By Darin The narrative unfolds around the dramatic events of August 9, 1910, when New York City Mayor William Gaynor fell victim to an assassination attempt orchestrated by a disgruntled individual named Gallagher. In the midst of the ensuing chaos, it was the formidable figure of William "Big Bill" Edwards, the city street cleaning commissioner, who exhibited remarkable bravery by tackling the assailant and thereby neutralizing the immediate threat to the mayor's life. This episode delves into the multifaceted life of Edwards, a man whose athletic prowess on the football field at Princeton University and subsequent career as a prominent official made him a significant figure in the realm of sports and civic duty. We explore how his steadfast determination and commitment to public service culminated in his recognition with the Carnegie Medal of Heroism for his actions that day. Ultimately, this episode serves to illuminate the legacy of Big Bill Edwards, a paragon of courage and dedication, whose story resonates far beyond the confines of the football field.
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Transcript
Godspeed, Mayor.
Speaker A:,:Speaker A:Suddenly, the festive atmosphere is shattered when a disgruntled man named Gallagher, harboring a bitter grudge, steps forward and fires a revolver at point blank range, seriously wounding the mayor.
Speaker A:As a crowd erupts in pure panic and the bleeding mayor falls, a massive figure springs into action.
Speaker A:It's William Big Bill Edwards, the city street cleaning commissioner and a former 6 foot 225 Princeton football star, who ruthlessly charges into the chaos and neutralizes the shooter.
Speaker A:,:Speaker A:I'm your host Darren Hayes of Pigskin Dispatch your portal to positive football history and we're going to go and embark on this story of Big Bill Edwards and the rest of the story of his football career.
Speaker A:This forgotten hero used his training on the football field from years earlier.
Speaker A:Long before he was a larger than life civic hero.
Speaker A:Big Bill Edwards was defined by his intense determination and meticulous goal setting.
Speaker A:Born in Lyle, New York, he worked incredibly hard as a young student athlete at Lyle High and later at Kisky Prep in Salzburg, Pennsylvania.
Speaker A:His ultimate goal was to earn a college diploma and he dedicated himself to gaining admission into Princeton University.
Speaker A:Once there, he proved his work ethic by not only playing football in an elite level, but also working his way through school to succeed academically.
Speaker A:e classroom culminated in his:Speaker A:But while he achieved his academic goals, his physical prowess would soon make him a campus legend.
Speaker A:A massive bear like presence on the field, Edwards was a dominant force who routinely overwhelmed the opposition.
Speaker A:for the Princeton Tigers from:Speaker A:two national championships in:Speaker A:In his senior season, he ran the show as the team captain and was recognized as a consensus first team All American.
Speaker A:But those are not the only moments Edwards was in the spotlight on the gridiron.
Speaker A:Edwards went on to become a top official of the gridiron in the years after leaving Princeton.
Speaker A:he game officials on December:Speaker A:In her award winning book the World's Greatest Pro Gridiron Team.
Speaker A:Now you can find a link to that book in the show notes of this very episode.
Speaker A:In:Speaker A:The two game series became infamous for the game rigging scandal that ultimately crippled both franchises and professional football.
Speaker A:Members of the Bulldogs were accused of intentionally throwing the championship to Maslin, sparking a firestorm of integrity concerns.
Speaker A:While Edwards maintained order on the field for the first leg of the series, he famously was unavailable for the second game.
Speaker A:He had already committed to officiating the prestigious Harvard Yale rivalry game, a testament to his high standing in the collegiate football world.
Speaker A:chaeology.com wrote about the:Speaker A:The confrontation escalated between Osaka struck the former Princeton star in the jaw.
Speaker A:Despite his massive frame and reputation for toughness, Edwards displayed remarkable and admirable self control, opting to professionally eject Wasaka rather than retaliate.
Speaker A:When the legendary coach Pop Warner stormed onto the field of protest, Edwards and referee Walter Akhuson stood their ground, tossing Warner from the game as well.
Speaker A:ter, his firm handling of the:Speaker A:However, his football training would lead to the biggest tackle and peacemaking event of his life.
Speaker A:Following his graduation, Big Bill pursued political aspirations in New York City, taking on roles such as a deputy of street cleaning and eventually working his way within the powerful Tammany hall government machine.
Speaker A:By the summer of:Speaker A:Both Edwards and Mayor Gaynor were highly visible figures within the political system, making them targets for public frustration.
Speaker A:This threat became a reality on August 9th when Gallagher, a discharged city employee who felt the machine had robbed him of his bread and butter, decided to take a violent revenge on the mayor.
Speaker A:The gun went off.
Speaker A:Big Bill Edwards didn't hesitate.
Speaker A:Relying on his gridiron instincts, he violently tackled and subdued the armed assassin, pinning him to the ground to prevent any further injury to the mayor or the crowd.
Speaker A:During the ferocious struggle.
Speaker A:Edwards was shot, sustaining a flesh wound to his arm, but his heroic and selfless actions saved the day and Mayor Gaynor ultimately survived the assassination attempt.
Speaker A:For his incredible bravery, Edwards won the international acclaim as he was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Heroism.
Speaker A:He continued his successful public service career, eventually being appointed by President Woodrow Wilson as a collector of the Internal revenue from for New York's 2nd district.
Speaker A:lege Football hall of Fame in:Speaker A:That's all the football history we have today, folks.
Speaker A:Join us back tomorrow for more of your football history.
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Speaker A:Special thanks to the talents of Mike and Gene Monroe as well as Jason Neff for letting us use their music during our podcast.
Speaker A:This podcast is part of the Sports History Network, your headquarters for the yesteryear of your favorite sport.
Speaker A:You can learn more at Sports History Network.
