Edward R. Garvey, born in Burlington, Wisconsin, is a labor activist, lawyer, and politician. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Garvey spent two years in the U.S. Army, then returned to his alma mater and earned a law degree. Soon after graduation, Garvey joined Lindquist and Vennum, a Minneapolis law firm. The firm worked for the National Football League's player union, and in 1970 Garvey was assigned to counsel John Mackey, president of the union, regarding negotiations on a new four year contract with the league's owners. As legal counsel for the players, Garvey soon developed a reputation for tenacity that infuriorated the owners, who had grown accustomed to a relatively disorganized players' union. Mackey and the players were impressed as well, and they offered the Executive Director in their reorganized union, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) in 1971. Garvey served as its Executive Director until 1983, fighting the owners through two strikes (in 1974 and 1982) and frequently invoking antitrust legislation in his many court battles with the league. Garvey directed the NFLPA though a series of court battles that led, in 1975, to the ruling in Mackey v. NFL that antitrust laws applied to the NFL's restrictions on player movement. In 1976, armed with leverage regarding player movement from team to team, Garvey and the union won major concessions from the owners. Garvey's negotiations with the league that exchanged the players' threat of pursuing a system of unfettered free agency for an improved package of player benefits, the NFLPA's recognition by the owners as a full-fledged NLRB union, and damages totalling $13.65 million awarded to past and present players for antitrust violations against them. After leaving the NFLPA, Garvey served as Deputy Attorney General in Wisconsin under Bronson LaFollette, specializing in environmental issues. In 1986, Garvey unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate from Wisconsin as a Democrat, losing by a small margin to Republican Bob Kasten. In 1998, Garvey lost the Wisconsin governor's race to long-time incumbent Tommy G. Thompson. Currently Garvey is active in his private practice in Madison, Wisconsin. He is editor and publisher of the political website FightingBob.com, focusing on Wisconsin and national issues. The website includes Garvey's blog and articles by liberal activists and commentators. Burlington is a city located in Wisconsin. ... Jump to: navigation, search The University of Wisconsin was founded in 1848 and is the largest university in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. ... This article is about the city in Minnesota. ... Jump to: navigation, search The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities. ... John Mackey (born September 24, 1941, New York, New York) is a former American Football tight end who played for the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers. ... The National Football League Players Association, or NFLPA, is the labor union of players in footballs National Football League. ... Jump to: navigation, search It has been suggested that competition law be merged into this article or section. ... In the United States the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is a five-person appointed federal agency charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and with investigating and remedying unfair labor pratices. ... Jump to: navigation, search State nickname: Badger State State motto: Forward Other U.S. States Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Governor Jim Doyle (D) Senators Herb Kohl (D) Russ Feingold (D) Official languages None Area 169,790 km² (23rd)  - Land 140,787 km²  - Water 28,006 km² (17%) Population (2000... The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... Robert Walter Bob Kasten Jr. ... For the Canadian artist, see Tom Thomson. ... Jump to: navigation, search Wisconsin State Capitol Madison is the capital of Wisconsin, a state in the United States of America. ...