrieved January 24 2021.</ref>.
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The Redskins were the only professional football team without having any black player in 1961. Indeed, in the 25-year history of the establishment, there weren't any black men play for George Marshall. "We'll start signing Negroes," said Marshall, "when the Harlem Globetrotters start signing whites." <ref> Smith, Thomas G. [http://www.espn.com/page2/wash/s/2002/0305/1346021.html#:~:text=In%201961%2C%20the%20Redskins%20were,ever%20played%20for%20George%20Marshall. Civil Rights on the Gridiron]. ESPN. Retrieved January 24 2021. </ref>  Marshall refused to sign any black player because he was claiming that integrating the team would make the team lose fans in the Southern United States and it was the southernmost team in the NFL.
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For years, columnists wrote expounded on the absence of Black players on Washington's program, yet it didn't stop Marshall. Interior Secretary Stewart Udall started to give pressure to Marshal to integrate his list, in 1916. NFL commissioner, then was Pete Rozelle, later got involved in attempting to convince Marshall to yield. He was quoted in stories wondering why, if "[a]ll the other teams we play have Negroes, does it matter which team has the Negroes?" That December, Marshall drafted Black running back and Heisman Trophy victor Ernie Davis with the main pick. In any case, it was subsequently discovered that Marshall had exchanged the choice to the Cleveland Browns in return for Mitchell, a running back/collector who turned into Washington's first Black.  
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The Washington Redskins are eliminating George Preston Marshall's name from their Ring of Fame at FedEx Field less than a week after his sculpture was eliminated from their former home. The Redskins also will eliminate him from their history wall outside the locker room at their practice facility. Marshall was the last NFL owner to integrate his franchise.  <Ref>Keim, John [https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29358399/source-redskins-removing-name-former-owner-george-preston-marshall-ring-fame Redskins removing name of former owner George Preston Marshall from Ring of Fame]. ESPN. 24 January 2020. Retrieved January 24 2021.</ref>.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Black Racism in Monuments]]
 
[[Category:Black Racism in Monuments]]

Latest revision as of 08:16, 10 March 2021

Monument of George Preston Marshall

George Preston Marshall became one of the part-owners of the new Boston Braves franchise in the National Football League in 1932. [1] Marshall is known more for many of the frills which now mark the modern football game. During the beginning of the NFL, college football was more well known. Marshall chose to consolidate components of the college atmosphere into the professional league. He introduced some innovations to the professional league, such as marching band, fight song, and gala halftime shows. [2]

History

Marshall was born in Grafton, West Virginia on October 11, 1896 to Thomas Hildebrand ("Hill") Marshall and Blanche Preston Marshall. In 1932, while he was the proprietor of a chain of laundries in Washington, D.C., set up by his dad, he and the other three accomplices were granted an NFL franchise for Boston. This team got known as the Boston Braves, as they played on a similar field as baseball's Boston Braves. Marshall's partners left the team after one season, leaving him in charge. He moved the team to Fenway Park and changed the nickname to Redskins in 1993. Then, he moved the team again to Washington in 1937. In 1933 he moved the team from Braves Field to Fenway Park, changing the team nickname to the Redskins. In 1937 he moved the team to Washington. [3] Marshall owned the Redskins from their initiation as an establishment in 1932 in Boston until his death in 1969.

Controversy

The Redskins were the only professional football team without having any black player in 1961. Indeed, in the 25-year history of the establishment, there weren't any black men play for George Marshall. "We'll start signing Negroes," said Marshall, "when the Harlem Globetrotters start signing whites." [4] Marshall refused to sign any black player because he was claiming that integrating the team would make the team lose fans in the Southern United States and it was the southernmost team in the NFL. For years, columnists wrote expounded on the absence of Black players on Washington's program, yet it didn't stop Marshall. Interior Secretary Stewart Udall started to give pressure to Marshal to integrate his list, in 1916. NFL commissioner, then was Pete Rozelle, later got involved in attempting to convince Marshall to yield. He was quoted in stories wondering why, if "[a]ll the other teams we play have Negroes, does it matter which team has the Negroes?" That December, Marshall drafted Black running back and Heisman Trophy victor Ernie Davis with the main pick. In any case, it was subsequently discovered that Marshall had exchanged the choice to the Cleveland Browns in return for Mitchell, a running back/collector who turned into Washington's first Black. The Washington Redskins are eliminating George Preston Marshall's name from their Ring of Fame at FedEx Field less than a week after his sculpture was eliminated from their former home. The Redskins also will eliminate him from their history wall outside the locker room at their practice facility. Marshall was the last NFL owner to integrate his franchise. [5].

References

  1. https://www.profootballhof.com/players/george-preston-marshall/
  2. George Preston Marshall. American Football Wiki. Retrieved January 24 2021.
  3. George Preston Marshall. American Football Wiki. Retrieved January 24 2021.
  4. Smith, Thomas G. Civil Rights on the Gridiron. ESPN. Retrieved January 24 2021.
  5. Keim, John Redskins removing name of former owner George Preston Marshall from Ring of Fame. ESPN. 24 January 2020. Retrieved January 24 2021.