McGrath, Matthew J.

by Patrick M. Geoghegan

McGrath, Matthew J. (1875–1941), athlete and police officer in the USA, was born 28 December 1875 (not 20 December 1876, as usually given) at Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, one of eleven children of Jim McGrath, a tenant farmer, and his wife, Anne. His birth was registered on 13 January 1876 and his name was given as Mathew; no middle name was registered, though it was possibly James (after his father), and in his career he was always known as Matthew J. McGrath. As a child he excelled at sports, winning at track and field events. He emigrated to the United States in 1897, where he worked in a variety of jobs, as a blacksmith, bartender, and salesman, until he joined the New York police force in 1902.McGrath's ambition was to beat the world record of his hero and fellow countryman, John J. Flanagan (qv), at the 16-pound hammer throw, and he trained rigorously at weight-throwing throughout his time in America. In 1906 he came to national prominence while representing the New York Police Athletic League, with a hammer throw of 158 feet 8 inches. The following year he dramatically smashed this personal best with a world-record throw of 173 feet 7 inches; an earlier throw of 175 feet 10 inches had not been recognised officially. Numerous national titles followed, including six Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championships (1908, 1910, 1912, 1918, 1925, and 1926).

Recognised as one of the leading athletes of his generation, he was chosen for successive Olympic games by the United States. At the London games in 1908 he won a silver medal in the hammer throw, finishing second to Flanagan. At the opening ceremony athletes from every country dipped their flags when they approached the royal box. However, McGrath informed the American flag-bearer that if he dipped the banner he would spend the night in hospital. The flag did not dip. There was an outcry in the media, but McGrath and the Americans were unrepentant. A precedent was created that exists to the present that no American flag is ever dipped, no matter what the event. Following this success McGrath returned home to Ireland to a hero's welcome in Nenagh; the celebrations lasted two weeks. At the 1912 Olympics he won gold decisively, his shortest throw being 15 feet longer than the best of any of his competitors, and established a new Olympic record of 179 feet 7 inches, which lasted until 1936; in 1910 he had established a new world record with a throw of 187 feet 4 inches. Hampered by injury, he came fifth in the 1920 Olympics, but he returned in 1924 to claim a silver medal in the event at Paris at the age of forty-eight. He was not selected for the 1928 American team, and a public outcry led to a national fund being raised in his honour. Equally adept at throwing the 35-pound weight, and the 56-pound weight, he won seven AAU championships in the latter (1913, 1916, 1918, 1922–25).

As a police officer McGrath was a popular and courageous figure. He won two citations for valour, in 1906 for saving someone from drowning, and in 1913 for apprehending an armed murder suspect; on that occasion his athletic training proved useful, as he threw bricks at the man until he surrendered. Rising steadily through the ranks, he became sergeant in 1917, lieutenant in 1918, captain in 1927, deputy inspector in 1930, and police inspector in charge of traffic, the third highest rank in the department, in 1936. Occasionally his temper flared, however, and on one occasion he was charged with assault after an accidental shooting in a personal dispute; acquitted, he was cheered by supporters as he left the courtroom.

McGrath married Loretta Smith, and in 1936 they adopted a Chinese boy, Bobby Lou; they had no other children. He died 29 January 1941 of pneumonia at St Clare's Hospital, New York. After a large funeral procession he was buried at Calvary cemetery, New York. On 14 June 1989 McGrath was the subject of a remarkable tribute by Congressman Thomas J. Manton on the floor of the US house of representatives, which catalogued his sporting triumphs and his work in the New York police force; his refusal to allow the American flag to dip was central.