Notable people · Businessman · Football · Team Owner
Ralph E. Hay
Ralph Hay, a Canton car dealer, bought the Canton Bulldogs in 1918. On September 17, 1920 he hosted in his Hupmobile showroom the meeting that formed the American Professional Football Association, later the NFL. That meeting is a reason the Pro Football Hall of Fame is in Canton.
At a glance
- Born
- 1891-01-12
- Died
- 1944-07-29
- Education
- Canton high school, Canton, OH
- Known as
- Businessman, Football, Team Owner
- Organizations
- Canton Bulldogs, American Professional Football Association
Life story
Ralph Hay was born in Canton in 1891 and went into car sales at eighteen. He later ran the Ralph E. Hay Motor Company, selling Jordan, Hupmobile and Pierce-Arrow cars, and became one of Ohio's most successful dealers.
In 1918 he bought the Canton Bulldogs football team.
On September 17, 1920, he hosted a meeting of ten teams' representatives at his showroom, which created what became the National Football League.
He married his former secretary, Esther Becker, and they had a daughter. He died in Canton in 1944.
Timeline
- 1891-01-12: Born (Canton, OH) source
- 1909: Begins selling cars at about eighteen (Canton, OH) source
- 1918: Buys Canton Bulldogs (Canton, OH) source
- 1920-09-17: Hosts meeting that forms the future NFL (Canton, OH) source
- 1944-07-29: Dies (Canton, OH) source
- 1972: Pro Football Hall of Fame creates the Ralph Hay Pioneer Award (Canton, OH) source
- 2020: First named a Hall of Fame finalist (Canton, OH) source
What Ralph is known for
- Hosted the founding meeting of the NFL's predecessor, Canton, 1920
- Ralph E. Hay Motor Company
- Canton Bulldogs ownership
Inventions and firsts
Honors and things named for them
- Ralph Hay Pioneer Award (PFHOF, 1972)
- Plaque on the Bow Federal building, Canton
- Hall of Fame finalist (2020)
Family
- wife: Esther Becker
Places in Ohio to see
- NFL founding plaque, Bow Federal building (marker)
Canton, Stark County ZIP 44702 (approximate) · Canton · Stark County · official page
Ohio places
Where Ralph E. Hay was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Born: Canton, Stark County ZIP 44702 · Canton · Stark County
- Worked: Canton, Stark County (Hay Motor Company showroom, Odd Fellows Building, Cleveland Ave and 2nd St SW) ZIP 44702 · Canton · Stark County
Myths and corrections
- Wikipedia says a plaque on the Bow Federal building in Canton marks where his showroom stood. Another account names the Odd Fellows Building, and the location is unresolved.
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.
- Ralph Hay (Wikipedia) life, honors, plaque