John L. Dorgan

John L. Dorgan, known as Ike Dorgan, was a bookbinder, boxing manager, press agent, and publicity manager for the Madison Square Garden. He was a founding partner of The Ring magazine.

Biography

Dorgan was born in San Francisco, California, in April 1879, one of at least 11 children^[1]—six sons and five daughters – of Thomas J. and Anna R. Dorgan née Tobin.^[2] Among his siblings were Thomas A. "Tad" Dorgan, a prominent cartoonist and creator of "Indoor Sports," as well as a well-known sportswriter; Richard "Dick" Dorgan, a cartoonist, writer, and illustrator; and Joseph V. "Joe" Dorgan.

Ike Dorgan was a bookbinder (very early in his career), boxing manager (for Harry Ebbets and Frank "Fighting Dentist" Moran), press agent (for boxing promoter George L. "Tex" Rickard),^[3] and publicity manager for the Madison Square Garden. He was a founding partner of The Ring magazine in February 1922 and remained with this influential publication until his retirement in 1930.^[4]

Tad Dorgan was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007 in the category of "Observer"; that is, print and media journalists, publishers, writers, historians, photographers, and artists.^[5] Ironically, Ike Dorgan has not yet been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

References