Violet Bidwill Wolfner
| Violet Bidwill Wolfner | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1900 |
| Died | January 29, 1962 Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Burial place | Queen of Heaven Cemetery |
| Occupation | Owner of the Chicago / St. Louis Cardinals |
| Years active | 1947–1962 |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 2 adopted (Bill, Charles, Jr.) |
Violet Fults Bidwill Wolfner (1900 – January 29, 1962) was the owner of the Chicago / St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) for over 14 years, from 1947 until her death in early 1962. She inherited the team in April 1947, following the death of her husband Charles Bidwill, Sr., who purchased the team in 1933. She was the first woman to become principal owner of an NFL team.
Her first season as owner saw the Cardinals, led by the "Dream Backfield" of Paul Christman, Pat Harder, Marshall Goldberg, and Charley Trippi, defeat the Philadelphia Eagles for the franchise's first undisputed league championship. They made it to the league title game again in 1948, but lost to the Eagles in a rematch in the snow. The Cardinals had only four more .500 seasons under her ownership.
Violet married St. Louis businessman Walter H.S. Wolfner in 1949, becoming known as Violet Bidwill Wolfner. When it became apparent that Chicago wasn't big enough for both the Cardinals and the cross-town Bears of George Halas, the Wolfners moved the team to St. Louis after the 1959 season.
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