Russ Bogda

Russell W. Bogda (c. 1911 – February 22, 1958) was an American automotive executive and president of the Green Bay Packers. From 1953 to 1957, he served as the sixth president of Green Bay Packers, Inc., the non-profit organization that owns the 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.

Russ Bogda
Bogda circa the 1950s
Born
Russell W. Bogda

c. 1911
Burnett, Wisconsin, US
DiedFebruary 22, 1958(1958-02-22) (aged 46–47)
Green Bay, Wisconsin, US
NationalityAmerican
OccupationAutomotive dealer
Known forPresident, Green Bay Packers
Spouse(s)Yes
Children2

Early life

Russell Bogda was born in 1911 or 1912 in Burnett, Wisconsin, although his family moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1925. He graduated from Marquette University.[1]

Automotive business

Bogda was a Green Bay businessman who served in various roles, including as president, for the Bogda Motor Company. He also served for two years on the national planning council of the Chevrolet division of General Motors and was the former president of the Chevrolet Dealers Association of Wisconsin.[1]

Green Bay Packers

Bogda was elected to the Packers board of directors in 1946.[1] He was then elected as the team's sixth president[2] in 1953 after Emil R. Fischer retired to become chairman of the board.[3] He served as president for five years from 1953 to 1957.[1] The Packers had little on-field success during Bogda's tenure, with 1955 being the only season the team did not have a losing record.[4][5] During his tenure, Bogda oversaw a reorganization of the team's administration with the hiring of a general manager and led the team to greater financial success. However, Bogda's primary contribution during his tenure as president was leading the development and construction of a new stadium for the team.[5]

The Packers had been playing at City Stadium since 1925,[6] but by the 1950s the facility was considered by the National Football League (NFL) to be inadequate. There were discussions from league officials about forcing the Packers to move to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where a stadium was already available, or to another city.[7][8] However, Bogda and other civic leaders advocated for a public referendum[8][9] on a city-led bond issuance to finance a 32,000 seat facility named New City Stadium. The bond issuance would go on to cost about $1,000,000.[10][11][12] New City Stadium, which was renamed to Lambeau Field in 1965,[13][14] was the first facility designed and built solely for an NFL franchise.[15] The stadium was opened in 1957 with Bogda in attendance for the dedication ceremonies.[1] After being reelected in March,[16] Bogda attempted to resign his position in December 1957 due to poor health. The Board initially declined to accept his resignation,[17] but finally agreed to his request after naming Dominic Olejniczak as acting president.[18] Olejniczak was ultimately elected as the next president of the Packers.[19][20] As of 2019, the Packers still play at Lambeau Field, although it has been expanded at least eight times to increase the stadium's capacity to over 81,000 seats.[21][22] Even though the Packers saw little success on the field during his tenure as president,[5] Bogda was recognized by the team's board of directors for his hard work and support of the team.[23]

Personal life

Bogda was married once and had two children: Russell Jr. and Julie Lynn.[1] He was diagnosed with lung cancer[24] and died at the age of 46 on February 22, 1958.[25]

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References
  1. "Green Bay Prexy, Russ Bogda, Dies Of Lung Cancer". Democrat and Chronicle. Associated Press. February 24, 1958. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
  2. "Green Bay Packers Media Guide 2018" (PDF). Green Bay Packers, Inc. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  3. "Packers' Profit $12,000—Name Russ Bogda Prexy Bogda". Green Bay Press-Gazette. February 3, 1953. p. 13. Archived from the original on January 28, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
  4. "Green Bay Packers Team Encyclopedia". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on November 20, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  5. Daley, Art (February 25, 1958). "Russ Hoped To Change Packer Luck on Field". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 17. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
  6. "Green Bay Packers Stadium Info". Other homes of the Packers, 1919-94. Green Bay Packers, Inc. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  7. "New grid stadium planned by Packers". Milwaukee Journal. United Press. August 25, 1955. p. 18. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2019 – via Google News Archive .
  8. "Green Bay Votes 'Yes' On Stadium Bond Issue". La Crosse Tribune. Associated Press. April 4, 1956. p. 22. Archived from the original on January 28, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
  9. Daley, Art (March 20, 1956). "Pamphlets Push New Stadium, Yes Vote!". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 21. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
  10. "Stadium Completed on Time Despite Difficulty". Green Bay Press-Gazette. December 31, 1957. p. 7. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
  11. Bartelt, Jim (December 22, 1955). "Packers Submit New Stadium Plan to City Council". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 17. Archived from the original on January 29, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
  12. Bartelt, Jim (January 18, 1955). "Order Architect, Cost on Steel Stands". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 19. Archived from the original on January 29, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
  13. "Packer board backs Lambeau Field idea". Milwaukee Journal. United Press. August 3, 1965. p. 18. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015 – via Google News Archive .
  14. "'Lambeau Field' voted by council". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. August 5, 1965. p. 3. Archived from the original on May 10, 2016 – via Google News Archive .
  15. Wood, Ryan (September 29, 2017). "How Lambeau Field saved the Packers in Green Bay". Gannett. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  16. "Bogda Renamed President of Packers Corp". Green Bay Press-Gazette. March 18, 1957. p. 2. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
  17. "Bogda, Packers' President, Quits". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Associated Press. December 18, 1957. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
  18. "Packers' Bogda Quits". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Associated Press. December 27, 1957. p. 27. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
  19. Daley, Art (May 7, 1958). "Young Blood Dominates Packer Body". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 25. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
  20. Daley, Art (April 28, 1958). "Packers Battle for Power Set Tonight". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 21. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
  21. "Packers.com | Stadium Info - History". Green Bay Packers, Inc. Archived from the original on May 8, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  22. "A brief history of Lambeau Field renovations". In Business. August 2013. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on May 1, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  23. "Bogda Is Lauded for Work With Packers". Green Bay Press-Gazette. February 24, 1958. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
  24. "Cancer Fatal To President Of Packers". Asheville Citizen-Times. Associated Press. February 24, 1958. p. 11. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
  25. "Russ Bogda Dies". News-Record. Associated Press. February 24, 1958. p. 7. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
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