Violet Bidwill Wolfner
Encyclopedia
Violet Bidwill Wolfner was owner of the Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals
of the National Football League
from 1947
to 1962. She inherited the team when her husband, longtime Cardinals owner Charles Bidwill
, died before the 1947 season. She was the first woman to become principal owner of an NFL team.
Violet's first season as owner saw the Cardinals, led by the "Dream Backfield
" of Paul Christman
, Pat Harder
, Marshall Goldberg
, and Charley Trippi
, defeat the Philadelphia Eagles
for the franchise's first undisputed league championship. They made it to the league title game again in 1948
, but lost to the Eagles in a rematch of the previous year. As it turned out, they would have only four more .500 seasons under her ownership.
Violet married St. Louis businessman Walter Wolfner in 1949, becoming known as Violet Bidwill Wolfner. When it became apparent that Chicago wasn't big enough for both the Cardinals and the Bears
, she moved the team to St. Louis after the 1959 season
. She died on January 29, 1962 and is buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois
. In her will, she split her interest in the Cardinals between her sons from her first marriage, Charles Bidwill, Jr. and Bill Bidwill
.
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...
of 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...
from 1947
1947 NFL season
The 1947 NFL season was the 28th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season by one game from eleven games per team to twelve, a number that remained constant until the 1961 season....
to 1962. She inherited the team when her husband, longtime Cardinals owner Charles Bidwill
Charles Bidwill
Charles W. Bidwill , sometimes known as Charley Bidwill, was an owner of the NFL's Chicago Cardinals. He owned the team for 14 seasons from 1933 until 1947. His interest in sports was demonstrated by his two aims in life: to win an NFL Championship and the Kentucky Derby...
, died before the 1947 season. She was the first woman to become principal owner of an NFL team.
Violet's first season as owner saw the Cardinals, led by the "Dream Backfield
Million Dollar Backfield
The Million Dollar Backfield was a nickname given to two historical backfields in the National Football League. It was first used to describe the offensive attack of the then-Chicago Cardinals in 1947 after an unprecedented amount of money by Cardinals owner Charles Bidwill lured several of the...
" of Paul Christman
Paul Christman
Paul Joseph Christman was an American football player and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He played college football for the University of Missouri and professionally for the Chicago Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.-Collegiate career:A St...
, Pat Harder
Pat Harder
Marlin M. "Pat" Harder was a college and professional football player, playing fullback and kicker. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993....
, Marshall Goldberg
Marshall Goldberg
Marshall Goldberg was an American football halfback with the Chicago Cardinals in the National Football League.- Football career :Goldberg was born in Elkins, West Virginia...
, and Charley Trippi
Charley Trippi
Charles Louis Trippi is a former professional American football player for the Chicago Cardinals. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.Mr. Trippi currently resides in Athens, Georgia...
, defeat 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...
for the franchise's first undisputed league championship. They made it to the league title game again in 1948
1948 NFL season
The 1948 NFL season was the 29th regular season of the National Football League. During the season, Halfback Fred Gehrke painted horns on the Los Angeles Rams' helmets, making the first modern helmet emblem in pro football. The season ended when the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Chicago...
, but lost to the Eagles in a rematch of the previous year. As it turned out, they would have only four more .500 seasons under her ownership.
Violet married St. Louis businessman Walter Wolfner in 1949, becoming known as Violet Bidwill Wolfner. When it became apparent that Chicago wasn't big enough for both the Cardinals and the 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...
, she moved the team to St. Louis after the 1959 season
1959 NFL season
The 1959 NFL season was the 40th regular season of the National Football League. Tragedy struck as NFL Commissioner Bert Bell died of a heart attack on October 11 at Philadelphia's Franklin Field while watching the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers play...
. She died on January 29, 1962 and is buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois
Hillside, Illinois
Hillside is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,155 at the 2000 census.One notable landmark in Hillside is the Mount Carmel Cemetery. On the grounds of the cemetery are the graves of a number of organized crime figures, such as Al Capone and Dion O'Bannion...
. In her will, she split her interest in the Cardinals between her sons from her first marriage, Charles Bidwill, Jr. and Bill Bidwill
Bill Bidwill
William V. "Bill" Bidwill, Sr. is the principal owner and chairman of the board of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was part-owner from 1962 to 1972 with his brother Charles, Jr. and has been sole owner since 1972.-Education:Bidwill went to Georgetown Preparatory School,...
.