Walter John Giesler

For more than 30 years Walt was a dominant figure on the St. Louis sports scene. 

Giesler played three years for McBride High School and another three in the Municipal League followed by two seasons with the Ben Millers of the St. Louis Professional League; he also served five years as a referee before taking up administration work. Walter was regarded nationally as a very capable organizer and was vice president of the Municipal A.A., vice president of the Ozark A.A. and chairman and then secretary of the Missouri Soccer Commission. He served as second vice president of the United States Soccer Football Association from 1945 to 1948, and at that time was elected president and held that office in 1948 and 1949. He coached the 1948 U.S. Olympic team in London and managed the U.S. World Cup team of 1950 in Brazil. He was chairman of the 1952 USSFA Olympic Committee and went to Helsinki with the team.  Walter also owned a sporting goods business in St. Louis.