Some men build hotels. Others leave their mark with words.
David B. Mulligan did both—and, in doing so, became a legend.

The Greatest of Them All – The Making of a Legend reveals the remarkable true story of the man whose name became one of the most enduring terms in sport and whose career placed him at the very summit of North American luxury hospitality.

Set against the dynamic rise of Montréal and New York in the early twentieth century, this sweeping narrative traces Mulligan’s ascent from ambitious hotelier to industry titan. He served as Superintendent of all Canadian National Hotels, Owner and President of Montréal’s legendary Windsor Hotel, General Manager of the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, and President of both Biltmore Hotels and Realty Hotels Inc.—a portfolio that made him known as the Dean of the North American Hotel Industry.

But Mulligan’s legacy extended far beyond grand lobbies and gilded ballrooms.

A three-time Stanley Cup champion as a key officer and master team builder, he helped construct hockey dynasties in the sport’s formative years. His life intertwined with the storied Grant family—his cousins and collaborators—including Mike Grant, a five-time Stanley Cup champion and the most decorated winner of the pre-NHL era. Mike Grant’s son would carry that legacy forward in astonishing fashion: from Montréal Canadiens top prospect, to hotel executive, to Wall Street partner, and ultimately Co-Founder, Co-Owner, and Chairman of the Board of the New York Mets—guiding the franchise to a World Series championship. Across generations, two families shaped sport, business, and history itself.

And then, in 1924, at the Country Club of Montréal, Mulligan struck a second golf shot that would echo around the world. By 1928, at Winged Foot Golf Club, the term “Mulligan” had taken hold—spreading from presidents and baseball legends to the famed Stork Club and far beyond the game of golf. A simple act became a permanent part of the language.

Blending sport, enterprise, rivalry, and the delicate boundary between myth and memory, The Greatest of Them All restores the authentic origin of the Mulligan while illuminating the life of a man whose influence shaped both an industry and a cultural phenomenon.

Completion of the manuscript is scheduled for 2026, with publication planned for 2027, building toward the 100th Anniversary of Mulligan’s rise at Winged Foot Golf Club and the 2028 U.S. Open—where the legend that took hold in 1928 will be commemorated on its centennial stage.

This is not merely the story of a word.
It is the story of the man who made it timeless..