Louis Ezekiel Stoddard
Major Louis Ezekiel Stoddard (January 25, 1878[1] – March 9, 1948) was an American 10-goal handicap polo player.[2] He participated in the 1913 and 1921 International Polo Cup.[3] He was the chairman of the United States Polo Association from 1921 to 1936.[4] He won the Junior Polo Championship, Senior Polo Championship, U.S. Open Polo Championship and the Monty Waterbury Cup twice each.[2]
Louis Ezekiel Stoddard | |
|---|---|
 Louis Ezekiel Stoddard, Thomas Hitchcock, Jr., James Watson Webb, Sr. and Devereaux Milburn in 1921 at the Meadowbrook Polo Club for the International Polo Cup | |
| Born | January 25, 1878 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | March 9, 1948 (aged 70) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Grove Street Cemetery |
| Education | St. Paul's School |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Occupation | Businessman, polo player |
| Spouse(s) | Rebecca McCullough Darlington Mary Andrews |
| Children | 1 son, 2 daughters |
Early life
He was born in New Haven, Connecticut on January 25, 1878, the son of Ezekiel Gilbert Stoddard, a merchant, banker and broker, and his wife Mary deForest (Burlock) Stoddard.[1] He was educated at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. He was graduated with a B.A. from Yale University in 1899, where he had been a member of Scroll and Key.[1]
Polo
He learned polo at the New Haven Polo Club around 1900.[2]
In 1909, was he was chosen as the substitute for the American polo team at the International Polo Cup.[2] He was a substitute in the 1913 International Polo Cup and played when James Montaudevert Waterbury, Jr. was injured.[2][3] He participated in the 1921 International Polo Cup.[2][3]
He was elected chairman of the United States Polo Association in 1922 and served until 1936.[2]
Business ventures
He was treasurer and general manager of the Beatty Starch Company in New Haven from 1899 to 1902, and subsequently was involved with mining, banking, and manufacturing firms, including the Bingham-New Haven Mining Company, Alvarado Mining and Milling Company, the New Haven Hotel Company and Factory Products Export Company, the William P. Bonbright & Company banking firm; the Fowler and Union Horsenail Co., the Marlin Arms Co., the Red River Valley Company, and the Southwest Lumber Mills.[1]
Personal life
He married Rebecca McCullough Darlington on November 9, 1904 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1] They had two daughters, Elizabeth ("Betty") Stoddard in 1907, eventual wife of Fraser M. Horn,[1] and Barbara Stoddard in 1912, eventual wife of William Reed Kirkland,[1][5] and a son, Louis Ezekiel Stoddard, Jr., who like his father was also prominent as a horseman and polo player.[1][6] Rebecca died of complications from childbirth on December 13, 1913.[1][7]
On April 29, 1915, in New York City, he married Mary Andrews, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Cole) Andrews. They had no children. Mary (Andrews) Stoddard died on February 22, 1945.[1][8]
Death
He died on May 8, 1951 in Los Angeles of heart failure.[3][1] He was buried in Grove Street Cemetery.[1]
References
- Yale Obituary Record, 1947/1948, New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University, pp. 53–54
- "Louis Ezekiel Stoddard". Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
Louis E. Stoddard started his polo career with the New Haven Polo Club at the turn of the century and by 1909 was named sole substitute for the American Team which successfully challenged England. In 1913, he substituted for the injured Monty Waterbury and played for America again in 1921, when he was awarded a ten goal rank for his performance. In his playing years, he won the Junior, Senior, Open championship and Monty Waterbury Cup twice each.
- "Died". Time magazine. March 22, 1948. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
Louis Ezekiel Stoddard, 70, socialite polo star of three decades ago; of a heart ailment; in Los Angeles. He played on two international challenge teams (1913, 1921), became a ten-goal man in 1922.
- "Milburn Believes That U.S. Four Will Win; Hurndall Says British Have Fighting Chance". New York Times. August 31, 1924. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
The following statements were made, yesterday for The New York by Devereux Milburn, Captain of the American team; Louis E. Stoddard, Chairman of the United States Polo Association; Major F. B. Hurndall, Captain of the British team, and Captain the Hon. Frederick E. Guest, Chairman of the Hurlingham Committee, concerning the coming international polo matches at Meadow Brook. ...
- Stoddards in the 1920 US census in New Haven, Connecticut
- "Louis E. Stoddard, Noted Horseman". New York Times. May 10, 1951. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
Louis Ezekiel Stoddard, noted horseman and polo player, member of a socially prominent family, died last night at his home in Aiken, S.C. ..." [note: this is the obituary of the son of the subject of this article]
- "Louis E. Stoddard Seeks to be Administrator of $2,000,000 Property". New York Times. January 9, 1914. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
Major Louis E. Stoddard, a member of the international polo team that defeated the English players last year, made application in the Probate Court to-day to be declared administrator of the estate of his wife, Rebecca Darlington Stoddard, who died last month leaving three children, including a son two days old. ...
- "Mrs. Louis E. Stoddard. Polo Player's Wife a Director of Manhattan Music School". New York Times. February 23, 1945. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
Mary Stoddard, wife of Louis E. Stoddard, noted polo player and manufacturer, died yesterday in her home at 1001 Park Avenue, after a brief illness. ...