Lamar Hunt...1932-2006:
Although no one can argue with his early success with
the American Football League in the 1960's, and his
role in development of what has become the modern NFL,
his personal impact in the world of pro soccer here
has endured even longer, and MLS fans know his name
well...
HIS IMPACT ON PRO SOCCER IN THE USA (1967-present)
The longest-running annual U.S. team tournament in any
sport, soccer's U.S. Open Cup (established 1914) was
recently redubbed the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in
honor of his long history of promoting soccer here.
He helped establish the North American Soccer League
(the predecessor of Major League Soccer) in 1967, a
league which lasted though the 1984 season. His
Dallas Tornados were part of the NASL from 1967-1981,
winning the league championship in 1971.
He was a charter investor in the MLS, where he owned
two teams as of this month, the Columbus Crew and FC
Dallas. He helped finance and build Crew Stadium in
Ohio, and in 1999, it became the first U.S.
soccer-specific Major League stadium. He also played
a key role in building his Texas team's Pizza Hut
Park, which opened in 2005: His Hunt Sports Group
(HSG) was a financial partner in its development.
(Hunt also had owned the Kansas City Wizards from
their inception until this past summer.)
He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1982, and in 1999, was awarded their Medal of Honor
(only given to 3 individuals in history as of 2006).
The Medal of Honor is carefully chosen only for
pioneers of U.S. soccer who have significantly
impacted the game at the national level.





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