George Kenneally
Encyclopedia
George Vincent "Gigi" Kenneally, Sr (April 12, 1902 – September 3, 1968) was an American football
offensive lineman in the National Football League
for the Pottsville Maroons
, the Boston Bulldogs
, the Chicago Cardinals
, the Boston Braves
, and the Philadelphia Eagles
. He attended St. Bonaventure University
.
where he played varsity
football
, baseball
, and held the city record for the fifty-yard dash
. Upon graduating in 1919 he joined a group of local youths who were forming a semi-pro football team to play out of the local Knights of Columbus
. He then followed his older brother and enrolled at St. Bonaventure
, where in 1922, he began his collegiate career
. During his four years there he was given sixteen varsity letter
s, including ones for boxing
, as well as being the captain of the football team.
of Pottsville, Pennsylvania
. After his rookie
season, he was chosen as the team's captain and was also named to his first All-Pro
Squad in 1927, as well as in 1928. At the close of the 1928 season the team succumbed to financial difficulties and was no longer solvent. He, along with his partner, then decided to purchase the Maroons franchise for $2,500. Kenneally then transferred the team to Boston
where they became the Boston Bulldogs
. Kenneally had many positions in the franchise; that of part owner, assistant Coach, team captain and offensive end. The Bulldogs were a competitive team and would finish the season at 4-4, but the Wall Street Crash of 1929
caused the team to fold.
. This season would prove to be one of his best in the league as he helped guide the struggling franchise to a 5-6 record, but also his only season for Chicago. The highlight of the season was an indoor exhibition game played at Chicago Stadium
between the Chicago Bears
and Cardinals with the proceeds aiding unemployment relief funds.
. He also utilized this sabbatical year by unsuccessfully trying to generate funds to restart his Bulldog franchise. He would lead the Marquette’s to an undefeated season with a schedule that consisted of two professional opponents. They outscored their opponents that season 236 to 9.
Boston Braves
. He played for the Braves for only one season as an offensive end and an assistant coach.
to play for and assist with the newly formed Philadelphia Eagles
franchise. For the next three seasons, he would anchor the Eagles line, serve as the teams captain and assistant coach, and was again selected All-Pro during the 1934 season. He retired at the end of the 1935 season.
and General Manager of the Boston Shamrocks
of the newly formed American Football League. The Shamrocks would play a torturous 19 game schedule which resulted in them capturing the league title as AFL champions for the 1936 season. Unfortunately, the AFL was financially unstable and was soon forced to cease operations. The Shamrocks would continue to operate as an independent until 1938.
. In 1950 he left the Revere athletic program in a vastly improved state and became the line coach at Brandeis University
for four years. He then returned to his old job as head of the Social Studies department at Revere, the position he would hold until his death.
Kenneally died on September 3, 1968.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive lineman in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Pottsville Maroons
Pottsville Maroons
The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1920, they went on to play in the National Football League for four seasons, from 1925–1928...
, the Boston Bulldogs
Pottsville Maroons
The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1920, they went on to play in the National Football League for four seasons, from 1925–1928...
, the Chicago Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the Boston Braves
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, and the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He attended St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
.
Early life
Kenneally began his athletic career at Boston Latin High SchoolBoston Latin School
The Boston Latin School is a public exam school founded on April 23, 1635, in Boston, Massachusetts. It is both the first public school and oldest existing school in the United States....
where he played varsity
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, and held the city record for the fifty-yard dash
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
. Upon graduating in 1919 he joined a group of local youths who were forming a semi-pro football team to play out of the local Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
. He then followed his older brother and enrolled at St. Bonaventure
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
, where in 1922, he began his collegiate career
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. During his four years there he was given sixteen varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
s, including ones for boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, as well as being the captain of the football team.
Pottsville Maroons/Boston Bulldogs
Kenneally joined the NFL in 1926 with the Pottsville MaroonsPottsville Maroons
The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1920, they went on to play in the National Football League for four seasons, from 1925–1928...
of Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Pottsville is the only city in and the county seat of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,549 at the 2000 census. The city lies along the west bank of the Schuylkill River, north-west of Philadelphia...
. After his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season, he was chosen as the team's captain and was also named to his first All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
Squad in 1927, as well as in 1928. At the close of the 1928 season the team succumbed to financial difficulties and was no longer solvent. He, along with his partner, then decided to purchase the Maroons franchise for $2,500. Kenneally then transferred the team to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
where they became the Boston Bulldogs
Pottsville Maroons
The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1920, they went on to play in the National Football League for four seasons, from 1925–1928...
. Kenneally had many positions in the franchise; that of part owner, assistant Coach, team captain and offensive end. The Bulldogs were a competitive team and would finish the season at 4-4, but the Wall Street Crash of 1929
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
caused the team to fold.
Chicago Cardinals
Kenneally was back in the NFL in 1930, playing for the Chicago CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. This season would prove to be one of his best in the league as he helped guide the struggling franchise to a 5-6 record, but also his only season for Chicago. The highlight of the season was an indoor exhibition game played at Chicago Stadium
Chicago Stadium
The Chicago Stadium was an indoor sports arena and theater in Chicago. It opened in 1929, and closed in 1994.-History:The Stadium hosted the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL from 1929–1994 and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA from 1967–1994....
between the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Cardinals with the proceeds aiding unemployment relief funds.
Boston University
In 1931, Kenneally accepted a coaching position at Boston UniversityBoston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. He also utilized this sabbatical year by unsuccessfully trying to generate funds to restart his Bulldog franchise. He would lead the Marquette’s to an undefeated season with a schedule that consisted of two professional opponents. They outscored their opponents that season 236 to 9.
Boston Braves
In 1932, Kenneally returned to Boston to play/coach for George Preston Marshall'sGeorge Preston Marshall
George Preston Marshall was the owner and president of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League from 1932 until his death in 1969.-Contributions:...
Boston Braves
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. He played for the Braves for only one season as an offensive end and an assistant coach.
Philadelphia Eagles
In 1933, Kenneally left Boston with Lud WrayLud Wray
James R. Ludlow "Lud" Wray was a professional American football player, coach, and co-founder, with college teammate Bert Bell, of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He was the first coach of the Boston Braves in 1932 and of the Eagles, 1933-1935...
to play for and assist with the newly formed Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
franchise. For the next three seasons, he would anchor the Eagles line, serve as the teams captain and assistant coach, and was again selected All-Pro during the 1934 season. He retired at the end of the 1935 season.
Boston Shamrocks
Kenneally was offered the position of head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
and General Manager of the Boston Shamrocks
Boston Shamrocks
The Boston Shamrocks can be:* , a Ladies Gaelic Football Team*Boston Shamrocks , an American football team*Boston Shamrocks , a basketball exhibition team...
of the newly formed American Football League. The Shamrocks would play a torturous 19 game schedule which resulted in them capturing the league title as AFL champions for the 1936 season. Unfortunately, the AFL was financially unstable and was soon forced to cease operations. The Shamrocks would continue to operate as an independent until 1938.
Later years
In 1939, Kenneally accepted the position of athletic director, head coach, and history teacher at Revere High SchoolRevere High School
Revere High School is the public high school of the Revere Local School District in Richfield and Bath, Ohio. In 2007 and 2008, US News and World Report issued Revere High School a silver star, signifying that it is one of the top 505 high schools in the United States...
. In 1950 he left the Revere athletic program in a vastly improved state and became the line coach at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
for four years. He then returned to his old job as head of the Social Studies department at Revere, the position he would hold until his death.
Kenneally died on September 3, 1968.
Legacy
- In the 1950s, Readers Digest published an article entitled "George Kenneally the toughest two-way end to ever play for the Philadelphia Eagles."
- In 1951, he was elected to the New England Sports Hall of Fame as a charter member.
- In 1970, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
- In 1973, he was inducted into the Brandeis University Hall of Fame
- In 1976, he was inducted into the Saint Bonaventure Hall Of Fame.
- In 1990 he was inducted into the Massachusetts High School Coaches Hall of Fame and the South Boston Hall of Fame.