Bowl Season Hall of Fame
William L. Leishman served as President of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association from 1920 to 1921, a brief but highly consequential tenure that shaped the long-term future of both the parade and the Rose Bowl Game. A Pasadena civic leader with roots in New Haven, Conn., Leishman brought with him a vision and determination that would change the course of New Year’s Day celebrations in Southern California. By the time he assumed leadership, the Tournament of Roses had already become a beloved annual tradition, with the parade drawing crowds to Colorado Boulevard and the post-parade football game steadily increasing in popularity. The game was then played at Tournament Park, a modest field that had hosted the Rose Bowl since its inception in 1902. By the early 1920s, however, the limitations of Tournament Park were obvious: wooden bleachers strained under the weight of ever-larger crowds, facilities were inadequate, and the rising national profile of college football demanded a venue worthy of its stature. It was William Leishman who recognized both the urgency of the problem and the potential for a bold solution.
In 1920, Leishman announced his belief that Pasadena needed a permanent, state-of-the-art stadium to host the annual Rose Bowl Game. His vision was influenced by his Connecticut upbringing and the grandeur of the Yale Bowl in New Haven, which had been completed in 1914 and was then considered the gold standard of American football stadiums. Leishman saw no reason why Pasadena could not emulate that model, cementing the city’s role as the epicenter of college football on the West Coast. His leadership was not only about recognizing the need but also about building consensus and securing support. At a time when Pasadena was still a relatively small city, the proposal to build a massive stadium in the Arroyo Seco was audacious. The land selected was rugged, undeveloped, and, to many residents, unappealing. Yet Leishman had both the imagination to see what it could become and the practical skills to make it happen.
Working with fellow Tournament of Roses officials and civic leaders, Leishman oversaw the early stages of planning and fundraising for the project. A creative financing model was developed in which seats were effectively sold in advance through long-term subscriptions, allowing the Tournament to raise capital without placing undue financial strain on the city. This approach demonstrated Leishman’s knack for blending vision with pragmatism. He understood that for the stadium to succeed, it had to be rooted in the support of the community as well as the broader enthusiasm for college football. By the time his presidency concluded in 1921, the foundation had been laid for the construction of what would become the Rose Bowl Stadium. Ground was broken in 1922, and the stadium officially opened later that year, just in time for the January 1, 1923, Rose Bowl Game. Though Leishman did not preside over the Tournament when the stadium opened, his leadership and foresight made its creation possible.
Leishman’s impact extended well beyond bricks and mortar. The Rose Bowl Stadium quickly became a national icon, hosting not only the annual New Year’s Day game but also Olympic competitions, World Cup soccer, concerts, and countless cultural events. It is no exaggeration to say that William L. Leishman’s decision to advocate for a permanent stadium elevated the Tournament of Roses from a charming local celebration to an international spectacle. His legacy is honored to this day with the Leishman Trophy, presented annually to the Rose Bowl Game champion. The award reflects not only his role in shaping the stadium but also his family’s deep connection to the Tournament; his son, Lathrop “Lay” Leishman, would later serve as Tournament of Roses President in 1939, continuing the family’s tradition of service.
William L. Leishman passed away in 1940 at the age of 71, but his influence endures each New Year’s Day when millions of people around the world watch the parade and game. His life story illustrates the power of visionary civic leadership, where a single bold idea—backed by determination, community engagement, and strategic planning—can have lasting consequences for generations. In Leishman’s case, that idea was a stadium in the Arroyo Seco, but more broadly it was a commitment to ensuring that the Tournament of Roses remained not just a Pasadena tradition but a defining feature of American culture. Today, the Rose Bowl is enshrined as “The Granddaddy of Them All,” a title that owes as much to Leishman’s foresight as to the athletes who have competed on its field. By marrying local pride with national ambition, William L. Leishman secured his place as one of the most important figures in the history of the Tournament of Roses, and his story remains a testament to the enduring value of vision, leadership, and community spirit.
