Wellington Mara
Encyclopedia
Wellington Timothy Mara (August 14, 1916 – October 25, 2005) was the co-owner of the NFL's New York Giants
from 1959 until his death, and one of the most influential and iconic figures in the history of the National Football League. He was the younger son of Tim Mara
, who founded the Giants in 1925. Wellington was a ball boy
for that year.
, the son of Lizette Barclay and Timothy James Mara. He was an alumnus
of the Jesuit schools, Loyola School and Fordham University
in New York City
.
In 1930, Tim Mara split his ownership interests between Wellington (then 14) and his older brother Jack
. Soon after graduating from Fordham University
, Wellington moved into the Giants' front office. He served as Assistant to the President and Treasurer
, 1937; Secretary
, 1938–1940; Vice-President and Secretary, 1945–1958; Vice-President, 1959–1965; President, 1966–1990; President and Co-Chief Executive Officer
, 1991–2005. For his first 28 years in the organization, he handled the franchise's football decisions.
During the early 1960s, Wellington and his brother Jack, the owners of the NFL's largest market, agreed to share television
revenue on a league-wide basis, dividing the amounts of money available in cities like New York with smaller market teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers
and the Green Bay Packers
. That concept of revenue sharing
allowed the NFL to grow and is still being used today. This is certainly Mara's lasting contribution to his game.
Under Mara's direction the New York Football Giants won six NFL titles (including two Super Bowl
wins), nine conference championships (including six Eastern Conference championships in the days before the NFL-AFL merger and three NFC championships post-merger), and thirteen division championships. A seventh NFL title, third Super Bowl victory, fourth NFC championship (tenth conference championship overall), and fourteenth division title have been captured since his passing under the leadership of his son, John
, and co-owner Steve Tisch
(who in turn is the son of Wellington's former co-owner from 1991–2005, Bob Tisch).
The Giants have also accumulated the third highest number of victories in National Football League history. Mara was also well liked by the Giants' players, and was known to stick by them even when they struggled with off-the-field problems. When Lawrence Taylor
was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1999 he credited Mara for supporting him even during the worst times of his drug addiction saying, "He probably cared more about me as a person than he really should have." Taylor has since lived a clean life style and credits Mara with helping him fight his addiction.
He had surgery in May 2005 to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck and under his armpit, but was initially given a good prognosis by his doctors who said the cancer had not metastasized, according to his son, John Mara
, who is the Giants' co-chief executive officer.
The Wilson football used in NFL games prior to the AFL merger (1941–69) was nicknamed "THE DUKE" after Mara. For the 2006 season and beyond, a new version of "THE DUKE" will be used in NFL games.
He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1997.
later that year at age 89. He was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery
in Hawthorne, New York, after his funeral at New York's Saint Patrick's Cathedral
. He is survived by his wife, Ann, 11 children, and 40 grandchildren. His team honored him after his death by defeating the team he always viewed as the Giants' biggest (and oldest) rival, the Washington Redskins
, 36–0 at Giants Stadium. The 80,000 fans in attendance gave his mention a standing ovation. Mara is considered one of the greatest owners in NFL history, establishing a legacy that sets the standard for current and future owners.
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1959 until his death, and one of the most influential and iconic figures in the history of the National Football League. He was the younger son of Tim Mara
Tim Mara
Timothy James "Tim" Mara was the founder and administrator for the New York Giants of the National Football League. The Giants', under Mara, would win NFL championships in 1934, 1938, and 1956 and divisional titles in 1933, 1939, 1941, 1944, 1946, 1958, 1959.-Early life:Mara was born into poverty...
, who founded the Giants in 1925. Wellington was a ball boy
Ball Boy
Ball Boy is a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano and also the name of the main character. It first appeared in issue 1735, dated 18 October 1975. It features a five-a-side football team that includes:* Ball Boy - the captain of the team, Ball Boy bears resemblances to The Dandy's Owen Goal...
for that year.
Life and career
Mara was born in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, the son of Lizette Barclay and Timothy James Mara. He was an alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
of the Jesuit schools, Loyola School and Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In 1930, Tim Mara split his ownership interests between Wellington (then 14) and his older brother Jack
Jack Mara
John V. Mara was a co-owner of the New York Giants; an American football team which plays in the National Football League. Jack was the son of Tim Mara and brother of Wellington, and served as the team's president for 24 years...
. Soon after graduating from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
, Wellington moved into the Giants' front office. He served as Assistant to the President and Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
, 1937; Secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
, 1938–1940; Vice-President and Secretary, 1945–1958; Vice-President, 1959–1965; President, 1966–1990; President and Co-Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
, 1991–2005. For his first 28 years in the organization, he handled the franchise's football decisions.
During the early 1960s, Wellington and his brother Jack, the owners of the NFL's largest market, agreed to share television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
revenue on a league-wide basis, dividing the amounts of money available in cities like New York with smaller market teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. That concept of revenue sharing
Revenue sharing
Revenue sharing has multiple, related meanings depending on context.In business, revenue sharing refers to the sharing of profits and losses among different groups. One form shares between the general partner and limited partners in a limited partnership...
allowed the NFL to grow and is still being used today. This is certainly Mara's lasting contribution to his game.
Under Mara's direction the New York Football Giants won six NFL titles (including two Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
wins), nine conference championships (including six Eastern Conference championships in the days before the NFL-AFL merger and three NFC championships post-merger), and thirteen division championships. A seventh NFL title, third Super Bowl victory, fourth NFC championship (tenth conference championship overall), and fourteenth division title have been captured since his passing under the leadership of his son, John
John Mara
John Kevin Mara is the president, CEO, and co-owner of the New York Giants.Mara was born in New York City and grew up in White Plains, New York. He is the oldest son of Ann and former Giants owner Wellington Mara. He attended Iona Preparatory School in nearby New Rochelle, graduating in 1972. He...
, and co-owner Steve Tisch
Steve Tisch
Steven "Steve" Tisch is an American businessman. He is the Chairman and Executive Vice President of the New York Giants, the NFL team co-owned by his family, as well as a film and television producer...
(who in turn is the son of Wellington's former co-owner from 1991–2005, Bob Tisch).
The Giants have also accumulated the third highest number of victories in National Football League history. Mara was also well liked by the Giants' players, and was known to stick by them even when they struggled with off-the-field problems. When Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1999 he credited Mara for supporting him even during the worst times of his drug addiction saying, "He probably cared more about me as a person than he really should have." Taylor has since lived a clean life style and credits Mara with helping him fight his addiction.
John Mara
John Kevin Mara is the president, CEO, and co-owner of the New York Giants.Mara was born in New York City and grew up in White Plains, New York. He is the oldest son of Ann and former Giants owner Wellington Mara. He attended Iona Preparatory School in nearby New Rochelle, graduating in 1972. He...
, who is the Giants' co-chief executive officer.
The Wilson football used in NFL games prior to the AFL merger (1941–69) was nicknamed "THE DUKE" after Mara. For the 2006 season and beyond, a new version of "THE DUKE" will be used in NFL games.
He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1997.
Death
Wellington Mara succumbed to lymphomaLymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
later that year at age 89. He was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Gate of Heaven Cemetery
The Gate of Heaven Cemetery, approximately 25 miles north of New York City, was established in 1917 at 10 West Stevens Ave. in Hawthorne, Westchester County, New York, United States, as a Roman Catholic burial site...
in Hawthorne, New York, after his funeral at New York's Saint Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
. He is survived by his wife, Ann, 11 children, and 40 grandchildren. His team honored him after his death by defeating the team he always viewed as the Giants' biggest (and oldest) rival, the Washington Redskins
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,...
, 36–0 at Giants Stadium. The 80,000 fans in attendance gave his mention a standing ovation. Mara is considered one of the greatest owners in NFL history, establishing a legacy that sets the standard for current and future owners.
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame
- New York Giants Owner Wellington Mara
- Associated Press article - Giants co-owner, NFL Hall of Famer Mara dies
- Wellington Mara's Eulogy
- Wellington Mara Memorial at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...