Roy Schooley
Encyclopedia
Roy D. Schooley was a former treasurer for the City of Pittsburgh
, as well as the founder of the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets
hockey club, which later became the Pittsburgh Pirates
of the National Hockey League
. In 1920, he assembled the first U.S. Olympic Hockey Team which won a silver medal
in Antwerp, Belgium and is credited with helping to foster the growth of hockey in the United States
. Schooley was also the brother-in-law to Harold Cotton
of the Yellow Jackets-Pirates.
, Schooley became a nationalized citizen of the United States on September 27, 1912. He came to Pittsburgh in 1901 as an hockey
referee
and was viewed as an expert on the sport. He soon officiated many of the games played in the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
.
and gained the backing of those politically active in the city and county
. He then became the leading figure in several campaigns. He soon was put in charge of Joseph G. Armstrong
's 1913 mayoral bid.
Once Armstrong was elected mayor in 1914, Schooley was given the title "Secretary to Mayor". However after a series of newspaper attacks against the Armstrong Administration, Schooley was transferred to the position of city clerk in charge of the Pittsburgh public works
division.
. He also became secretary of the United States Amateur Hockey Association in 1916. Schooley's skills as the team's manager, brought the franchise International Championships in 1924 and 1925. The Yellow Jackets stopped playing when the United States Amateur Hockey Association folded at the end of the 1924–25 season. When Schooley encountered financial problems he sold the team to James Callahan
, a lawyer from Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville
neighborhood. Callahan renamed the team the Pittsburgh Pirates
, after the city's major league baseball team
, and the team joined the National Hockey League
in 1925.
In 1920, Schooley became the manager of the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. As manager of the Olympic squad, he had full power to select the players for the team. Three days before the team was to depart for Antwerp, Belgium to begin Olympic play, the Pittsburgh Post
reported that Schooley had resigned as manager amid rumors of unspecified friction, which he denied. He cited a family illness as the reason. The team that Schooley built, won a silver medal at the 1920 Summer Olympics
in Antwerp.
, who would go on to become Pittsburgh's mayor in 1918. After Babcock's victory, Schooley was made the city treasurer. He later became the superintendent for the city's bureau of recreation. In 1926 he helped elect John S. Fisher, Governor of Pennsylvania as well as helping Charles H. Kline
get re-elected mayor of Pittsburgh. He was then reappointed the Treasurer's Office.
and misdemeanor
charges.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, as well as the founder of the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets
Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets
The Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets was an amateur hockey team that existed between . They evolved from being an amateur to a semi-pro team and are one the earliest sports organizations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Yellow Jackets played primarily in the United States Amateur Hockey Association...
hockey club, which later became the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)
The Pittsburgh Pirates were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League , based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1925–26 to 1929–30. The nickname comes from the baseball team also based in the city...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. In 1920, he assembled the first U.S. Olympic Hockey Team which won a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in Antwerp, Belgium and is credited with helping to foster the growth of hockey in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Schooley was also the brother-in-law to Harold Cotton
Harold Cotton (ice hockey)
William Harold "Baldy" Cotton was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Americans.-Playing career:...
of the Yellow Jackets-Pirates.
Hockey referee
Born in Welland, OntarioWelland, Ontario
Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada.The city has been traditionally known as the place where rails and water meet, referring to the railways from Buffalo to Toronto and Southwestern Ontario, and the waterways of Welland Canal and Welland River,...
, Schooley became a nationalized citizen of the United States on September 27, 1912. He came to Pittsburgh in 1901 as an hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
referee
Official (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. There are two categories of officials, on-ice officials, who are the referees and linesmen that enforce the rules during game play, and off-ice officials, who have an...
and was viewed as an expert on the sport. He soon officiated many of the games played in the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League , was a semi-professional ice hockey league from the early 1900s. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the league was the pre-eminent ice hockey league at the time in the United States...
.
Reporter to politician
It was during this time that he also became a reporter for the Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph and the Gazette Times. After working on a few general assignments, Schooley was promoted to covering city politics. He soon became a member of the Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and gained the backing of those politically active in the city and county
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
. He then became the leading figure in several campaigns. He soon was put in charge of Joseph G. Armstrong
Joseph G. Armstrong
Joseph G. Armstrong was born in what is today the Northside neighborhood of the U.S. city of Pittsburgh. He became a glassmaker and eventually participated in the glass union and labor movement. From his labor connections he was elected to City Council and then ran successfully for County Coroner...
's 1913 mayoral bid.
Once Armstrong was elected mayor in 1914, Schooley was given the title "Secretary to Mayor". However after a series of newspaper attacks against the Armstrong Administration, Schooley was transferred to the position of city clerk in charge of the Pittsburgh public works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
division.
Hockey manager
After his career in politics, Schooley founded the Pittsburgh's amateur hockey team, the Yellow Jackets in 1915, and became the manager of the Duquesne GardensDuquesne Gardens
Duquesne Gardens was the main sports arena located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA during the first half of the 20th century. It opened 3 years after a fire destroyed the city's prior sports arena, the Schenley Park Casino, in 1896. The arena was the first hockey rink to use glass above the dasher...
. He also became secretary of the United States Amateur Hockey Association in 1916. Schooley's skills as the team's manager, brought the franchise International Championships in 1924 and 1925. The Yellow Jackets stopped playing when the United States Amateur Hockey Association folded at the end of the 1924–25 season. When Schooley encountered financial problems he sold the team to James Callahan
James Callahan (Pittsburgh Pirates NHL)
James F. Callahan was the owner of the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets and later the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National Hockey League. James, who had the reputation as a frugal businessman, was a lawyer from Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood....
, a lawyer from Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville
Lawrenceville (Pittsburgh)
Lawrenceville is one of the largest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located northeast of downtown, and like many of Pittsburgh's riverfront neighborhoods, it has an industrial past. Lawrenceville is bordered by the Allegheny River, Polish Hill, Bloomfield, the Strip District and...
neighborhood. Callahan renamed the team the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)
The Pittsburgh Pirates were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League , based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1925–26 to 1929–30. The nickname comes from the baseball team also based in the city...
, after the city's major league baseball team
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, and the team joined the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
in 1925.
In 1920, Schooley became the manager of the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. As manager of the Olympic squad, he had full power to select the players for the team. Three days before the team was to depart for Antwerp, Belgium to begin Olympic play, the Pittsburgh Post
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
reported that Schooley had resigned as manager amid rumors of unspecified friction, which he denied. He cited a family illness as the reason. The team that Schooley built, won a silver medal at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Ice hockey was introduced to the Olympic Games at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. The matches were played between April 23 and April 29, 1920. All matches took place in the Palais de Glace d'Anvers . The rink measured 56 to 18 meters . All games were played with seven players on each side,...
in Antwerp.
Return to politics
In 1917 Schooley became the campaign manager for Edward V. BabcockEdward V. Babcock
Edward V. Babcock was a lumber industrialist who served as Mayor of Pittsburgh from 1918 to 1922.-Early life:Edward Vose Babcock entered the lumber business from an early age...
, who would go on to become Pittsburgh's mayor in 1918. After Babcock's victory, Schooley was made the city treasurer. He later became the superintendent for the city's bureau of recreation. In 1926 he helped elect John S. Fisher, Governor of Pennsylvania as well as helping Charles H. Kline
Charles H. Kline
Charles Kline , served as the 46th Mayor of Pittsburgh from 1926 to 1933.-Early life:Mayor Kline was born in 1870 in Indiana County, Pennsylvania...
get re-elected mayor of Pittsburgh. He was then reappointed the Treasurer's Office.
Scandal
Schooley was forced from the Treasurer's Office in 1931, the result of a purchasing scandal. The failure of the Franklin Savings and Trust Company brought forth an audit of the Treasurer's Office, since that office was in charge of distributing funds linked to the company. The audit revealed that the city's money was not protected by bonds, as required by law. Other irregularities soon developed which led to a jury indicitment of Schooley on embezzlementEmbezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
and misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
charges.