Rigney "Riggie" Dwyer was a professional football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 player who was an original member of the Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...

. He was the Packers star end in 1919 and 1920, prior to the team's move into the National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

. In 1920 he suffered the loss of his right leg and right arm while working in the railroad yards. Doctors claimed he had an even chance for recovery despite his injuries.

Prior to his time with the Packers, Dwyer was prominently known in Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...

 state football circles. From 1913 to 1917 he played end for the Green Bay West High School

Green Bay West High School

Green Bay West High School is a high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at 966 Shawano Ave. Founded in the early 1900s, it recently in late 2001 underwent significant renovations, adding a new west wing and completely reconfiguring the cafeteria...

. During World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 he played football in France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

. After the war he started with the Packers, playing two years with the team. At the end of the Packers 1920 season, the team sponsored a benefit game between two local teams for Dwyer. The game attracted 5,000 spectators and raised $4,053.02 that went straight to Dwyer. Riggie was also the brother of fellow Packer Dutch Dwyer

Dutch Dwyer

Rigney "Dutch" Dwyer was a professional football player who was an original member of the Green Bay Packers. He was the Packers star end in 1919 and 1920, prior to the team's move into the National Football League. Prior to his time with the Packers, Dwyer was prominently known in Wisconsin state...

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