George Preston Marshall
Marshall in 1937 | |
| Personal information | |
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| Born: | October 11, 1896 Grafton, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died: | August 9, 1969 (aged 72) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Career information | |
| College: | Randolph-Macon College |
| Career history | |
As an administrator: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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George Preston Marshall (October 11, 1896 – August 9, 1969) was an American professional football executive who founded the National Football League (NFL)'s Washington Commanders. The team began play as the Boston Braves in 1932; he renamed them the Redskins the following year and relocated the team to Washington, D.C. in 1937. Marshall was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with its inaugural class of 1963. He was a supporter of racial segregation and was the last NFL owner to integrate African Americans onto a roster, only doing so in 1962 amid pressure from the federal government who threatened to block the use of D.C. Stadium. Marshall owned the team and was its president until his death from health issues in 1969.