Joe Albi
| Joe Albi | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Joseph Aloysius Albi October 5, 1892 Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | May 8, 1962 (aged 69) Spokane, Washington |
| Cause of death |
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) ("Lou Gehrig's disease") |
| Resting place | Fairmount Memorial Park Spokane, Washington |
| Monuments |
Joe Albi Stadium (& statue) |
| Residence | 523 E. 12th Ave., Spokane 901 E. Sharp Ave. (teen) |
| Alma mater |
Georgetown University J.D. 1915 Gonzaga College, 1911 |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Known for | civic leader, Joe Albi Stadium |
| Title | President, ART (1920–62) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Board member of | Athletic Round Table founder, president (1920–62) |
| Spouse(s) | Mazie (Lyons) Albi (1896–1967) (m.1918–1962, his death) |
| Children | 3 sons, 1 daughter |
| Parent(s) | Garibaldi Albi (1861–1923) Louise (Ottoboni) Albi (1871–1934) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 U.S. Army
|
| Years of service | 1917–1919 |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant
|
| Unit |
 Signal Corp, Aviation Section
|
| Battles/wars | World War I (stateside) |
Joseph Aloysius "Joe" Albi (October 5, 1892 – May 8, 1962) was an American attorney and civic leader in Spokane, Washington.
Born in Spokane, he was the son of Garibaldi and Louise (Ottoboni) Albi, immigrants from Italy who arrived in the city several years earlier. Garibaldi (1861–1923) was a railroad contractor, banker, and one of the founders of the Italian colony in the city. He and three brothers (James, John, William) arrived in Spokane in 1887.
The eldest of seven children, Joe Albi was educated in Spokane schools and graduated from Gonzaga College in 1911. He was accepted to the Georgetown University Law School in Washington, D.C., and graduated in 1915. He returned home to Spokane where he continuously practiced law until his illness, except for two years of military service in the U.S. Army flying corps during World War I.
Albi was a founder of the Athletic Round Table (ART), which led the effort to expand the presence of sports in the Spokane area. The fun-loving group was launched in 1920 (the start of Prohibition) and the fast-talking 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Albi was its continuing president for 42 years. The ART was best known for funding the construction of Memorial Stadium, built in 1950 in under four months, and renamed Joe Albi Stadium by the city council in the spring of 1962, several weeks before his death.
In golf, the ART brought the PGA Championship to Spokane in 1944 at Manito Country Club and the Esmeralda Open, which debuted in 1943 at Downriver and was a PGA Tour event at Indian Canyon in 1945 and 1947. It also helped establish the U.S. Women’s Open, the first edition was played at the Spokane Country Club in 1946, won by Patty Berg. The ART was also key to the construction of the Esmeralda Golf Course; it bought the land in east Spokane and deeded it back to the City of Spokane. The Spokane Women's Open on the LPGA Tour was held at the new course. The group also promoted senior golf, paving the way for the future U.S. Senior Open and Champions Tour.
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