13 Facts About Ed Garvey

Edward Robert Garvey was an American lawyer, activist, and Democratic politician from Wisconsin.

Ed Garvey was executive director of the National Football League Players Association from 1971 to 1983.

Ed Garvey ran unsuccessfully for United States Senate and Governor of Wisconsin.

Ed Garvey graduated from the University of Wisconsin and spent two years in the US Army; he then returned to Madison and entered the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree.

The firm worked for the National Football League Players Association, the labor organization representing the professional American football players in the National Football League, and in 1970 Ed Garvey was assigned to counsel union president John Mackey regarding negotiations on a new four year contract with the league's owners.

Ed Garvey was later offered the position of executive director in the now-certified NFLPA in 1971.

Ed Garvey served as its executive director until 1983, through two strikes and frequently invoking antitrust legislation in his many court battles with the league.

Ed Garvey became a prominent leader with Wisconsin labor groups, particularly the Paperworkers Union in contract disputes with International Paper.

Ed Garvey organized the Fighting Bob Fest, named for Robert M La Follette.

In 1986, Ed Garvey ran for the US Senate from Wisconsin, losing to Republican incumbent Bob Kasten by a small margin after a very bitter election.

Ed Garvey was the editor and publisher of the political website FightingBob.

Ed Garvey regularly appeared on the local NPR national public radio affiliate WHAD to provide a progressive viewpoint on a variety of topics.

Ed Garvey died of complications from Parkinson's disease at a nursing home in Verona, Wisconsin.