The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-06-03
WILLIAM MULD0ON, IRON DUKE
OF SPORT, TAKEN BY DEATH
Famous Conditioner Of
Athletes, Great Men Falls
to Old Age.
BENEVOLENT 0ESP0T'
Clean Play Was Creed of
Veteran Head OF N. Y.
Boxing Commission.
BY STUART CAMERON
United Press Sports Editor
NEW YORK, June s.


William Muldoon, famous
conditioner of athletes and
prominent men, died today in
the suburban home to which
he had retired reluctantly
when the ravages of old age
finally undermined his great
physique.
Muldoon, millionaire member of
the New York state athletic commits
sion, passed his eighty eighth birth
day in semi stupor last May 25,
and since that time he had been
conscious for only few hours at
a time
The big house where he died is
part of the widely known Muldoon
health farm at Purchase, near
White Plains in Westminster county.
In recent months, he had lived
quietly there with few clients visit
ing his gymnasium.
AS he slipped into a decline. the
once independent grand old man of
boxing relied more and more upon
the services of Miss Margaret Far
rell, whom he had adopted as a
daughter two years ago. She served
as a practical nurse.
Benevolent DespOt of Sport
Famous visitors came away from
MuldoOn's home with tales of his
amazing determination to keep
young. But with the approach of
warmer weather he suffered more
and more from fatigue. On his
birthday last month he was said
to have suffered a sinking spell be-
cause of the humidity.
Iron Duke they called him, the
benevolent despot of sport. He had
presence, dignity, fire and magma
ton. Clean play was his creed, dis
cipline his by-word.
Many of the greater minds of the
country bent to his will. He made
strong willed persons tractable.
Presidents and statesmen, fnanciers
and social lights, athletes and writ
erS accepted his rule of obedience.
Fought in Civil War
This personality, who dominated
the world of sports during the last
quarter Of the century, was born
May 25, 1845, the son of a farmer.
in Belfast, N. Y.
AS boy of II, he marched off
to fight in the Civil war and here.
among the hardship of warefare.
Muldoon got his first taste of ath-
letic competition.
The officers in charge realized
the value of some form of athletic
diversion" Muldoon once said, land
so they picked out athletic looking
fellows from the ranks to teach
wrestling"
After the war he came to New
York and worked as a waiter and
"bouncer"
Then he joined the New York DO
lice force, and within a few wears
was placed in charge of the depart
4IC4IG SyHlndbluIn.
World Champion Wrestler
1t was while one of the finest"
that he first attracted attention as a.
wrestler. He beat Jim Gaffnev.
champion wrestler of the GODS"
with such ease that sporting men
matched the new athletic wonder
with Chris Bauer, a top-ranking
wrestler of the day.
Bauer went the way of Gafnev
and within short time MuIdoon
found himself worlds champion. He
retired undefeated after years of
competition.
MulGoon turned to training box
erS. Jack Dempsey, the Nonpareil,
John L. Sullivan and Kid Mccoy
were among the ring notables who
placed themselves in his care. It
probably was work in conditioning
the great John L." for his fight
with Jake Kilrain that won for
Muldoon his renown as a builder of
men.
Treated Great Men
At his health resort he success
fully treated Elihu Root, Theodore
Roosevelt and William Howard
Taft. Even these greats" complied
with his no loafng" orders. There
was something brutany arrogant in
his methods, but few dared resent it.
AS head Of the New York state
boxing commission, Muldoon had
much to do with the popularization
OF the sport. His insistence On
clean play, and his passionatae in
terest in boxing as such, forced
fighters and managers to a recog-
milton Of his principles of sports
Gene Tunney owed much
Of his success as fighter to Null
doon's advice.
1t is a fine thing for boxing
the CRAVING old man said after the
DempSey-Tunney fight at Phila-
delphia, thai We have a man Of
the type Of Gene Tunney."