Long before he was the owner of the New York Giants, Wellington Mara (1916 - 2005) was a ballboy. Today his nickname, “The Duke,” appears on every football used in professional NFL (National Football League) games. How did that come about?

Wellington’s father, Tim Mara (1887-1959) founded the Giants in 1925. He allowed his younger son, Wellington, (named for the Duke of Wellington, vanquisher of Napoleon) to take part as a ballboy at the facility. The players began calling him “The Duke”, and the nickname stuck.

After graduating from Fordham University, Wellington moved into the Giants' front office as team treasurer and assistant to his father. He became the team's secretary in 1940. After fighting in World War II, he returned to the Giants as its vice president. When his older brother Jack, who had been president since 1941, died in 1965, Wellington became team president.

In 1941, Tim Mara had secured a contract with the Wilson Sporting Goods Company to supply official game balls. (The company has since produced the offical football of the NFL for over 70 years.) At the time the contract was inked, George Halas (1895-1983), the coach and owner of the Chicago Bears, suggested they add “The Duke” to the balls in honor of the Maras.

The arrangement was suspended for 3+ decades, when the NFL merged with the AFL (American Football League) in 1970. However, after Wellington Mara passed away in 2005, the NFL added “The Duke” back to its footballs as a tribute.

More Info: www.smithsonianmag.com