Furlong Flynn

Furlonge Harold Flynn (December 27, 1901 – November 1, 1977) was an American football player and aviation pioneer. He played guard and tackle in the National Football League (NFL) with the Hartford Blues for one season after playing collegiate ball at Cornell.

Early life and education Flynn was born on December 27, 1901, in Waterford, New York. He attended St. Bernard's School. He was one of their top guards during the 1922 season and was named a Walter Camp All-American. Herbert Reed, writer for the New York Evening Post, named Flynn to the All-Eastern honor roll following the season and gave Flynn a special mention in his report. A journalist for The Ithaca Journal wrote of him: "Flynn of Cornell I like especially in his big game because it was always possible for the backs to feel that they had a first down over him, and also because he could break out and support either side of the line on defense."

Professional career

Shortly before the start of the 1926 NFL season, Flynn was signed by the Hartford Blues, despite being out of the sport for the prior three seasons. He appeared at the team's first practice, and spectators of the event "marveled" at how the 210-pound lineman could "spread himself about the field with so little effort." Flynn did not see action in the match. A report in the Hartford Courant said the following: "Flynn, who has just joined the squad permanently, looks like the proper mate for [Ernie] McCann at the tackle post, although he will have to fight off the advances of none other than the former Notre Dame lineman and professional pugilist, and present day movie actor, Ed[sic] (Heck) Garvey of Holyoke, Mass. There will be plenty of room on the squad for Flynn if he carries his enthusiasm into the big schedule. Flynn is a Cornell man, having played in the line that opened the way for the great runs of Eddie Kaw and George Pfann in days gone by. He is a big, powerful boy and moves with exceptional alacrity for one carrying so much weight." 6,500 fans attended the match, played at the East Hartford Velodrome.

At practices held in the week following the Giants game, Hartford had Flynn play as the starting left guard. On October 1, the Blues traveled to Philadelphia, for their game with the Frankford Yellow Jackets on October 2.

When the game finished, both Frankford and the Blues caught trains heading to Hartford, where a second game between the two teams was played on October 3.

After cancelling a game with the Columbus Tigers scheduled for October 9, the Blues traveled to New York City to play the Brooklyn Lions at Ebbets Field on October 10. Before just 1,000 fans, the Blues lost their fourth straight game 0–6. Rather than play his usual left guard position, Flynn started at right tackle and Eddie Keenan took his place at left guard. After Hec Garvey was unable to play, Flynn was named the starting tackle.

Hartford's sixth regular season game of the 1926 season was played against the Kansas City Cowboys on October 31. Just 500 fans showed up to attend the contest, which was played in pouring rain. Flynn started at left guard in the match.

The following game was played on November 14 against the Buffalo Rangers. Dilly Dally started in place of Flynn against the Rangers. Flynn later came into the game as a substitute for Dally, before being replaced by Jack Bonadies. however, he ended up being unable to play and Dally filled in for him again. The Blues ended up winning 16–0, for their third victory of the year. In a one-sided match, the Eskimos, led by Ernie Nevers, defeated the Blues 16–0. Two more games were scheduled, against the Pottsville Maroons and Providence Steamrollers, but both were canceled.

Flynn did not return to Hartford for the 1927 season.

Aviation career Flynn was later an aircraft executive and was described in a 1977 article by United Press International as having "helped pioneer aviation around the world for almost four decades." In 1929, he joined Pratt & Whitney as a trainee on the assembly line. Within one year, he was a field service representative, assisting military, airline and other engine customers.

In the 1930s, Flynn worked at Thompson Trophy and Bendix Trophy races, advising famous pilots such as Jimmy Doolittle and Roscoe Turner. He also became good friends with notable aviators Charles Lindbergh, Wiley Post, and Amelia Earhart.

Flynn's business travels took him throughout the world and totaled over one million miles. At the beginning of World War II, he supervised the installation of Pratt & Whitney engines in France for the French Air Force. When the country was overrun by the Nazis, Flynn just barely escaped capture, leaving on the last train in Paris and returning to the U. S. by boat from Genoa, Italy.

In 1945, Flynn became the P&W service manager and assisted airlines in the United States, Europe, Australia and South America as they re-established service post-war. He saw the P&W business grow from one floor of an old factory building to a large complex in East Hartford. He was the head of a department consisting of more than 800 people, including field service representatives globally. He retired from being service manager in 1966.

Personal life and death Flynn was for many years active in civic and community affairs, often moderating town meetings. He was a member of the United Congregational Church and was a trustee of the Savings Bank of Tolland as well as a board member of the Tolland Aqueduct Water Company.

Flynn died on November 1, 1977, at the General Hospital in Vernon, Connecticut. He was 75 at the time of his death.