Early Maxwell gave so much to Tennessee sports throughout his sixty-one years. Whether as an athlete, sports writer, promoter, manager, or publicist, he always gave his all. Born in 1905 in Colorado, Maxwell and his family soon moved to Memphis, where he would remain for the rest of his life. His interest in sports encompassed tennis (he was a city champion), football, basketball, track, boxing, horse racing (he attended thirty-four consecutive Kentucky Derbies), and softball. In the late twenties, Maxwell promoted the Memphis Tigers, a pro football team that defeated Green Bay and Chicago on consecutive Sundays. He became a sports writer for the “Commercial Appeal”, and in the early thirties he was sports editor of the “Evening Appeal.” Shortly after, he was named promotions editor of the “Commercial Appeal”, a job he held until World War II. After the war, he formed Early Maxwell Associates, an advertising and public relations firm, where he was senior partner for twenty-one years until his death. His firm helped Memphis build two fine facilities – the Mid-South Coliseum and Memphis Memorial Stadium. He also handled the personal management of Dr. Cary Middlecoff and brought the great Ben Hogan to Tennessee for a series of unforgettable exhibition golf matches. Maxwell’s accounts included, among many others, the Memphis Open Golf Tournament and the Liberty Bowl. His life was certainly a full one. From athlete to reporter, from promoter to fan, Early Maxwell was a true friend to Tennessee sports.
