Joe Albi

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Joe Albi
Born
Joseph Aloysius Albi

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Spokane, Washington, U.S.
DiedScript error: No such module "person date".
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Resting place
Fairmount Memorial Park
Spokane, Washington
MonumentsJoe Albi Stadium
(& statue)[1]
Alma materGeorgetown University
J.D. 1915
Gonzaga College, 1911 [2]
OccupationTemplate:Pluralize from textAttorney
EmployerTemplate:Pluralize from textTemplate:Pluralize from text
OrganizationTemplate:Pluralize from textTemplate:Pluralize from text
AgentTemplate:Pluralize from textTemplate:Pluralize from text
Known forcivic leader,
Joe Albi Stadium
Notable creditTemplate:Pluralize from textTemplate:Pluralize from text
LabelTemplate:Pluralize from textTemplate:Pluralize from text
TitlePresident, ART (1920–62)
Political party
Republican[3]
OpponentTemplate:Pluralize from textTemplate:Pluralize from text
Board member of
Athletic Round Table
founder, president
(1920–62)
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SpouseTemplate:Pluralize from textPage Template:Marriage/styles.css has no content.
Mazie (Lyons) Albi
​
​
(m. 1918)​
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PartnerTemplate:Pluralize from textTemplate:Pluralize from text
Children3 sons, 1 daughter
[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
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Military career
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AllegianceFile:Flag of the United States.svg United States
Branch
File:US Department of the Army Seal.png U.S. Army
Service years
1917–1919
Rank
File:US-O2 insignia.svg  Lieutenant
UnitFile:US Army Signal-Corps-Coat-Of-Arms.png Signal Corp,
File:Roundel of the United States (1918–1919).svg Aviation Section
Conflicts
World War I  (stateside)
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Joseph Aloysius Albi (October 5, 1892 – May 8, 1962) was an American attorney and civic leader in Spokane, Washington.[12][13]

Early years

Born in Spokane,[14][15] he was the son of Garibaldi and Louise (Ottoboni) Albi,[16] immigrants from Italy who arrived in the city several years earlier.[12] Garibaldi (1861–1923) was a railroad contractor, banker, and one of the founders of the Italian colony in the city.[17] [18] He and three brothers (James, John, William) arrived in Spokane in 1887.[19][20][21]

The eldest of seven children,[18][22] Joe Albi was educated in Spokane schools and graduated from Gonzaga College in 1911. He was accepted to the Georgetown University Law School in Washington, D.C., and graduated in 1915. He returned home to Spokane where he continuously practiced law until his illness, except for two years of military service in the U.S. Army flying corps during World War I.[13]

Athletic Round Table

Albi was a founder of the Athletic Round Table (ART),[23] which led the effort to expand the presence of sports in the Spokane area.[24] The fun-loving group[25][26] was launched in 1920 (the start of Prohibition) and the fast-talking 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Albi was its continuing president for 42 years.[1][27] The ART was best known for funding the construction of Memorial Stadium,[23] built in 1950 in under four months,[28][29] and renamed Joe Albi Stadium by the city council in the spring of 1962, several weeks before his death.[1][30][31][32]

In golf, the ART brought the PGA Championship to Spokane in 1944 at Manito Country Club and the Esmeralda Open, which debuted in 1943 at Downriver[33] and was a PGA Tour event at Indian Canyon in 1945[34] and 1947.[35] It also helped establish the U.S. Women's Open, the first edition was played at the Spokane Country Club in 1946, won by Patty Berg. The ART was also key to the construction of the Esmeralda Golf Course; it bought the land in east Spokane and deeded it back to the City of Spokane.[30] The Spokane Women's Open on the LPGA Tour was held at the new course. The group also promoted senior golf, paving the way for the future U.S. Senior Open and Champions Tour.

Congressional primary

In 1942, the 5th congressional seat was vacant, following the resignation of Democrat Charles H. Leavy on August 1 to become a judge on the U.S. District Court in western Washington. Albi, 49, announced his candidacy in late July.[36] In the three-man Republican primary in September, he was runner-up to Wenatchee fruit rancher Walt Horan,[3] who went on to serve 22 years in Congress. Horan's victory in the general election was the first by a Republican in the district in twenty years.[37]

Personal

Albi married the former Mazie Lyons (1896–1967) of Washington, D.C., in 1918 in San Antonio, Texas, while he was in the Army. They had four children, Joseph A. Albi, Jr. (1920–1932), John Lionel Albi (1921–1923), Jaclyn Albi Flaherty (1923–2023), and Jean Joseph (J.J) Albi (1927–2011). At the time of his death, Albi had eight grandchildren and his five surviving siblings all lived in Spokane.[13] He was the Italian consul agent for Idaho and eastern Washington from 1929 to 1941,[38] and was active in many local organizations including the American Legion, Kiwanis, Elks, and Knights of Columbus.[30]

Death

Albi was afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease." He was hospitalized for his last seven weeks at Sacred Heart Hospital, and died at age 69.[13] His widow Mazie died less than five years later in 1967; they are buried in Spokane in the family plot at Fairmount Memorial Park,[21] adjacent to the west side of Joe Albi Stadium.

Statue

A bronze statue of Joe Albi as a sports fan was unveiled 29 years ago in 1997 at Joe Albi Stadium.[1][39] Seated several rows above the field in the southwest corner bleachers (Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.), the 600-pound (270 kg) slightly-larger-than-life Joe is often adorned in the school colors of competing teams.[40]

See also

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sullivan, Julie (May 1, 1997). "Albi would love fanning statue debate". Spokesman-Review. p. A1.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Gonzaga College student magazine Vol. 2, no. 6". Gonzaga University Digital Collections. March 1911. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Albi assures Horan of his support (photo)". Spokane Daily Chronicle. September 16, 1942. p. 6.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Joseph Albi Jr. victim of death". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 24, 1932. p. 3.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Jaclyn Albi to be feted". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 23, 1952. p. 8.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Miss Albi named to college staff". Spokane Daily Chronicle. August 12, 1950. p. 14.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."She's a 90 year old hero!". Fox News U Report. November 5, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Joseph Albi sees son enter Navy". Spokesman-Review. December 1, 1944. p. 6.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wright, Jeff (May 25, 2010). "Reaching high". Eugene Register-Guard. p. A1.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Jean Albi last man going to Farragut". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 2, 1944. p. 1.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Deaths: Jean Joseph (J.J.) Albi". Eugene Register-Guard. December 23, 2011. p. B2. Retrieved February 23, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Nomination: Joe & Mazie Albi House" (PDF). Historic Spokane. Spokane Register of Historic Places. 2001. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Death claims ART leader, Joseph A. Albi". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 8, 1962. p. 1.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Spokane renames downtown street 'Joe Albi Way' in honor of sports booster". Spokesman.com. 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Anchor, Sean Owsley, NonStop Local (2023-09-28). "One Spokane Stadium opens after years of work, carries the legacy of Joe Albi". NonStop Local KHQ. Retrieved 2025-05-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Mrs. Louise Albi taken by death". Spokane Daily Chronicle. August 14, 1934. p. 1.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Historic Albi home to be torn down". Spokesman-Review. September 13, 1953. p. 1.
  18. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Garibaldi Albi estate divided". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 17, 1934. p. 2.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Expects Albi back". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 26, 1916. p. 3.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Ship database: La Touraine". EllisIsland.org. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  21. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Mrs. Joseph Albi dies, widow of civic leader". Spokesman-Review. January 29, 1967. p. 26.
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Birth list: Spokane, WA". Roots Web.com. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  23. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Tinsley, Jesse (April 28, 2014). "Then and Now: Athletic Round Table". Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hewins, Jack (March 23, 1942). "Anything for a laugh is the motto of this dizzy club". Milwaukee Journal. Wide World News Service. p. 1-green sheet.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."They have their nonsense but they do many good turns, too, in year". Spokesman-Review. September 5, 1937. p. 3-features.
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Missildine, Harry (February 3, 1972). "Esmeralda is laughing again". Spokesman-Review. p. 14.
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Death takes Joseph Albi, civic leader". Spokesman-Review. May 9, 1962. p. 1.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ferguson, Frank C. (September 9, 1950). "Spokane Stadium". Spokesman-Review. p. 3-This Week.
  29. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Stadium committee lets contract". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 21, 1950. p. 1.
  30. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."What he began, he completed". Spokesman-Review. May 9, 1962. p. 14.
  31. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Stadium is renamed for Joe Albi". Spokesman-Review. March 28, 1962. p. 9.
  32. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Missildine, Harry (March 28, 1962). "A heartwarming logical move". Spokesman-Review. p. 12.
  33. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Esmeralda golf tournament lures season's biggest field". Spokane Daily Chronicle. September 16, 1943. p. 12. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  34. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Nelson's 266 wins Esmeralda tourney". Spokesman-Review. September 24, 1945. p. 1.
  35. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Keiser's putting wins him golf title; champ heads for Portland". Spokane Daily Chronicle. August 11, 1947. p. 13.
  36. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Joseph Albi seeks congressional seat". Spokane Daily Chronicle. July 30, 1942. p. 5.
  37. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Walt Horan is elected Congressman from the fifth district by big margin". Spokane Daily Chronicle. November 4, 1942. p. 1.
  38. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Joe Albi resigns as Italian agent". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. June 20, 1941. p. 8.
  39. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."City Council transforms 'Joe Fan' into 'Joe Albi'". Spokesman-Review. April 22, 1997. p. B1.
  40. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Pettit, Stefanie (November 13, 2008). "Albi Stadium's Joe a fan for the ages". Spokesman-Review.
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