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Robert Irsay
Robert Irsay (March 5, 1923 – January 14, 1997) was an American professional football team owner. He owned the National Football League (NFL)'s Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts franchise from 1972 until his death in 1997. He was the father of former Colts owner Jim Irsay.
Robert Irsay was born on March 5, 1923, in Chicago, the son of Charles Israel and the former Elaine Nyitrai, Jewish immigrants from Hungary. The family name was changed to Irsay in 1931, when Bob was eight years old. He attended Lane Tech High School in Chicago. According to his estranged younger brother, Ronald, the family wasn't wealthy, "but my dad owned several buildings in Chicago and at one time was one of the largest tin knockers [sheet metal contractors] in the city.
The Irsay children were raised as Jews. In 1940, Irsay enrolled at the University of Illinois, joining Sigma Alpha Mu, a Jewish fraternity.
Years later, Irsay denied his Jewish heritage, asserting without evidence and contrary to his mother's testimony that his father was actually his step-father and that he was, and had always been, Catholic.
Irsay left the University of Illinois after attending for just three semesters plus the summer session of 1942. The United States was by then embroiled in World War II and on October 23, 1942, he joined the United States Marine Corps. Irsay was discharged just 5-1/2 months later as a sergeant, on April 3, 1943, without having served overseas. Irsay mischaracterized his military service, wildly claiming that, "I was in the Army and the Navy and the Marines. The Navy assigned me to the Seabees. I saw minor action. I don't want to talk about it."
In 1946, he was hired by his father's heating and ventilation business, the Acord Ventilating Company, where he worked as a salesman and bid on projects. He left employment there on the last day of 1951, which initiated a bitter family feud. As part of his severance package, Irsay was allowed to take a lucrative contract with the Caterpillar Tractor Company and several smaller contracts that he had negotiated, a building used in connection with that account, and several vehicles and shop equipment that allowed him to establish a new rival firm, the Robert Irsay Company, without incurring substantial bank debt. Irsay also poached five employees from Acord at the time of his departure.
His brother Ron minced no words when queried about the company split three decades later: "I don't know how else to say this, but my brother tried to run my father out of business. Bob actually worked to try to destroy his own father. Oh, he's a real sweetheart, all right." His mother, then in her 80s, was even more outspoken about her eldest son: "He's a devil on earth, that one. He stole all our money and he said goodbye. He don't care for me. I don't even see him for 35 years.... When my husband got sick and got the heart attack, he took advantage. He was no good. He was a bad boy. I don't want to talk about him."
Despite Ron dropping out of college to attempt to save the family business, Acord Ventilation went into rapid decline immediately after Bob's departure, going out of business less than three years later.
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Robert Irsay
Robert Irsay (March 5, 1923 – January 14, 1997) was an American professional football team owner. He owned the National Football League (NFL)'s Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts franchise from 1972 until his death in 1997. He was the father of former Colts owner Jim Irsay.
Robert Irsay was born on March 5, 1923, in Chicago, the son of Charles Israel and the former Elaine Nyitrai, Jewish immigrants from Hungary. The family name was changed to Irsay in 1931, when Bob was eight years old. He attended Lane Tech High School in Chicago. According to his estranged younger brother, Ronald, the family wasn't wealthy, "but my dad owned several buildings in Chicago and at one time was one of the largest tin knockers [sheet metal contractors] in the city.
The Irsay children were raised as Jews. In 1940, Irsay enrolled at the University of Illinois, joining Sigma Alpha Mu, a Jewish fraternity.
Years later, Irsay denied his Jewish heritage, asserting without evidence and contrary to his mother's testimony that his father was actually his step-father and that he was, and had always been, Catholic.
Irsay left the University of Illinois after attending for just three semesters plus the summer session of 1942. The United States was by then embroiled in World War II and on October 23, 1942, he joined the United States Marine Corps. Irsay was discharged just 5-1/2 months later as a sergeant, on April 3, 1943, without having served overseas. Irsay mischaracterized his military service, wildly claiming that, "I was in the Army and the Navy and the Marines. The Navy assigned me to the Seabees. I saw minor action. I don't want to talk about it."
In 1946, he was hired by his father's heating and ventilation business, the Acord Ventilating Company, where he worked as a salesman and bid on projects. He left employment there on the last day of 1951, which initiated a bitter family feud. As part of his severance package, Irsay was allowed to take a lucrative contract with the Caterpillar Tractor Company and several smaller contracts that he had negotiated, a building used in connection with that account, and several vehicles and shop equipment that allowed him to establish a new rival firm, the Robert Irsay Company, without incurring substantial bank debt. Irsay also poached five employees from Acord at the time of his departure.
His brother Ron minced no words when queried about the company split three decades later: "I don't know how else to say this, but my brother tried to run my father out of business. Bob actually worked to try to destroy his own father. Oh, he's a real sweetheart, all right." His mother, then in her 80s, was even more outspoken about her eldest son: "He's a devil on earth, that one. He stole all our money and he said goodbye. He don't care for me. I don't even see him for 35 years.... When my husband got sick and got the heart attack, he took advantage. He was no good. He was a bad boy. I don't want to talk about him."
Despite Ron dropping out of college to attempt to save the family business, Acord Ventilation went into rapid decline immediately after Bob's departure, going out of business less than three years later.