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Honoring and congratulating Philadelphia native Arthur “Art” McNally, for his career’s astounding impact on modern football officiating and his revolutionary induction into the Pro-Football Hall of Fame as the first ever on-field official to be enshrined.
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WHEREAS, Arthur McNally was born in 1925, raised in Philadelphia, and attended Roman Catholic High School; and
WHEREAS, During World War II, McNally heroically served his country as a member of the United States Marine Corp. In addition to his military service, he is also a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, McNally contributed both his passion for athletics and his academic successes to the Philadelphia public school system, where he worked as a high school teacher and helped coach high school football, baseball, and basketball teams; and
WHEREAS, McNally served 48 seasons with the National Football League. He worked as an NFL official for nine years, before he earned the well-respected position of Supervisor of Officials in 1968. He revolutionized this role by instituting the highest levels of training for football officials; and
WHEREAS, During McNally’s time as the NFL Supervisor of Officials, he introduced key technological advancements, particularly the use of game footage to more precisely evaluate game officials; and
WHEREAS, McNally formally retired from the NFL in 1991, yet later returned to the organization as an Assistant Supervisor of Officials, and later, as an observer. His active contributions to the industry spanned many decades, and his legacy carries an eternal impact; and
WHEREAS, McNally has frequently been titled the “Father of Modern Officiating” and the “Father of Instant Replay”; and
WHEREAS, Arthur McNally’s invaluable influence over Philadelphia youth, as well as the excellence of his legacy in football is worthy of the highest commemoration; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the legacy of Arthur McNally is symbolic of the athletic strength and success in the City of Philadelphia’s communities and shall be memorialized by virtue of this resolution.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Arthur McNally, as evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.
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