Ed Garvey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ed Garvey
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| Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association |
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| In office 1971 – June 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Malcolm Kennedy Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Gene Upshaw |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 18, 1940 Burlington, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | February 22, 2017 (aged 76) Verona, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
Edward R. Garvey (born April 18, 1940 – died February 22, 2017) was an American lawyer and activist. He also worked as a politician.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ed Garvey grew up in Burlington, Wisconsin. He went to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. After college, he served two years in the U.S. Army. Then, he returned to Madison to study law. He earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Working with Football Players
After law school, Garvey joined a law firm in Minneapolis. This firm worked for the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). The NFLPA is a group that represents professional football players. It helps them with their jobs and rights.
In 1970, Garvey helped the NFLPA president, John Mackey. They worked on a new contract for the players. In 1971, Garvey became the executive director of the NFLPA. This meant he was in charge of the organization.
Garvey led the NFLPA until 1983. During this time, he fought for players' rights. He helped them during two strikes, in 1974 and 1982. He also used antitrust laws in court. These laws stop big companies from acting unfairly.
One big win was in 1975. A court ruled that the NFL could not stop players from moving to other teams. This was a huge step for player freedom. In 1976, Garvey and the union won more rights for players. They got better benefits for them. The NFLPA became a strong union. Players also received money for past unfair actions.
After the NFLPA
After leaving the NFLPA, Garvey worked for the state of Wisconsin. He was a deputy attorney general. This meant he was a top lawyer for the state. He focused on protecting the environment.
Garvey also worked with other labor groups. He helped workers in contract talks. He also started the Fighting Bob Fest. This event was named after Robert M. La Follette, a famous Wisconsin politician. The festival focused on important political topics.
Political Career
Ed Garvey was interested in politics. He ran for the United States Senate in 1986. He lost by a small number of votes. In 1998, he ran for governor of Wisconsin. He wanted to change how political campaigns were funded. He believed in limiting how much money people could donate. He lost this election as well.
Garvey also ran a website called FightingBob.com. It shared his views on politics. He often spoke on public radio. He shared his ideas on many topics.
Death
Ed Garvey passed away on February 22, 2017. He died from problems related to Parkinson's Disease. He was 76 years old.
