Limited-Time Exhibit to Showcase General Douglas MacArthur’s Desk in Atlanta at The Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame

Limited-Time Exhibit to Showcase General Douglas MacArthur’s Desk in Atlanta at The Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame

Exhibit Debut Kicks off July Fourth Weekend as the Hall Honors its Rich Military History with Free Admission for Active-Duty Military and Veterans

Atlanta (June 26, 2019) – The Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame, in partnership with the National Football Foundation (NFF), announces a new special exhibit honoring military leader and one of the founding fathers of the Hall of Fame, General Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur’s desk will be on display beginning July 3 in the NFF’s Building Leader’s Gallery. The Hall celebrates its military heritage everyday with free admission for active-duty military and veterans and a 20% discount for military family members.

General MacArthur’s connections to football are strong, dating back to the late 1800s when he started his football career as a high school quarterback at the West Texas Military Academy.  He went on to the United States Military Academy where he was a football team manager and graduated at the top of his class in 1903. After graduation, General MacArthur went on to serve in the Army where he became a five-star general.

In 1958, the NFF appointed General MacArthur Chairman to their National Advisory Board, following years of his dedicated support for the organization. On the evening General MacArthur accepted the NFF Gold Medal in 1959, the MacArthur Bowl trophy was also presented for the very first time, beginning the 61-year-and-running tradition of presenting the stunning trophy to the nation’s top college football team. During the ceremony, MacArthur shared his thoughts on the game which stand the test of time, “Football has become a symbol of our country’s best qualities – courage, stamina and coordinated efficiency.”

General MacArthur was an active member of the NFF and their advisory board until his death in 1964. He was passionate about the creation of a physical Hall of Fame to serve as the home of the game, thus, showcasing his desk at the Hall is a fitting tribute for his dedicated service. The Anbang Insurance Group, owner of the Waldorf Astoria New York, is generously loaning the desk to the Hall for a limited-time viewing in Atlanta.

“We’re grateful to have General MacArthur’s desk in the Hall as we kickoff the celebration of the 150^th anniversary of college football later this year,” said Dennis Adamovich, CEO of the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame. “Fans will be able to see MacArthur’s desk and the MacArthur Bowl under one roof, spotlighting our military history and celebrating the All-American game of football. We are also proud to honor all active-duty military and veterans with free admission to the Hall every day.” 

About the College Football Hall of Fame

The Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame is a 94,256-square-foot attraction located in the heart of Atlanta's sports, entertainment and tourism district. Adjacent to the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park, the Hall provides visitors with a highly immersive, interactive and engaging experience using a blend of historic college football artifacts and state-of-the-art, interactive multimedia exhibits. The National Football Foundation (NFF) launched the Hall in 1951 to stand as one of the nation's premier sports shrines, immortalizing the game’s greatest players and coaches as positive role models for future generations. Atlanta Hall Management, Inc., partnered with the NFF to construct and operate the Hall of Fame attraction, which provides a platform for community outreach, education and character development initiatives, as well as serves as one of Atlanta’s premier special event spaces. For more information on the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame, a 2019 TripAdvisor ® Certificate of Excellence recipient, please visit www.cfbhall.com. 

About the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include Football Matters®, the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, The William V. Campbell Trophy®, annual scholarships of more than $1.3 million and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments – a proud partner of the Campbell Trophy®, Herff Jones, New York Athletic Club, the SportsBusiness Journal, SportsManias, Under Armour and VICIS. Learn more at footballfoundation.org.