Patrick 'Paddy' Thomas Harmon (May 25, 1876 - July 22, 1930) was an Irish American businessman and sports promoter based in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Born in poverty to immigrant parents, he became an entrepreneur, owning dance halls and promoting cycling races and boxing matches.
He succeeded in getting the Stadium built, even helping to fight a fire on its roof, but was ousted within a year of its opening.
[1][2][3] He was one of ten children, along with brothers Daniel, John, Martin, and Maurice; and sisters Catherine, Margaret, Estelle, Mary and Nell.
[1] Harmon started making money at the age of nine turning off gaslights each morning for US$16 per month.
[13] Harmon also was a sports promoter, initiating a six-day cycling race event in 1912[14] at the Dexter Park pavilion.
Several weeks later, a disgruntled workman set a fire on the Stadium's roof, which was in its final stages of completion.
Harmon persevered, "I was knocked down 20 times after I thought I have everything all set",[14] following his homespun philosophy "Never Stay Licked.
[21] The Stadium held a lightweight championship fight between Sammy Mandell and Tony Canzoneri on August 3, 1929.
Harmon had to provide 959 free tickets to the Illinois Boxing Commission for the fight, for which he complained to the press.
[27] On December 9, 1929, not long after Harmon's ouster, an attempted bombing occurred at Norris' estate when Sidney Strotz, treasurer of the Stadium, was visiting.
Harmon tried to terminate the lease and a week later the roof was soaked with gasoline and set on fire.
[29] After his ouster, Harmon campaigned in a Republican Party primary for the sheriff of Cook County, Illinois but was defeated.
Harmon lost control of his vehicle at high speed on the Northwest Highway between Des Plaines and Mount Prospect, Illinois.
Harmon's son Frank refused to pay a $200 bill for the care of Paddy and Mary at the hospital after learning of Parks not having medical credentials.
[38] In August 1930, the Stadium held a fund-raising boxing show to set up a trust fund for Harmon's three-year-old daughter Patricia.
[41] Later that year, May Harmon would file for bankruptcy, citing $92,000 in liabilities ($91,000 in a debt related to building the Stadium) and $150 in assets.
The Stadium was used for ice hockey, basketball and other sports, entertainment and conventions until 1994 when the United Center was built.