Alexis Thompson (football owner)
Encyclopedia
Alexis "Lex" Thompson was an owner of the Philadelphia Eagles
, Pittsburgh Steelers
and Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Steagles
. Thompson was a graduate of Yale University
, was the heir to a six million fortune in steel stocks, a U.S. Army corporal, and an Entrepreneur who made millions selling eye care products. Steelers owner Art Rooney
bought half interest in the Eagles and sold the Steelers to 28-year old Thompson for $160,000 in 1940. After having second thoughts, the owners traded their cities back to each other (but kept the players) before the start of the 1941 season. Thompson sold the Eagles franchise to a group of investors known as the "Happy Hundred
" for $250,000 on January 15, 1949.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Steagles
Steagles
The Steagles is the popular nickname for the team created by the temporary merger of two National Football League teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles, during the 1943 season...
. Thompson was a graduate of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, was the heir to a six million fortune in steel stocks, a U.S. Army corporal, and an Entrepreneur who made millions selling eye care products. Steelers owner Art Rooney
Art Rooney
Arthur Joseph "Art" Rooney, Sr. , often referred to as "The Chief", was the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers American football franchise in the National Football League.-Family history:...
bought half interest in the Eagles and sold the Steelers to 28-year old Thompson for $160,000 in 1940. After having second thoughts, the owners traded their cities back to each other (but kept the players) before the start of the 1941 season. Thompson sold the Eagles franchise to a group of investors known as the "Happy Hundred
Happy Hundred
The "Happy Hundred", also known as the "100 Brothers", was a group of investors who owned the Philadelphia Eagles franchise of the National Football League from 1949–1963. The group was headed by James P. Clark, the majority owner...
" for $250,000 on January 15, 1949.