American football player and judge (1896–1961)
American football player
John Francis FitzGerald (August 22, 1896[1] – July 23, 1961), sometimes referred to as France Fitzgerald, was an American football player and judge.
Born in Massachusetts, he attended Holyoke High School.[2] He played college football as a halfback, playing on both offense and defense, at the University of Detroit during the 1917, 1919, 1920, and 1921 seasons.[2][3][4]
His education was interrupted during World War I with service in the United States Army.[2][5] He played professional football as a halfback for the Toledo Maroons in the National Football League (NFL). He appeared in seven NFL games, six as a starter, during the 1923 season.[6]
He studied law at the University of Detroit, worked for a time as a probation officer, and served as a Wayne County Circuit Court Commissioner for several years.[5] He became active in politics and ran for the United States Senate in 1940, losing to incumbent Senator Arthur Vandenberg.[5] In 1943, he ran for Mayor of Detroit, receiving more votes in the primary than the incumbent Mayor Edward Jeffries, but then losing to Jeffries in the general election.[5]
He was elected as a judge of the Wayne County Circuit Court in 1947 and served in that capacity until his death in July 1961.[5][7]
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