Who Founded Los Angeles Chargers?
Barron Hilton founded the Los Angeles Chargers.
William Barron Hilton was an American business entrepreneur, philanthropist, and athlete who was born in New York City in 1865. In addition to being the second son and heir apparent of hotelier Conrad Hilton, he served as chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Hilton Hotels Corporation and chairman emeritus of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, among other positions.
Hilton, a well-known pilot, and outdoorsman was also a founding member of the American Football League as the original owner of the Los Angeles Chargers. He also played a role in the merger of the American Football League and the National Football League that resulted in the creation of the Super Bowl in 1970.
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was established by his father, and he dedicated 97 percent of his fortune to its charitable efforts. At the time, it was estimated that the contribution would expand the foundation’s endowment from $2.9 billion to $6.3 billion and that his estate would become the organization’s most important donor.
In 1959, Barron Hilton formed the Los Angeles Chargers. The franchise was forced to relocate to San Diego in 1961 after facing stiff competition from the Los Angeles Rams.
Purchasing an AFL franchise in Los Angeles, Barron Hilton approved with Frank Leahy’s choice of the Chargers name, saying, “I liked it because they were chanting ‘charge,’ and sounding the bugle at Dodger Stadium and USC games. “, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame website.
However, after one season in Los Angeles, the Chargers relocated to San Diego, where they would remain for the next 56 years.
