List of Green Bay Packers presidents

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Mark Murphy, the Packers' current president Mark Murphy 2016 (cropped).jpg
Mark Murphy, the Packers' current president

The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. [1] The Packers were founded in 1919 by Curly Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun; for the first two years the team competed against local teams based in cities around the Wisconsin and Michigan area. In 1921, the Packers were admitted into the National Football League (NFL), which had been formed just one year prior. [2] After experiencing financial difficulties, the Green Bay Football Corporation was formed in 1923 after a public offering of stock raised $5,000. The corporation made the Packers a publicly owned, non-profit organization that was run by a board of directors elected each year. [3] It was later reorganized into its current form, known as Green Bay Packers, Inc., in 1935 after it was in receivership for two years. [4]

Contents

The executive committee, which is elected from the board members, includes three members at-large, a secretary, treasurer, vice president, and president. [5] This ownership structure runs counter to NFL rules, which mandate that no more than 25 people can own a team and at least one person must have an ownership share of 30% or more. However, when this rule was adopted in 1980, the Packers' ownership structure was grandfathered and allowed to remain. [6] As such, the president typically acts in a manner similar to a team owner. They represent the organization on NFL committees, make executive decisions (within the confines of the executive committee and board of directors), hire staff and generally appear as the face of the team in public matters. [7] In 1988, president Robert J. Parins was given the additional title of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), which future presidents have retained. [8] [9] [10] The Packers have a mandatory retirement age for all board members, including president, whenever that person turns 70 years old. Officially, they may retain their seat on the board but are noted as emeritus members and cannot serve in executive positions. [11]

Since conversion to a publicly owned corporation in 1923, there have been eleven presidents of the Packers. [12] Eight of the eleven presidents had been civic leaders in the Green Bay area prior to their tenure; the eight include a former mayor of Green Bay, [13] a circuit court judge, [8] and a medical doctor. [14] The Packers' first president, Andrew B. Turnbull, owned the Green Bay Press-Gazette and was instrumental in the formation of the Green Bay Football Corporation in 1923. [15] Three presidents only served for one season: Ray Evrard in 1928, W. Webber Kelly in 1929 and John Jones in 2006, although all three served in other roles for the Packers prior to and after their presidency. [12] [16] [17] [18] Dominic Olejniczak, a former mayor of Green Bay, is the longest serving president, with his tenure lasting 23 years from 1958 to 1981. [13] Only once in the history of the organization has the presidency been vacant for a full season. [12] After Jones left the team in 2007, the position was not filled until Mark Murphy was elected and took over in January 2008. [10] Bob Harlan, who was the Packers president before Jones and still the CEO, maintained executive control of the organization during the vacancy. [19] [20] As of 2023, Murphy, a former NFL player for the Washington Redskins and college athletic director, is the president of the Packers. [5] [10] In July 2022, he announced that he would retire as president on July 13, 2025, when he turns 70 years old. [21]

Presidents

Note: Team records accurate as of the end of Week 17 of the 2023 NFL season

Presidents of the Green Bay Packers
ImagePresidentTenure (seasons) [lower-alpha 1] Team record [22] [lower-alpha 2] Accomplishments while in office [lower-alpha 3] Refs
WLT%
Andrew B Turnbull circa 1930s Cropped Square.jpg Andrew B. Turnbull 1923–1927 36165.675
  • Led the organization of the Green Bay Football Corporation [3]
  • Organized the first stock sale that raised $5,000 [3]
  • Oversaw the construction of City Stadium, the team's home field for 31 years [23]
[12]
Ray Evrard GBPG Photo 1974.png
Ray Evrard 1928 643.577
W Webber Kelly circa 1930s Cropped Square.jpg W. Webber Kelly 1929 1201.962
Leland H. Joannes circo 1940s Cropped Square.jpg Lee Joannes 1930–1947 143608.697
Emil R Fischer Cropped Square.jpg Emil Fischer 1948–1952 17430.283
  • Led the 1950 stock sale that raised over $100,000 [4]
Russell-bogda Cropped Square.jpg Russ Bogda 1953–1957 19401.325
Dominic Olejniczak cropped Square.jpg Dominic Olejniczak 1958–1981 17415212.533
Robert J. Parins 1982–1988 42602.413
Bob Harlan 1989–2005 1751350.561
John Jones Picture Crop.jpg John Jones 2006 880.500
Vacant 2007 1330.813
Mark Murphy Packers 2016 Crop.jpg Mark Murphy 2008–present153872.629

Notes

  1. ↑ The tenure listed here reflects the NFL seasons that were played during the respective president's time in office, which correlates to the team record shown in the next column.
  2. ↑ Overall team records were compiled by adding the yearly regular seasons records of each Packers season during the president's tenure. Playoff records are not included.
  3. ↑ Accomplishments include championship seasons, stock sales, major stadium expansions, and other notable organizational actions undertaken during the tenure of each president.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curly Lambeau</span> American football player, coach, and executive (1898–1965)

Earl Louis "Curly" Lambeau was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). Lambeau, along with his friend and fellow Green Bay, Wisconsin, native George Whitney Calhoun, founded the Green Bay Packers in 1919. He served as team captain in the team's first year before becoming player-coach in 1920. As a player, Lambeau lined up as a halfback, which in the early years of the NFL was the premier position. He was the team's primary runner and passer, accounting for 35 touchdowns in 77 games. He won his only NFL championship as a player in 1929.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame</span> Museum of players honored by the Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame is a team-specific hall of fame honoring players, coaches, executives and other contributors to the history and success of the Green Bay Packers, an American football team in the National Football League (NFL). It was the first hall of fame built to honor a single professional American football team. William Brault, a Green Bay restaurateur and Packers fan, founded the Packer Hall of Fame in 1966. According to them, they got the idea after visitors to Green Bay would repeatedly ask about the Packers' storied history. Sensing opportunity, they went to Packers head coach Vince Lombardi, suggesting a hall of fame should be made to attract and educate tourists about the Packers and their history. Lombardi gave them his approval as long as the hall of fame would not interfere with the existing players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Murphy (American football executive)</span> American football executive and former NFL player

Mark Hodge Murphy is an American football executive and former player who is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). Murphy, a safety, went undrafted in the 1977 NFL draft after playing college football at Colgate University. He was signed by the Washington Redskins, where he played for eight seasons from 1977 to 1984. With the Redskins, Murphy won Super Bowl XVII, played in another Super Bowl and led the NFL in interceptions in 1983, the year he was named to his only Pro Bowl and received his only First Team All-Pro honor. During his last few years in the NFL he received a Master of Business Administration from American University and then, after his career ended in 1984, a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University in 1988. After his playing career, he worked for the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and then as a trial lawyer for the United States Department of Justice. In 1992, he was hired as the athletic director of his alma mater Colgate University. In 2003, he moved to Northwestern University to serve as their athletic director, a position he held until 2007.

Robert Ernest Harlan is an American former football executive who served as the president of the Green Bay Packers for 19 years. Harlan also held the titles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer for the Packers. He was a graduate of Marquette University, where he later served as the Sports Information Director for six years. After his tenure at Marquette, Harlan worked for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team for five years in community and public relations. In 1971, he was hired by the Packers as assistant general manager. For the next 18 years, Harlan worked in different positions in the front office for the Packers before being promoted to executive vice president in 1988. In 1989, after the retirement of Robert J. Parins, Harlan was elected as the Packers' ninth president, a position he held until 2008. Harlan became the first team president whose background was primarily in football; all previous presidents of the Packers were local civic leaders or businessmen in the Green Bay, Wisconsin-area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Jones (American football executive)</span> American football executive

John Jones is an American former football executive who briefly served as president of the Green Bay Packers. Jones, who was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, attended Loyola University of the South for his undergraduate studies and the University of Wisconsin–Madison for his post-graduate studies, both in the field of journalism. For 11 years, he served as a teacher of journalism at Loyola and as a journalist for New Orleans Times-Picayune. During his career as a journalist, Jones covered the National Football League and the New Orleans Saints. He transitioned from his journalism career to an executive of American football, first with the NFL Management Council and then with two NFL teams: the Jacksonville Jaguars and then the Packers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominic Olejniczak</span> American football executive and mayor (1908–1989)

Dominic John Olejniczak was an American real estate broker, politician, and football executive. Olejniczak served as an alderman of Green Bay, Wisconsin, from 1936 to 1944. He was then elected mayor, serving for 10 years from 1945 to 1955. During his tenure as mayor, a number of large infrastructure projects were completed and city administration was streamlined. Olejniczak was also known for his work with the Green Bay Packers. Over a period of almost 40 years, Olejniczak served as a member of the board of directors, a vice president, president, and chairman of the board. His 24 years as president is the longest tenure of any Packers president. During his presidency, he hired Vince Lombardi in 1959, the Packers won five championships, and the team saw its net worth grow over 5,000%. In recognition of his contributions, Olejniczak was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1979 and the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. He died in 1989, after a series of strokes.

Mark Steven Murphy is an American former professional football player who was a safety for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). After graduating from GlenOak High School near his hometown of Canton, Ohio, Murphy attended West Liberty State College. At West Liberty, he played college football for all four years, with the last three as a starter for the Hilltoppers. In his senior year, he was named All-WVIAC and won the WVIAC championship. He went undrafted in the 1980 NFL Draft, but was subsequently signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent. He played for the Packers for 12 years before retiring in 1991. After his playing career, Murphy coached high school and college football in Ohio. He was elected to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1998 in recognition of his contributions to the team.

Almore Charles "Buff" Wagner was a professional football player for the Green Bay Packers in 1920 and 1921. He played college football at Carroll University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert J. Parins</span> American judge

Robert James Parins was an American judge and football executive. Parins was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and went on to receive a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1942. He served as the Brown County, Wisconsin, district attorney from 1949 to 1950 and as a circuit court judge for the county from 1968 to 1982. In the early 1990s, Parins played a notable role in a case related to Jeffrey Dahmer, an American serial killer. Outside of his legal career, Parins served in various leadership positions for the Green Bay Packers, including serving on the board of directors. In 1982, he was elected president of the Green Bay Packers, serving as the first full-time president in team history. In recognition of his accomplishments, which included the formation of the Green Bay Packers Foundation, financial improvements and facility expansion, Parins was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1998. Parins died in 2017 at the age of 98.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Bay Packers, Inc.</span> Non-profit organization that owns the NFLs Green Bay Packers

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew B. Turnbull</span> American football executive (1884–1960)

Andrew Blair Turnbull, was a businessman and American football executive. Turnbull founded and owned the Green Bay Press-Gazette and was the first president of the Green Bay Football Corporation, the non-profit organization that owns the Green Bay Packers. He served as publisher, general manager, and business manager of the Press-Gazette for 45 years. During the early years of the Green Bay Packers, Turnbull helped convert the team from a privately held franchise to a publicly owned, non-profit corporation. He also helped the team through multiple financially challenging periods, which saw him identified as part of The Hungry Five, a group of early Packers supporters. Between 1923 and 1928, he served as the first president of the Green Bay Football Corporation and remained on the corporation's board of directors and executive committee until 1949. Turnbull died in 1960 and was elected to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Joannes</span> American football executive

Lee Joannes, born Joseph Leland Heath Joannes and also known as Leland Joannes, was a businessman and American football executive. Joannes owned Joannes Brothers Company, a wholesale grocery store, and was the fourth president of the Green Bay Football Corporation, which became Green Bay Packers, Inc. during his tenure. He was part of The Hungry Five, a group of businessmen who are credited with keeping the Green Bay Packers in operation during numerous financially difficult times. He served on the Packers board of directors for over 58 years in various roles, including chairman, president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and director emeritus. During his 17 years as president from 1930 to 1947, the Packers won five NFL Championships while enduring the Great Depression and World War II. In recognition of his contributions, he was elected to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1981. Joannes died in 1982 at the age of 89.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">W. Webber Kelly</span> British medical doctor

W. Webber Kelly, born William Webber Kelly, was a prominent medical doctor in the state of Wisconsin known for being the third president of the Green Bay Football Corporation, the non-profit organization that owns the Green Bay Packers. Kelly was a practicing physician in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for almost 50 years and a respected civic leader. During his one year as president of the Packers for the 1929 season, the team went 12–0–1 and won its first NFL Championship. Kelly was identified as part of The Hungry Five, a group of Green Bay businessmen who were instrumental in guiding the Packers through multiple financially challenging periods. In addition to his presidency, Kelly served as the team physician from 1921 to 1943 and as a member of the Packers' board of directors from 1923 to 1949. After a falling out with Packers co-founder, head coach, and general manager Curly Lambeau, Kelly resigned from the Board in 1949. Two years later he died of a heart attack at the age of 75. In recognition of his contributions, Kelly was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emil Fischer (American football executive)</span> American businessman and football executive

Emil Richard Fischer was an American businessman and a football executive for the Green Bay Packers. Fischer was well known in the Green Bay cheese industry, a nationally recognized businessman, and a local civic leader. From 1948 to 1952, he served as the fifth president of the Packers. He is credited with leading the Packers through one of the most difficult periods in the team's history. During his tenure, the team's co-founder and longtime coach Curly Lambeau resigned, the Packers issued their third stock sale, and the National Football League (NFL) merged with the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). He also sat on the organization's board of directors and executive committee from 1935 to 1958. After his presidency ended, he served as chairman of the board until his death in 1958. In recognition of his contributions to the team, Fischer was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Bogda</span> American automotive executive and president of the Green Bay Packers

Russell W. Bogda was an American automotive executive and president of the Green Bay Packers. From 1953 to 1957, he served as the sixth president of the Green Bay Packers. During his presidency, the Packers secured funding and built New City Stadium, which would be renamed in 1965 to Lambeau Field. Although the Packers during Bogda's tenure saw little on-field success, he helped the organization stay financially successful and the construction of a new stadium during his tenure kept the Packers in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Bogda died at the age of 46 on February 22, 1958, of lung cancer.

Carl Wallace "Bud" Jorgensen was an American athletic trainer for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL). For over 46 years, Jorgensen worked in varying capacities as an athletic trainer, assistant trainer and property manager for the Packers. After his career with the Packers, he continued as college basketball athletic trainer for University of Wisconsin–Green Bay men's basketball. Jorgensen was recognized for his long career and was identified as an expert in the field of athletic training. He was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 1968 and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1976. Jorgensen died of undisclosed causes on December 18, 1982, at the age of 78.

Clifford A. Christl is an American sportswriter who is the team historian of the Green Bay Packers, a football team in the National Football League (NFL). Prior to this role, Christl worked as a newspaper reporter for over 30 years at newspapers in Wisconsin, including the Manitowoc Herald Times, the Green Bay Press-Gazette and the Milwaukee Journal. Throughout his years as a reported, Christl covered the Packers as a sportswriter, while also chronicling the team in his spare time and helping establish the Packers Heritage Trail. In 2014, after historian Lee Remmel left the team, Christl was named the team's historian. One of his first activities after being hired was to write The Greatest Story in Sports: Green Bay Packers 1919–2019, a four-part book chronicling the first 100 years of the history of the Packers. Christl also writes articles on the team's history, records oral histories with past Packers' players and coaches and answers fan's questions about the team.

References

  1. ↑ "Green Bay Packers News, Scores, Stats, Schedule". National Football League . Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Birth of a Team & a Legend". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Christl, Cliff. "Andrew B. Turnbull". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on October 7, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Christl, Cliff. "Leland H. Joannes". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on November 3, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Executive Committee & Board Of Directors". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  6. ↑ Thornton, Katie (September 30, 2023). "The Green Bay Packers: where fans rather than a billionaire are the owners". The Guardian . Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ Ryman, Richard (February 7, 2019). "Packers' CEO Mark Murphy: Team's management structure built for football, financial success". Green Bay Press-Gazette . Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Christl, Cliff. "Judge Robert J. Parins". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on August 18, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Christl, Cliff. "Bob Harlan". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on July 5, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Mark Murphy". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on November 8, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  11. ↑ Hill, Cassidy (July 13, 2022). "Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy has a to-do list before he retires in July 2025". USA Today . Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Personnel – Presidents". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Christl, Cliff. "Dominic Olejniczak". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  14. 1 2 Christl, Cliff. "Dr. W. W. Kelly". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Andrew Turnbull, Publisher of Wisconsin Papers, Is Dead". The Evening Sun (clipping). October 17, 1960. p. 4. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Christl, Cliff (May 26, 2016). "The truth and myth about 'The Hungry Five'". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Packers Hall of Fame welcomes three". Green Bay Press-Gazette (clipping). March 12, 1994. p. 15. Archived from the original on November 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "John Jones, President and Chief Operating Officer". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on February 18, 2007. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  19. ↑ Dougherty, Pete (July 20, 2007). "On to next step: Part 1". Green Bay Press-Gazette (clipping). p. C-1. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ Dougherty, Pete (July 20, 2007). "On to next step: Part 2". Green Bay Press-Gazette (clipping). p. C-6. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ Iglesias, Pablo (July 2, 2022). "Packers president Mark Murphy confirms retirement plan for 2025". WKOW . Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Green Bay Packers Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on January 8, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Other Homes of the Packers, 1919–94". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  24. 1 2 3 Daley, Art (February 25, 1958). "Russ Hoped To Change Packer Luck on Field". Green Bay Press-Gazette (clipping). p. 17. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ Murphy, Mark (June 10, 2017). "Judge Parins brought Packers into modern era of NFL". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  26. ↑ Walker, Don (March 1, 2012). "Packers stock sale: more than 268,000 shares sold". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel . Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  27. ↑ Ryman, Richard (March 10, 2022). "Packers fans buy 198,000 shares, generate $65.8 million for Lambeau Field projects". Green Bay Press-Gazette (clipping). p. 5A. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ Ketchman, Vic (August 20, 2015). "Lambeau Field gives birth to 'Titletown District'". Green Bay Packers . Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
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