This week in East Montgomery County history.
Art McNally born in Philadelphia on July 1, 1925
Arthur Ignatius McNally was born in Philadelphia on July 1, 1925. He graduated from Roman Catholic High School and Temple University. McNally served in the Marines during World War II. He worked as a teacher and coach in Philadelphia before joining the NFL as an official in 1959. He was a field judge and referee for nine years. In 1968, he became the NFL’s director of officiating, a position he held until 1991. He managed scouting, hiring, and grading of officials and helped introduce game footage for evaluations. McNally also served in the World League of American Football and returned to the NFL in various roles until retiring in 2015. In 2022, he became the first NFL official inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. McNally was also honored in the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Sports Halls of Fame.
