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The Grave of Harry Wismer by Randy Snow Original to www.theworldoffootball.com, Wednesday, July 13, 2022 The Grave of Harry Wismer When the American Football League debuted in 1960, there were eight teams and eight owners who referred to themselves as, “The Foolish Club.” One of those owners was Harry Wismer, owner of the New York Titans.
It was through his sports connections that he met George Richards, the owner of the Detroit Lions. Richards hired Wismer to be the Public Address announcer for the Lions while was still attending Michigan State University. Richards also gave Wismer a spot on his WJR radio station five nights a week as a Lions Cub Reporter. Wismer eventually became the play-by-play radio announcer of the Lions. Years later, Wismer also became a part owner of the Lions. In 1947, he appeared as himself in the movie, “The Spirit of West Point,” starring Heisman Trophy winners Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis. He was broadcasting Notre Dame football games when the opportunity to become an owner in the fledgling American Football League came along in 1959. Wismer not only was a part owner of the Detroit Lions but also the Washington Redskins before he joined the AFL as one of the original eight owners. He was known for being a very frugal man and he ran the Titans out of his own New York apartment. His secretary worked out of the living room, the ticket office was run out of his bedroom and the public relations manager work out of a pantry. The coaches would sit around the dining room table to discuss strategies for the upcoming game. But one thing Wismer had plenty of, was connections. Because of that, he was instrumental in getting the AFL its first television contract with ABC. In spite of his unorthodox management style in running the team, the Titans posted 7-7 records in 1960 and 1961. In his last year as owner of the team, the Titans were 5-9. However, after owning the Titans for three seasons, Wismer had run the team into a financial mess. The league wanted a new owner for the team and when Wismer found out about a possible sale of his team, be filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A judge eventually ruled against Wismer and the team was sold to a five-man ownership group headed by David "Sonny" Werblin for $1 million in February 1963. The team was then renamed the Jets. It also changed venues. It had been playing its home games at the Polo Grounds but was moved to the newly constructed Shea Stadium in 1964. Wismer then returned to being a nationally known sports broadcaster. He died in 1967 at the age of 54 after falling down a flight of stairs at a New York restaurant. He was inducted into the Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame in 1978. Visiting the Grave Wismer is buried in the Lakeside Cemetery in Port Huron, Michigan. It is located just north of the Blue Water Bridge that goes into Canada. Enter the cemetery from Holland Avenue and keep to the right, near the Gratiot Avenue side of the cemetery. The cemetery sections are well marked. He is buried in Section “O” which is in the northern most part of the cemetery. The large family marker with the name Wismer is visible as you drive around the section. It is located in the northeast corner of Section ”O,” just before the road turns sharply to the left. From his grave, you can see the waters of Lake Huron through the houses across Gratiot Avenue in Lakeside Park.
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Wismer
was born in Port Huron, Michigan in 1913. He was a good high school athlete and
went on to play college football, first at Florida State and then at Michigan
State. A leg injury in college ended his playing career so he became a spotter
in the press box at MSU games for the broadcasting team. He soon became a
broadcaster himself for Michigan State football games.
