Frank FitzGerald (judge) explained

Position:Halfback
Birth Date:August 22, 1896
Birth Place:Holyoke, Massachusetts
Death Date:July 23, 1961 (aged 64)
Death Place:Detroit, Michigan
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lbs:185
High School:Holyoke (MA)
College:University of Detroit
Teams:
Statlabel1:Games
Statvalue1:7

John Francis FitzGerald (August 22, 1896[1] – July 23, 1961), sometimes referred to as France Fitzgerald, was an American football player and judge.

Born in Massachusetts, he attended Holyoke High School.[2] He played college football as a halfback, playing on both offense and defense, at the University of Detroit during the 1917, 1919, 1920, and 1921 seasons.[2] [3] [4]

His education was interrupted during World War I with service in the United States Army.[2] He played professional football as a halfback for the Toledo Maroons in the National Football League (NFL). He appeared in seven NFL games, six as a starter, during the 1923 season.[5]

He studied law at the University of Detroit, worked for a time as a probation officer, and served as a Wayne County Circuit Court Commissioner for several years. He became active in politics and ran for the United States Senate in 1940, losing to incumbent Senator Arthur Vandenberg. In 1943, he ran for Mayor of Detroit, receiving more votes in the primary than the incumbent Mayor Edward Jeffries, but then losing to Jeffries in the general election.

He was elected as a judge of the Wayne County Circuit Court in 1947 and served in that capacity until his death in July 1961.[6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. Some records reflect the same date of birth but list the year of birth as 1897.
  2. Web site: Francis Fitzgerald. Pro Football Archives. December 10, 2020. November 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211108185107/https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerf/fitz00400.html. dead.
  3. News: U. of D. Gridders Pick Fitzgerald To Pilot Eleven: Holyoke Boy Selected at Banquet Tendered Team by Alumni. Detroit Free Press. December 5, 1917. 13. Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Crack Half back With The U. of D. Squad In Its Hunt For Grid Laurels. Detroit Free Press. November 7, 1921. 11. Newspapers.com.
  5. Web site: France Fitzgerald. Sports Reference LLC. Pro-Football-Reference.com. August 12, 2020.
  6. News: Judge FitzGerald Dead at 62. Detroit Free Press. July 24, 1961. 1, 2. Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Burial Services Held For Judge FitzGerald. Detroit Free Press. July 27, 1961. 25. Newspapers.com.