- Arthur Wirtz
Arthur Michael Wirtz (
January 23 1901 –July 21 1983 ) was a powerful figure in sports and arena operation. He was the owner ofChicago Stadium ,Olympia Stadium in Detroit, theBismarck Hotel in Chicago, the Chicago Black Hawks, and theChicago Bulls . He was the father of the late Black Hawks ownerBill Wirtz , and grandfather of current Blackhawks ownerRocky Wirtz .Born in
Chicago, Illinois , Wirtz went into sports and arena ownership because of his real estate investments. He was a real estate salesman in Chicago after graduating from theUniversity of Michigan in 1923.Wirtz was an important showbiz figure with his presentation of the
Sonja Henie Ice Show, which toured arenas for many years. He was also involved with the Henie-produced ice show which played the oldCenter Theatre in New York for several seasons.Wirtz took over the ownership of
Ice Follies andHoliday on Ice which he later sold to Irvin & Kenneth Feld.He was a major factor in the growth of the
National Hockey League , through his ownership of the Chicago Black Hawks. He andJames D. Norris purchased the near bankrupt franchisein 1952 and though it went through rough moments, Wirtz and Norris turned the franchisearound and won back the fans they had lost. He was inducted into theHockey Hall of Fame in 1971.Arthur Wirtz died of
cancer at age 82.Awards & achievements
*1936, 1937, 1943, 1950,
Stanley Cup Championship (Detroit)
*1961Stanley Cup Championship (Chicago)External links
* [http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=21223 Internet Broadway Database]
* [http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=b197101&type=Builder&page=bio&list=ByName#photo Hockey Hall of Fame Biography]
* [http://www.hhof.com/html/exSCJ05_10.shtml Picture of Arthur M. Wirtz's Name on the 1950 Stanley Cup Plaque]
* [http://www.hhof.com/html/exSCJ05_27.shtml Picture of Arthur M. Wirtz's Name on the 1961 Stanley Cup Plaque]
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