Harry Usher
Encyclopedia
Harry Lester Usher was an American
attorney
who was the second and last commissioner
of the United States Football League (USFL)
. He was also the executive vice president
and general manager
of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (LAOOC), which oversaw the business operations
of the 1984 Summer Olympics
. His legal expertise was in entertainment law
.
. His father
died shortly after his birth. He entered Brown University
on a scholarship
, graduated
as a Phi Beta Kappa
in 1961, and later helped many California
-based students attend the university. He then matriculated at Stanford Law School
, where he was editor
of its Law Review
. He earned his law degree
in 1964.
When he was practicing law, he met his client Peter Ueberroth
, the future chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Games of the XXIII Olympiad.
He was awarded the Olympic Order in 1984. After the games, he was a trustee of Brown University for six years.
who had resigned
the previous day. After signing a three-year contract
, he inherited a league that continued to incur heavy financial losses. ESPN had renewed its network television deal for three years. ABC, knowing that the USFL was moving to an autumn
schedule in 1986 in direct competition with the more-established National Football League (NFL)
, decided to televise games for only the 1985 season
.
Usher led the USFL's antitrust suit against the NFL in 1985. However, after the league only won a dollar in damages (trebled to $3 under antitrust law), Usher announced the league would not play its scheduled 1986 season. After the league's final appeals failed in 1988, the league formally disbanded.
, the first in 1975 when he was only 36. The second occurred at St. John's Hospital and Health Center in Santa Monica, California
on January 9, 1986. He had checked into the hospital complaining of chest pain
s nineteen days earlier on December 21, 1985. He died at age 61 in Secaucus, New Jersey
on June 22, 2000. He had suffered a heart attack
while exercising
at the AmeriSuites Hotel
gym
, also in Secaucus. He was on a consulting
mission for General Electric Financial Services Corp.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who was the second and last commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
of the United States Football League (USFL)
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
. He was also the executive vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
and general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (LAOOC), which oversaw the business operations
Business operations
Business operations are those ongoing recurring activities involved in the running of a business for the purpose of producing value for the stakeholders...
of the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
. His legal expertise was in entertainment law
Entertainment law
Entertainment law or media law is a term for a mix of more traditional categories of law with a focus on providing legal services to the entertainment industry. The principal areas of Entertainment Law overlap substantially with the well-known and conventional field of intellectual property law...
.
Early years
Usher was born on March 6, 1939 in Jersey City, New JerseyJersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
. His father
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
died shortly after his birth. He entered Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
on a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
, graduated
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
as a Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
in 1961, and later helped many California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
-based students attend the university. He then matriculated at Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
, where he was editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of its Law Review
Stanford Law Review
The Stanford Law Review is a legal journal produced independently by Stanford Law School students. The journal was established in 1948 with future U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher as its first president...
. He earned his law degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1964.
1984 Summer Olympics
Usher was the executive vice-president and general manager of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Prior to the Games, he headed the Beverly Hills Bar Association. His duties included the conclusion of important contracts concerning both governmental agencies and sports facilities that were used during the Games of the XXlllrd Olympiad.When he was practicing law, he met his client Peter Ueberroth
Peter Ueberroth
Peter Victor Ueberroth is an American executive. He served as the sixth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1989. He was recently the chairman of the United States Olympic Committee; he was replaced by Larry Probst in October 2008....
, the future chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Games of the XXIII Olympiad.
He was awarded the Olympic Order in 1984. After the games, he was a trustee of Brown University for six years.
United States Football League
Usher was named the commissioner of the United States Football League on January 15, 1985, succeeding Chet SimmonsChet Simmons
Chester Robert "Chet" Simmons was an American sports executive, working at three different television networks sports divisions before becoming the first Commissioner of the United States Football League in 1982.Born in New York City on July 11, 1928, Simmons...
who had resigned
Resignation
A resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock...
the previous day. After signing a three-year contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
, he inherited a league that continued to incur heavy financial losses. ESPN had renewed its network television deal for three years. ABC, knowing that the USFL was moving to an autumn
Autumn
Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier....
schedule in 1986 in direct competition with the more-established National Football League (NFL)
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...
, decided to televise games for only the 1985 season
1985 USFL season
The 1985 USFL season was the third and final season of the United States Football League.-Regular season:W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against = Division Champion, = Wild Card-Playoffs:...
.
Usher led the USFL's antitrust suit against the NFL in 1985. However, after the league only won a dollar in damages (trebled to $3 under antitrust law), Usher announced the league would not play its scheduled 1986 season. After the league's final appeals failed in 1988, the league formally disbanded.
Death
Usher had two open-heart surgeriesCardiac surgery
Cardiovascular surgery is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. Frequently, it is done to treat complications of ischemic heart disease , correct congenital heart disease, or treat valvular heart disease from various causes including endocarditis, rheumatic heart...
, the first in 1975 when he was only 36. The second occurred at St. John's Hospital and Health Center in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
on January 9, 1986. He had checked into the hospital complaining of chest pain
Chest pain
Chest pain may be a symptom of a number of serious conditions and is generally considered a medical emergency. Even though it may be determined that the pain is non-cardiac in origin, this is often a diagnosis of exclusion made after ruling out more serious causes of the pain.-Differential...
s nineteen days earlier on December 21, 1985. He died at age 61 in Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 16,264. Located within the New Jersey Meadowlands, it is the most suburban of the county's municipalities, though large parts of the town are dedicated to light manufacturing, retail, and...
on June 22, 2000. He had suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
while exercising
Physical exercise
Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of...
at the AmeriSuites Hotel
AmeriSuites
AmeriSuites Hotels was a hotel chain owned by Global Hyatt. It was founded by Mark Yale Harris. Harris began his successful career in the business world in 1972 as the cofounder of Red Roof Inns. This endeavor resulted in his first chain including over 300 hotels across the United States. Over a...
gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
, also in Secaucus. He was on a consulting
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
mission for General Electric Financial Services Corp.