Edward Bennett Williams
Edward Williams | |
---|---|
Washington Redskins | |
In office 1969–1974 | |
Preceded by | George Preston Marshall |
Succeeded by | Jack Kent Cooke |
Owner of the Baltimore Orioles | |
In office August 2, 1979 – August 13, 1988 | |
Preceded by | Jerold Hoffberger |
Succeeded by | Eli Jacobs, Larry Lucchino, Sargent Shriver, Bobby Shriver |
Personal details | |
Born | Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. | May 31, 1920
Died | August 13, 1988 Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 68)
Political party | Democratic |
Education | College of the Holy Cross (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
Edward Bennett Williams (May 31, 1920 – August 13, 1988) was an American lawyer and businessman who co-founded the
Career in law
Williams represented many high-profile clients, including
Williams, who was a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Georgetown University Law Center, successfully defended—among others—Adam Clayton Powell Jr., the Teamsters Union, John Connally and, as one of his last clients, Michael Milken.
Two of Williams' closest friends were The Washington Post's Art Buchwald and Ben Bradlee. His debating team partner at Holy Cross was Robert Maheu, Howard Hughes's right-hand man for many years.
Before establishing
Professional sports
Williams entered the world of professional sports as a lawyer for
Williams spent heavily on appointing high-profile coaches and general managers, beginning with Otto Graham in 1966 and continuing with Vince Lombardi in 1969, George Allen in 1971 and Bobby Beathard in 1978. A defeat in Super Bowl VII was the farthest the Redskins ever advanced in any of the seasons under Williams's watch. When Jack Kent Cooke bought controlling interest in 1974, Williams remained team president and operating head of the franchise until 1980 and remained part-owner until 1985.[3][4]
Williams acquired controlling interest in the Baltimore Orioles from Jerold Hoffberger for $12 million on August 2, 1979,[5] with the transaction being approved unanimously by American League team owners 11+1⁄2 weeks later on October 22.[6] His interest in purchasing the franchise began when he represented in negotiations William E. Simon, who had attempted to do the same thing earlier that year until he withdrew his offer on February 5.[7][8] As part of the deal, Williams bought a block of publicly traded shares that had been issued in 1936 when the team was still the St. Louis Browns, making the Orioles privately held once again.
Many feared Williams would move the team to Washington. Baltimore had previously lost the Baltimore Bullets to Washington. The fear of Williams's moving the team increased with the 1984 departure of the Baltimore Colts. However, Williams never moved the team. More importantly, Williams signed a new, long-term lease with Baltimore that would pay for a new stadium, which would become Oriole Park at Camden Yards. He would not live to see the new ballpark (it opened in 1992, four years after his death). The Orioles were sold by Williams's wife Agnes to Eli Jacobs, Larry Lucchino and Sargent and Bobby Shriver for $70 million on December 5, 1988.[9]
Real estate investments
Among Williams's many real estate holdings was The Jefferson, a 98-room luxury hotel located near the White House and favored by many sport and political figures in the 1980 and 90s. In April 1989, Paine Webber Realty (a subsidiary of the Paine Webber stock brokerage firm) purchased the hotel from Agnes Williams for $28 million ($66.1 million in 2022 dollars).
Death
Williams died at Georgetown University Hospital, aged 68, on August 13, 1988, after a 12-year battle with colon cancer.[10] His funeral was attended by most of Washington's power elite, including then-Vice President George H. W. Bush. He was buried in St. Gabriel Cemetery in Potomac, Maryland.
In a final testament to Williams's reach and influence, his funeral was attended by an exceptionally wide range of the famous and infamous, including Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, Eunice Kennedy and Sargent Shriver, and Michael Milken (of the famous 1980s junk-bond scandal).[11]
Honors
The
References
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Richman, Michael. The Redskins Encyclopedia. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2019
- ^ White, Joseph. "Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke dies," The Associated Press (AP), Sunday, April 6, 1997. Retrieved August 10, 2019
- ^ "Redskin Owner Buys Orioles," The New York Times, Friday, August 3, 1979. Retrieved August 25, 2018
- ^ "Sale of Orioles to Williams Approved by Club Owners," The New York Times, Tuesday, October 23, 1979. Retrieved December 12, 2020
- ^ Scannell, Nancy. "Hoffberger Sells Orioles To Williams," The Washington Post, Friday, August 3, 1979. Retrieved December 12, 2020
- ^ Scannell, Nancy. "Simon Withdraws Offer for Orioles," The Washington Post, Tuesday, February 6, 1979. Retrieved December 12, 2020
- ^ Justice, Richard. "Seed That Began Orioles' Sale Planted at Ethel Kennedy's Home," The Washington Post, Sunday, December 11, 1988. Retrieved August 25, 2018
- ^ Edward Bennett Williams (obituary), United Press International, Saturday, August 13, 1988. Retrieved August 19, 2018
- ISBN 978-1-4391-2796-4.
- Krebs, Albin (1988-08-14). "Edward Bennett Williams, 68, Influential Trial Lawyer, Dies; A Brilliant 'Superlawyer'". The New York Times.
- Thomas, Evan. The Man to See, 1991.
- Williams, Edward Bennett. One Man's Freedom.
- Hilzenrath, David S. (April 4, 1989). "Paine Webber Realty to Buy Jefferson Hotel". The Washington Post. p. C1