December 30, 2010: Tom Vandergriff, father of the Texas Rangers, passed away. Mayor of Arlington for almost three decades, Tom Vandergriff spent the better part of a decade lobbying for Arlington and DFW to be home to a MLB team. Finally, in 1972, baseball approved the proposal by Robert Short, owner of the expansion Washington Senators, to move the team to Arlington. Vandergriff also served as a tv broadcaster for the Rangers, without pay, from 1975 - 1977.
Vandergriff not only brought us major league baseball, he was also very instrumental in getting Six Flags, General Motors, and numerous other big businesses to call Arlington home. Only two statues reside in the Ballpark in Arlington, one is Nolan Ryan, and the other is behind centerfield in the area of the park known as "Vandergriff Plaza".
It's only fitting that Mr. Vandergriff got to see the Rangers play in the World Series before his time was up. I would assume the Rangers will honor Mr. Vandergriff and the legacy he leaves behind next season. As a Ranger fan, I would just like to say, " thank you " for your passion and persistence in bringing us the Rangers.
RIP Father Ranger!
I mostly remember him for his senior years goofy car commercials, but he was a mover and a shaker!
ReplyDeleteyes, sadly most people my age and younger probably hear the name and think of car lots!!
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