John J. Phelan

John James Phelan (June 2, 1872 – January 24, 1946) was an American boxing commissioner and military officer who served as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission and was a Major General in the New York Army National Guard. Early life Phelan was born on June 2, 1872, to John and Ellen Kingsley Phelan. From 1886 to 1895 he worked as a stock clerk for Arnold Constable & Company. He then worked for Carl Gutmann Co., which manufactured women's underwear. He started as a salesman and rose the company, serving as its European buyer, general manager, and president before retiring in December 1939. Military service In 1895, Phelan enlisted in the New York Army National Guard as a private in Company G of the 69th New York Infantry Regiment. On July 11, 1916, as the 69th Regiment was leaving to fight in the Mexican Border War, Phelan, then a Lieutenant Colonel, was found physically unfit and relieved of his command by Major General Leonard Wood. Phelan's removal was appealed to United States Secretary of War Newton D. Baker, who upheld Wood's decision. Phelan was permitted to rejoin 69th in 1917 after an operation corrected his disability. Following his reinstatement, Phelan was promoted to Colonel and served as commander of the 69th, which was redesignated the 165th Infantry Regiment. During World War I he served as the commander of the 69th Regiment of the New York Guard. He returned to the 165th Infantry Regiment after the war. In 1926 he was promoted to brigadier general and put in command of the newly formed 93rd Infantry Brigade. He retired on June 3, 1936, when he reached the statutory retirement age of 64. He received a brevet promotion to Major General. Boxing In 1923, Governor Al Smith appointed Phelan, William J. McCormack, and D. Walker Wear to the newly formed state boxing licensing committee. In 1926, Phelan, as chairman of the licensing committee, was instrumental in prohibiting the first Jack Dempsey–Gene Tunney from taking place in New York, as the committee was already considering a proposed fight between Dempsey and Harry Wills. The fight instead took place in Philadelphia. He also blocked a Barney Ross–Jimmy McLarnin fight on the ground that Lou Ambers was the logical challenger. In 1927 the licensing committee was disbanded and its duties were absorbed by the New York State Athletic Commission.