Walter Flanigan

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Walter Flanigan
Born:(1890-05-07)May 7, 1890
Beardstown, Illinois, U.S.
Died:June 18, 1962(1962-06-18) (aged 72)
Rock Island, Illinois, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)End
CollegeNone
Career history
As player
1912–1914Rock Island Independents
As owner
1915–1923Rock Island Independents
Career highlights and awards

Walter Harrison Flanigan (May 7, 1890 – June 18, 1962) was an American football player and owner of the Rock Island Independents. He was also one of the co-founders of the National Football League (NFL).

Player turned owner

Flanigan joined the Independents as a backup

Minneapolis. However World War I and the military draft put a temporary halt to Flanigan's plans of expanding the team into new markets.[2]

However once the war ended, Flanigan brought in players from outside the

Akron Indians
(17–0).

Flanigan then challenged the

Akron Indians had drawn only 1,700 spectators and felt that Flanigan could not deliver on his $5,000 guarantee, that was money that came primarily from the gate. However, from Rock Island's viewpoint, the Bulldogs were afraid to play the Independents. That was enough for the Independents to claim the U.S. pro title for themselves.[2]

Life in the NFL

NFL founding

In

1920, Flanigan eagerly joined, and helped found, the new American Professional Football Association (which was renamed the National Football League in 1922). He was present at the September 17, 1920 meeting at Ralph Hay's Hupmobile dealership, located in Canton, Ohio which established the league and made the Independents a charter member of the NFL.[1] and he was named to a committee charged with framing the league's constitution[2]

The Independents posted 4–2–1 records in each of the league's first three years. Five of their six losses were to George Halas and the Decatur Staleys/Chicago Staleys/Chicago Bears.[3]

Firing Coughlin in the second quarter

On October 16, 1921, after the Independent battled back from a 7–0 deficit against the

tackle, Ed Healey relieve Coughlin. Once Coughlin was safely on his way toward the sideline, Healey delivered a message to Jimmy Conzelman
from Flanigan, it read: "Coughlin was fired! The new coach was Conzelman!" This act marked the first and only time an owner hired a new coach in the middle of a game.

Ed Healey traded to Halas for $200

In 1922, Flanigan sold the contract of Ed Healey, who was viewed as an erratic tackle who never would mature, to Halas for $200. However, Healey soon became a star for the Bears and would later be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964. In 1923, Flanigan left the Independents to concentrate on his real estate and insurance businesses.[2]

Outside football

In 1917 Flanigan worked as a desk sergeant with the Rock Island Police Department. The 1930 census showed that he worked as an oil company executive. In the 1940s and 50s he worked as the vice-president of the National Mortgage Company.[1] He died in 1962 at the age of 72. According to the Rock Island Argus one of the mourners at his funeral was Jim Conzelman.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Walter Flanigan". Rock Island Independents.com. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  2. ^
    Pro Football Researchers Association: 1–7. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on March 11, 2012.
  3. ^ "Rock Island Independents". Illinois Ancestors. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
Preceded by
Joseph Smith
 Owner of the Rock Island Independents
1915–1923 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walter_Flanigan&oldid=1215073755"