Dudley Riggs (American football)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Dudley Riggs was an All-American football player. He played for Princeton University
and was selected as an All-American in 1895.
, which financed Samuel Morse's invention of the telegraph in 1845 and lent $16 million to the United States to fund the Mexican-American War. Riggs received his elementary training in a Baltimore private school and later attended St. Paul's School
, a private preparatory school in Concord, New Hampshire
.
, to Princeton. Jesse had been an All-American for Princeton's football team, and Dudley followed in his older brother's footsteps by joining the Princeton football team. In September 1893, a newspaper account compared Dudley to his older brother:
By 1895, Riggs weighed 211 pounds and was 6-feet, 1-inch in height. He played center for Princeton's varsity football team in 1894 and left guard in 1895. At the end of the 1895 season, Riggs was selected as an All-American. He graduated from Princeton with a Bachelor of Sciences degree as part of the class of 1897.
, and the couple traveled to Scotland for their honeymoon. Riggs and his wife had three children, T. Dudley Riggs, Jr., Elizabeth Riggs and Mary Lawrason Riggs.
He was active in Baltimore's clubs. He was a member of the Baltimore and Pimlico Country Clubs the Baltimore Hunt Club, and the Green Spring Valley Hunt Club. He was also active in the Masonic organization, and the president of the Paint and Powder Club. Riggs was a friend of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
, and the two were observed by reporters traveling to Philadelphia in 1907 in a new 60–65 hp Isotta-Fraschini
limousine.
Riggs was also a breeder of horses, beagles and other hunting dogs. His beagle, Nordley Ben, was entered in contests throughout the country. Riggs was also an officer of the National Beagle Club of America.
Riggs and his family lived for many years on a 150 acre (0.607029 km²) estate in Stevenson, Maryland
in Green Spring Valley. The estate included a large home, stables, and several outbuildings. In 1907, Riggs sold his Maryland estate for $50,000 and moved to Hartford, Connecticut
to engage in business. Three years later, in 1910, Riggs purchased several acres in the Brooklandwood section of Green Spring Valley.
Riggs died in 1913 at Baltimore, Maryland, aged 38. He died of pemphigus
, a disease usually found in cattle and commonly known as "foot and mouth disease." Riggs was a horse breeder and was believed to have contracted the disease in the stables of his country home in the Green Springs Valley. Riggs was survived by his wife and children.
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and was selected as an All-American in 1895.
Early years
Riggs was the son of Lawrason Riggs, a well-known banker of Baltimore, Maryland. The family had founded and operated Riggs BankRiggs Bank
Riggs Bank was a Washington, D.C.-based commercial bank with branches located in the surrounding metropolitan area and offices around the world. For most of its history, it was the largest bank in the nation's capital. Riggs had been controlled by the Albritton family since the 1980s, but they lost...
, which financed Samuel Morse's invention of the telegraph in 1845 and lent $16 million to the United States to fund the Mexican-American War. Riggs received his elementary training in a Baltimore private school and later attended St. Paul's School
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
St. Paul's School is a highly selective college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The school is one of only six remaining 100% residential boarding schools in the U.S. The New Hampshire campus currently serves 533 students,...
, a private preparatory school in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
.
All-American football player at Princeton
After completing his studies at St. Paul's, Riggs enrolled at Princeton University. He followed his older brother, Jesse RiggsJesse Riggs
Jesse Bright Riggs was an All-American football player. Riggs played for the Princeton University football team from 1888 to 1891. He was an All-American in 1890 and captain of the 1891 Princeton football team....
, to Princeton. Jesse had been an All-American for Princeton's football team, and Dudley followed in his older brother's footsteps by joining the Princeton football team. In September 1893, a newspaper account compared Dudley to his older brother:
"Another new man that gives much promise is a brother of the great Jesse Riggs, '92. This one's name is Dudley and he weighs 185 pounds -- not bad to begin with. It is said he is another Jesse, built like him, a football fighter of his spirit and just as tricky as the big guard ..."
By 1895, Riggs weighed 211 pounds and was 6-feet, 1-inch in height. He played center for Princeton's varsity football team in 1894 and left guard in 1895. At the end of the 1895 season, Riggs was selected as an All-American. He graduated from Princeton with a Bachelor of Sciences degree as part of the class of 1897.
Later years
After graduating from Princeton, Riggs married Miss Laura Lanman, of Hartford, ConnecticutHartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, and the couple traveled to Scotland for their honeymoon. Riggs and his wife had three children, T. Dudley Riggs, Jr., Elizabeth Riggs and Mary Lawrason Riggs.
He was active in Baltimore's clubs. He was a member of the Baltimore and Pimlico Country Clubs the Baltimore Hunt Club, and the Green Spring Valley Hunt Club. He was also active in the Masonic organization, and the president of the Paint and Powder Club. Riggs was a friend of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
John Davison Rockefeller, Jr. was a major philanthropist and a pivotal member of the prominent Rockefeller family. He was the sole son among the five children of businessman and Standard Oil industrialist John D. Rockefeller and the father of the five famous Rockefeller brothers...
, and the two were observed by reporters traveling to Philadelphia in 1907 in a new 60–65 hp Isotta-Fraschini
Isotta-Fraschini
Isotta Fraschini represents two Italian manufacturing companies which produce, respectively, marine engines and luxury goods. In the early 20th century it was famous worldwide as a luxury car manufacturer.-History:...
limousine.
Riggs was also a breeder of horses, beagles and other hunting dogs. His beagle, Nordley Ben, was entered in contests throughout the country. Riggs was also an officer of the National Beagle Club of America.
Riggs and his family lived for many years on a 150 acre (0.607029 km²) estate in Stevenson, Maryland
Stevenson, Maryland
Stevenson is an unincorporated community located in the northern section of Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It serves as the location of the central campus of Stevenson University . It is also home to St. Timothy's School, an all-girls boarding and day high school...
in Green Spring Valley. The estate included a large home, stables, and several outbuildings. In 1907, Riggs sold his Maryland estate for $50,000 and moved to Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
to engage in business. Three years later, in 1910, Riggs purchased several acres in the Brooklandwood section of Green Spring Valley.
Riggs died in 1913 at Baltimore, Maryland, aged 38. He died of pemphigus
Pemphigus
Pemphigus is a rare group of blistering autoimmune diseases that affect the skin and mucous membranes.In pemphigus, autoantibodies form against desmoglein. Desmoglein forms the "glue" that attaches adjacent epidermal cells via attachment points called desmosomes...
, a disease usually found in cattle and commonly known as "foot and mouth disease." Riggs was a horse breeder and was believed to have contracted the disease in the stables of his country home in the Green Springs Valley. Riggs was survived by his wife and children.