Arthur Duffey

{{Infobox person

| name = Arthur Duffey

| image = File:Arthur Duffey.JPG

| caption =

| birth_name = Arthur Francis Duffey

| birth_date = {{birth date|1879|06|14}}

| birth_place = Roxbury, Massachusetts, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1955|01|23|1879|06|14}}

| death_place = Arlington, Massachusetts, U.S.

| occupation = Athlete

| children = 5

| spouse = Helen Louise Daley

}}

Arthur Francis Duffey (June 14, 1879 – January 23, 1955) was an American track and field athlete who competed at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78345 |title=Arthur Duffey |work=Olympedia |access-date=22 December 2020}}

Biography

Duffey won four consecutive 100 yards British AAA Championships titles in 1900.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19000709/019/0001 |title=The Amateur Athletic Association Championships |work=Sporting Life |date=9 July 1900 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=30 July 2024}} 1901,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000901/19010708/059/0003 |title=The Amateur Championships |work=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |date=8 July 1901 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=31 July 2024}} 1902 and 1903.{{cite web|url=https://nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=30 July 2024}}

In 1902, whilst a student at Georgetown University, Duffey ran a world record of 9.6 seconds for the 100 yards. Although equaled in 1906 by Dan Kelly, it would be 27 years before it was finally bettered, by Eddie Tolan.Track Trailblazer Dies, Portsmouth Herald, January 25, 1955

In 1905 it was rumored that he was to marry the actress Mabel Hite and, as she was a divorcee, he would meet Pope Pius X in order to attain special dispensation to wed. The rumor proved false.Arthur Duffey to Wed Actress, Boston Post, January 21, 1905 Duffey finally married in 1911, to long-time friend Helen Louise Daley.Arthur Duffey Now Benedict, Boston Post, February 23, 1911

In 1905 he confessed that he had been accepting sponsor money since 1898, and the AAU ordered all of his records expunged. In 1908 he attempted to form the National Protective Athletic Association (NPAA) to challenge the AAU.Quaker Athletes Fight the A.A.U., Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1908-01-24 Around this time Duffey was also involved in promoting professional athletes on the east coast racing circuit. One of those he worked with was the future Mercersburg Academy coach Jimmy Curran.Indians to Race Shrubb, Boston Herald, 1908-01-13

After retiring from athletics he became a sports writer for The Boston Post.Arthur Duffey's Column, Boston Sunday Post, 1911-08-12 He also coached the Boston College and Boston College High School track teams.{{cite news |title=Duffey Appointed Coach |work=The Boston Globe |date=December 19, 1912}} He died of a heart attack.Track Trailblazer Dies, Portsmouth Herald, January 25, 1955