Fred Sington: Difference between revisions

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'''Frederic William Sington''' (born [[February 24]], [[1910]] in [[Birmingham]]; died [[August 20]], [[1998]] in Birmingham) was a three-sport athlete for the [[Alabama Crimson Tide]] who went on to play baseball in the Major Leagues. Later he ran the successful [[Fred Sington Sporting Goods]] business and became a civic leader in Birmingham.
[[Image:Fred Sington.jpg|right|thumb|Fred Sington]]
'''Frederick William Sington, Sr''' (born [[February 24]], [[1910]] in [[Birmingham]]; died [[August 20]], [[1998]] in Birmingham) was a three-sport athlete for the [[Alabama Crimson Tide]] who went on to play baseball in the Major Leagues. Later he ran the successful [[Fred Sington Sporting Goods]] business and became a civic leader in Birmingham.


Sington was the son of Max and Hollye (Spiro) Sington of Birmingham and he graduated from [[Phillips High School]]. He was an [[List of Alabama Crimson Tide football All-Americans|All-American]] offensive tackle for the [[1929 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1929]] and [[1930 Alabama Crimson Tide football team]]s. That year singer Rudy Vallée wrote the hit song "Football Freddie" about Sington.
Sington was the son of Max and Hollye (Spiro) Sington of Birmingham and he graduated from [[Phillips High School]], where he earned sixteen varsity letters in four sports. He was an [[List of Alabama Crimson Tide football All-Americans|All-American]] offensive tackle for the [[1929 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1929]] and [[1930 Alabama Crimson Tide football team]]s,. The latter team went on to beat Washington State in the 1931 Rose Bowl for a National Championship. While in California he met [[Johnny Mack Brown]] and singer Rudy Vallée, whose hit song "Football Freddie" was about Sington. In order to keep Sington from following Brown into Hollywood, Alabama president [[George Denny]] threatened to expunge his records if he didn't return to [[Tuscaloosa]] to finish his degree. Sington was elected student body president for his senior year.


Sington completed his bachelor's degree in [[1931]] and coached football for a year at Duke University before signing a professional baseball contract. For the next ten years he played outfield for the Atlanta Crackers, Washington Senatos, and Brooklyn Dodgers. He married [[Nancy Sington|Nancy Napier]] on [[December 4]], [[1933]].
Sington complied and completed his bachelor's degree in [[1931]]. He then coached football for a year at Duke University. He married [[Nancy Sington|Nancy Napier]] on [[December 4]], [[1933]]. He played outfield for the Atlanta Crackers until debuting in the Major Leagues with the Washington Senators in [[1934]]. He was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers in [[1938]].


In [[1942]] Sington was commissioned a lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy and served in [[World War II]] until he was discharged in [[1946]]. He then returned to home to open his first sporting goods store in [[downtown Birmingham]]. The successful retail business soon opened locations in [[Homewood]], Huntsville, [[Mountain Brook]], [[Gadsden]], Athens, and Scottsboro.
In [[1942]] Sington was commissioned a lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy for service during [[World War II]]. He coached the Oklahoma Navy Zoomers to an undefeated season in [[1944]], and was discharged as a Lieutenant Commander in [[1946]]. He then returned to home to open his first sporting goods store in [[downtown Birmingham]] and also served as a [[Southeastern Conference]] official for 25 years.
 
Sington's successful retail business soon opened locations in [[Homewood]], Huntsville, [[Mountain Brook]], [[Riverchase]], [[Gadsden]], Athens, and Scottsboro before it was acquired by [[Hibbett Sporting Goods]]. Sington leveraged his success as a businessman into an active civic life. He served on the [[Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center]]'s planning committee. He chaired the [[Downtown YMCA]], served as president of the [[Birmingham Kiwanis Club]] and [[Birmingham Chamber of Commerce]], and as captain of the [[Monday Morning Quarterback Club]]. For all his visible efforts, he was named [[Birmingham Man of the Year]] in [[1960]] earned the nickname "Mr Birmingham".


Sington served on the [[Downtown Action Committee]]. He was one of the investors in creating the World Football League's [[Birmingham Vulcans]], and it was at his suggestion that Birmingham began hosting the [[Hall of Fame Classic]] bowl game in [[1977]].
Sington served on the [[Downtown Action Committee]]. He was one of the investors in creating the World Football League's [[Birmingham Vulcans]], and it was at his suggestion that Birmingham began hosting the [[Hall of Fame Classic]] bowl game in [[1977]].


Sington was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in [[1955]], the [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]] in [[1972]], the [[Alabama Academy of Honor]] in [[1978]], the [[Alabama Business Hall of Fame]] in [[2000]], and the [[Birmingham Business Hall of Fame]] in [[2010]].
Sington was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in [[1955]], the [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]] in [[1972]], and the [[Alabama Academy of Honor]] in [[1978]]. The [[Birmingham City Council]] inducted him into its [[Birmingham Gallery of Distinguished Citizens]] in [[1986]].. He was inducted into the [[Alabama Business Hall of Fame]] in [[2000]], and the [[Birmingham Business Hall of Fame]] in [[2010]].  


Sington is buried in [[Elmwood Cemetery]]. The Sington Soaring Spirit Award given by the [[Lakeshore Foundation]] is named in his honor. The statue of "[[Winged Victory]]" outside the [[Financial Center]] building was commissioned by the [[National Multiple Sclerosis Society]] to honor Sington's "[[Legacy of Leadership]]" campaign.
Sington is buried in [[Elmwood Cemetery]]. The Sington Soaring Spirit Award given by the [[Lakeshore Foundation]] is named in his honor. The statue of "[[Winged Victory]]" outside the [[Financial Center]] building was commissioned by the [[National Multiple Sclerosis Society]] to honor Sington's "[[Legacy of Leadership]]" campaign.
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==References==
==References==
* Groom, Winston (2000) ''The Crimson Tide - An Illustrated History'' Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press ISBN 0817310517
* Groom, Winston (2000) ''The Crimson Tide - An Illustrated History'' Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press ISBN 0817310517
* Goodson, Mike (July 10, 2011) "[http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20110710/NEWS/110719991?tc=ar Football is Sington family tradition]" ''Gadsden Times''
* Sher, David (January 1, 2023) "Comeback Town: A Birmingham legend touched my life." {{AL}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.archives.alabama.gov/famous/academy/f_singto.html Fred Sington] at the Alabama Academy of Honor
* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23782230/fred-sington Fred Sington] at Findagrave.com


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sington, Fred}}
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[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide basketball players]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide basketball players]]
[[Category:Football coaches]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:US Navy officers]]
[[Category:World War II veterans]]
[[Category:Retailers]]
[[Category:Sports officials]]
[[Category:Sportscasters]]
[[Category:Sportscasters]]
[[Category:Elmwood burials]]
[[Category:Elmwood burials]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Alabama Academy of Honor]]
[[Category:Birmingham Business Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Alabama Business Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Birmingham Gallery of Distinguished Citizens]]

Latest revision as of 10:31, 7 January 2023

Fred Sington

Frederick William Sington, Sr (born February 24, 1910 in Birmingham; died August 20, 1998 in Birmingham) was a three-sport athlete for the Alabama Crimson Tide who went on to play baseball in the Major Leagues. Later he ran the successful Fred Sington Sporting Goods business and became a civic leader in Birmingham.

Sington was the son of Max and Hollye (Spiro) Sington of Birmingham and he graduated from Phillips High School, where he earned sixteen varsity letters in four sports. He was an All-American offensive tackle for the 1929 and 1930 Alabama Crimson Tide football teams,. The latter team went on to beat Washington State in the 1931 Rose Bowl for a National Championship. While in California he met Johnny Mack Brown and singer Rudy Vallée, whose hit song "Football Freddie" was about Sington. In order to keep Sington from following Brown into Hollywood, Alabama president George Denny threatened to expunge his records if he didn't return to Tuscaloosa to finish his degree. Sington was elected student body president for his senior year.

Sington complied and completed his bachelor's degree in 1931. He then coached football for a year at Duke University. He married Nancy Napier on December 4, 1933. He played outfield for the Atlanta Crackers until debuting in the Major Leagues with the Washington Senators in 1934. He was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938.

In 1942 Sington was commissioned a lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy for service during World War II. He coached the Oklahoma Navy Zoomers to an undefeated season in 1944, and was discharged as a Lieutenant Commander in 1946. He then returned to home to open his first sporting goods store in downtown Birmingham and also served as a Southeastern Conference official for 25 years.

Sington's successful retail business soon opened locations in Homewood, Huntsville, Mountain Brook, Riverchase, Gadsden, Athens, and Scottsboro before it was acquired by Hibbett Sporting Goods. Sington leveraged his success as a businessman into an active civic life. He served on the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center's planning committee. He chaired the Downtown YMCA, served as president of the Birmingham Kiwanis Club and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, and as captain of the Monday Morning Quarterback Club. For all his visible efforts, he was named Birmingham Man of the Year in 1960 earned the nickname "Mr Birmingham".

Sington served on the Downtown Action Committee. He was one of the investors in creating the World Football League's Birmingham Vulcans, and it was at his suggestion that Birmingham began hosting the Hall of Fame Classic bowl game in 1977.

Sington was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1972, and the Alabama Academy of Honor in 1978. The Birmingham City Council inducted him into its Birmingham Gallery of Distinguished Citizens in 1986.. He was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame in 2010.

Sington is buried in Elmwood Cemetery. The Sington Soaring Spirit Award given by the Lakeshore Foundation is named in his honor. The statue of "Winged Victory" outside the Financial Center building was commissioned by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to honor Sington's "Legacy of Leadership" campaign.

References

  • Groom, Winston (2000) The Crimson Tide - An Illustrated History Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press ISBN 0817310517
  • Goodson, Mike (July 10, 2011) "Football is Sington family tradition" Gadsden Times
  • Sher, David (January 1, 2023) "Comeback Town: A Birmingham legend touched my life." AL.com

External links

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Fred_Sington&oldid=196307"