Robert J. Dunne
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | River Forest, Illinois, U.S. | August 29, 1899
Died | May 18, 1980 Winnetka, Illinois, U.S. | (aged 80)
Playing career | |
1918–1921 | Michigan |
Position(s) | End, guard |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1923–1926 | Northwestern (line) |
1927–1930 | Harvard (line) |
1935 | Chicago (line) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
Awards | |
| |
Robert Jerome "Duke" Dunne (August 29, 1899 – May 18, 1980) was an American football player and coach, and state court judge in Illinois. He played for the University of Michigan from 1918 to 1921, and competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics.[1] After graduating from Michigan in 1922, he attended law school at Northwestern University where he also served as the line coach for the university's football team from 1923 to 1925. He was also the line coach at Harvard University from 1926 to 1930 and at the University of Chicago in 1935. He was a state court judge in Illinois from 1931 to 1976 and served as the presiding judge of Chicago's probate court for his last 20 years on the bench.
Early years
Dunne was born in 1899 in
Michigan
Three of Dunne's older brothers were athletes at the University of Michigan. His brother Edward graduated from Michigan in 1909 and played first base on the Wolverines' baseball team. His brother Maurice graduated from Michigan's law school in 1917 and played for the Wolverines' baseball and football teams.[3] His brother Dick also competed in athletics at Michigan.[2]
Dunne announced his decision to attend the University of Michigan in May 1916.[2] While attending Michigan, Dunne won
In football, Dunne started all five games for the undefeated 1918 Michigan team that was later recognized as the national championship team.[6] As a sophomore in 1919, Dunne started six of seven games for Michigan at the tight end position.[7] As a junior in 1920, Dunne was moved from end to guard and started all seven games as left guard for the 1920 team.[8]
At the end of the 1920 season, Dunne was elected as the captain of the 1921 Michigan football team. He started five of seven games for the Michigan team in 1921, all at the left guard position.[9] At the end of the 1921 season, Dunne was selected as a first-team All-American by Norman E. Brown of the Central Press Association.[10] Dunne also earned the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor awarded to the student at each Big Ten university with the best overall record as an athlete and student.[3]
Football coach
After graduating from Michigan, Dunne enrolled in law school at Northwestern University. While attending law school, he also served as the line coach for the school's football team from 1923 to 1926.[11] In 1926, Dunne helped develop the Northwestern line into one of the most powerful in the West. The 1926 team tied with Michigan for the Western Conference title and held Notre Dame to one touchdown.[12]
In January 1927, Dunne was hired by Harvard University to serve as line coach for its football team under head coach Arnold Horween. Upon his hiring, the Harvard Crimson reported that Dunne had learned the game from Fielding Yost and noted that "he will bring to Harvard a thorough knowledge of a system that has won great success in the Western Conference."[12] Dunne coached the line at Harvard for five years, announcing his retirement from football in December 1930.[13]
In May 1935, Dunne, then a sitting judge on the Chicago Municipal Court, was appointed line coach for the University of Chicago football team. He was assigned to develop the team's guards and tackles.[11]
Judicial career
After leaving Harvard in 1930, Dunne returned to Chicago and entered the practice of law. In 1932, he was elected as a municipal court judge in Chicago. In 1936, he was elected as a judge of the
Dunne spent the last 20 years of his judicial career as the presiding probate judge in Chicago.[18] In that position, he presided over lawsuits involving the estates of many of Illinois' most famous personalities. Among the noted cases in which Dunne presided are the following:
- In 1959, Dunne presided over the probate of the estate of Grace Comiskey and a dispute over control of the Chicago White Sox between siblings Dorothy Comiskey Rigney and Charles Comiskey. Dunne rejected a petition by Charles Comiskey to block his sister's sale of a 54% interest in the club to Bill Veeck for $2.7 million.[19]
- Also in 1959, Dunne oversaw the probate of the estate of Ada Wrigley, the widow of William Wrigley Jr. Company. The combined estates were valued at more than $40 million.[20]
- In 1960, Dunne was the presiding judge in a lawsuit concerning efforts of Kansas City Athletics baseball team from the estate of Arnold Johnson. Dunne approved the sale despite concerns that Finley might move the club out of Kansas City.[21]
- In 1967, Dunne presided over the probate of the estate of Abe Saperstein, owner of the Harlem Globetrotters. Dunne approved the estate's sale of the Globetrotters to a syndicate led by Potter Palmer, scion of a wealthy Chicago family.[22]
Dunne retired from the bench in 1976.[18]
Later years and death
In July 1969, Dunne received a Distinguished American Award from the Chicago chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame for carrying the lessons of football into a life of service to the community.[23]
After retiring from the bench in 1976, Dunne became associate counsel with the law firm of McBride, Baker, Wienke, and Schlosser. Dunne died in May 1980 at his home in Winnetka, Illinois. He was 80 years old at the time of his death and was survived by his wife, Margaret, three sons, Robert, Jr., Denis, and Albert Pyott, and a daughter, Carol D. Baranko.[18]
References
- ^ "Robert J. Dunne". Olympedia. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Another Pontius and Dunne for Michigan". The Pittsburgh Press. 1916-05-31.
- ^ a b c "Dunne Receives Conference Medal From Yost". Michigan Alumnus. 1922. p. 989.
- ^ "'Duke' Dunne Leaves To Join Teammates for Olympics". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1920-07-23.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Robert J. Dunne Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
- ^ "1918 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
- ^ "1919 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
- ^ "1920 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
- ^ "1921 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
- ^ "Western Players Predominate On All American Team Picked By Normy Brown". Capital Times. 1921-11-28.
- ^ a b "Judge Dunne Named Maroon New Line Coach". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1935-05-20.
- ^ a b "DUNNE TO ASSIST HORWEEN IN '27". Harvard Crimson. 1927-01-08.
- ^ "Casey Named Harvard Football Coach as Successor to Horween". Harvard Crimson. 1930-12-10.
- ^ a b c Seymour Korman (1939-05-18). "Lynch, Dunne Candidacies for Bench Reviewed". Chicago Daily Tribune.
- ^ "OFFICIAL VOTE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS CAST AT THE GENERAL ELECTION, NOV. 3, 1936 PRIMARY ELECTIONS GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL 14, 1940 PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE, APRIL 14, 1936" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2 August 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Judge Dunne Will Serve in Juvenile Court". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1947-12-24.
- ^ "Judge Reviews Barriers of Job Nobody Wanted: Juvenile Court's a Heart-Breaking Task to Dunne". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1948-12-13.
- ^ a b c "Robert J. Dunne dies; retired probate judge". Chicago Tribune. 1980-05-19. p. C7.
- ^ "Comiskey Says Sister Accepted 'Rotten Deal': More Legal Maneuvering Develops in Family Feud over White Sox Sale". The Milwaukee Journal. 1959-03-07.
- ^ "Value Set on Estate". The Spokesman-Review. 1959-08-21.
- ^ "Insurance Baron Purchases Kansas City A's Control". Herald-Journal. AP. 1960-12-20.
- ^ "Chicago-Based Syndicate Pays $3.7-Million for Globetrotters". St. Petersburg Times. 1969-06-09.
- ^ James Fitzgerald (1969-07-29). "Football Foundation Honors Maxwell, Reid, Dunne". Chicago Tribune.