Artifact from Waldorf Astoria New York to serve as centerpiece of college football showcase as the iconic property undergoes restoration and transformation
As part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of college football, The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that Anbang Insurance Group (Anbang), the owner of Waldorf Astoria New York, will loan the desk of General Douglas MacArthur for a display at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. On display beginning July 3, the desk showcases the famous military leader’s ties to the NFF, the game of football and the historic property.
“General Douglas MacArthur ranks among our nation’s greatest leaders,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “His deep appreciation for the game of football and the values it instills in our nation’s young people led him to take on a leadership role with the National Football Foundation in the 1950s and 1960s. The exhibit at the Hall in Atlanta will allow visitors an opportunity to learn more about the iconic general and his role in helping the NFF fulfill its mission of protecting the game for future generations.”
General MacArthur, who after returning from World War II, the reconstruction of Japan and serving in Korea, lived with his wife Jean at Waldorf Astoria New York from April 20, 1951 until his passing on April 5, 1964. The desk became a fixture in the MacArthur Suite after their residency as a favorite artifact for VIP guests to see and admire. The hotel was purchased by Anbang in 2014 from Hilton but will continue to be operated by Hilton as part of a 100-year management agreement. The property is currently undergoing a complete renovation and restoration with plans to reopen in 2021.
Following the Football Hall of Fame showcase, the vintage desk will return to Waldorf Astoria New York, where it will be housed alongside a variety of other notable artifacts, including the famed Cole Porter Steinway piano, President John F. Kennedy’s rocking chair and the World’s Fair Clock Tower. Waldorf Astoria New York will feature approximately 350 hotel rooms and 375 luxury residences when it reopens in 2021.
“Waldorf Astoria New York has historically been synonymous with some of society’s most influential moments, cultivating an outstanding catalog of artifacts over its lifetime,” says Andrew Miller, Executive Director of Real Estate Development at Anbang. “As Waldorf Astoria New York undergoes this major revitalization effort, we’re extremely pleased that General MacArthur’s desk will be included in an exciting showcase curated by the National Football Foundation, for fans of both history and sports to appreciate.”
“Throughout its history, Waldorf Astoria New York has been a home to many significant figures, including General MacArthur,” said Dino Michael, global brand head, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts. “The property is filled with historical treasures that we are working hard to preserve and as we prepare for the property’s reopening, we are proud to share General MacArthur’s desk with the College Football Hall of Fame.”
In addition to serving as the home to General MacArthur and his wife, Waldorf Astoria New York and its majestic Grand Ballroom provided the stage for the NFF Annual Awards Dinner for a consecutive 58-years, from 1959 through 2016, when the property began renovations. Over the years, the landmark hotel became a favorite of the college football community as they would travel to New York City for the annual induction of the newest College Football Hall of Fame Class; the presentation of the prestigious NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards and The William V. Campbell Trophy®; and the bestowing of the NFF Major Awards, including the NFF Gold Medal, which General MacArthur claimed in 1959. A total of 1,026 College Football Hall of Fame inductees, 828 NFF National Scholar-Athletes and numerous major award recipients all claimed their honors at Waldorf Astoria New York. The venue and the event became intensely intertwined, often making NFF history synonymous with the distinguished location.
“We’re extremely grateful to Anbang for entrusting us with one of Waldorf Astoria New York’s most cherished treasures,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “General MacArthur was a seminal figure in the history of our organization, adding enormous credibility to our efforts and his name still does. It’s a fitting tribute as we celebrate the 150th celebration of college football that we are able to display his desk at the Hall in Atlanta for all the public to see.”
General MacArthur’s ties to football are numerous and extend back to the early 1900s when as an undergraduate at West Point he served as the team manager of the football team. Prior to his time at the Military Academy, he attended the West Texas Military Academy (now called TMI Episcopal) in San Antonio, where he played quarterback. During World War II, he sent a well-known telegraph to College Football Hall of Fame coach Earl “Red” Blaik, who had led Army to a 23-7 victory against Navy in 1944, saying: “The greatest of all Army teams - STOP - We have stopped the war to celebrate your magnificent success – STOP." In a tribute to the sport, MacArthur also famously pondered the gridiron’s greater significance to society and specifically the military, saying: “Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that, upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.”
In 1958, the NFF invited General MacArthur to become chairman of the organization’s National Advisory Board, which he accepted, saying: “I know what you want me to do — be a front for you — and I will be.” In addition to having the MacArthur serve on the advisory board, the NFF named its national championship trophy for college football’s top division in his honor, and the MacArthur Bowl has been presented to every national champion for the past 61 years. The fabled trophy remains on display at the Hall in Atlanta, and it features his famous quote: “There is no substitute for victory.” The trophy was first presented in 1959 at Waldorf Astoria New York, the same night that General MacArthur accepted the Gold Medal at the iconic destination.
“Football has become a symbol of our country’s best qualities — courage, stamina and coordinated efficiency,” MacArthur said while accepting the Gold Medal on stage at Waldorf Astoria New York in 1959. “Many even believe in these cynical days of doubt and indecision that through this sport we can best keep alive the spirit of reality and enterprise which has made us great. In all my own long public service, both in war and peace, it is the football men that I found my greatest reliance.”
General MacArthur remained active in the NFF until his death in 1964, attending the annual dinner at Waldorf Astoria New York and serving on the advisory board, and he insisted on the building of a Hall as a powerful “symbol” for the NFF. The appearance of his desk in Atlanta now becomes a fitting tribute to his vision of a building that immortalizes the game’s greatest legends.
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ounded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include Football Matters®, the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, The William V. Campbell Trophy®, annual scholarships of more than $1.3 million and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments – a proud partner of the Campbell Trophy®, Herff Jones, New York Athletic Club, the SportsBusiness Journal, SportsManias, Under Armour and VICIS. Learn more at footballfoundation.org.
