William Davidson

"This article is about the billionaire and sports team owner. For other persons named William Davidson, see William Davidson (disambiguation)."

William Morse Davidson, J.D. (born December 5, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American entrepreneur and professional sports owner and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

He is the chairman of Guardian Industries Corp., one of the world's largest manufacturers of architectural and automotive glass. He is also the chairman of Palace Sports and Entertainment, principal owner of the Detroit Pistons of the NBA, the Detroit Shock of the WNBA, and the former owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL. His Pistons won the 1989, 1990, and 2004 NBA Finals; his Shock won the 2003 & 2006 WNBA Finals; his Lightning won the 2004 Stanley Cup, making him the only owner in professional sports history whose teams have won an NBA Championship and a Stanley Cup in the same year. His combined business ventures have led him to an estimated net worth of $3.5 billion.

Biography

Davidson was born on December 5, 1923 in Detroit to a Jewish family [ [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3372318,00.html American Jewish businessman donates $75 million to Jerusalem hospital - Israel News, Ynetnews ] ] . He graduated from the University of Michigan where he majored in business at the Ross School of Business, and later graduated from Wayne State University Law School. A longtime basketball fan, Davidson purchased the Pistons in 1974 from Fred Zollner for $7 million. Displeased with the team's location in downtown Detroit, Davidson relocated the team to the Pontiac Silverdome in 1978 and then to The Palace of Auburn Hills, an arena financed entirely with private funds, in 1988. Today, the value of the Pistons franchise has been estimated to be over $477 million [http://www.thenewsherald.com/stories/061604/bus_20040616004.shtml] . Davidson can regularly be seen at the team's home games.

In 1999, Davidson put in an unsuccessful bid to purchase the Tampa Bay Lightning and gain a controlling interest in their home arena, the Ice Palace. They lost to insurance tycoon Art Williams, but only months later Williams sold the team to Davidson and Palace Sports at a huge loss. When Davidson acquired the Lightning franchise in 1999, the price was $100 million; its value has recently been estimated at $136 million. Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup under Davidson's ownership in 2004. On August 7, 2007 Davidson sold the Tampa Bay Lighting franchise.

Davidson was honored by the Pistons in 2006 when he was given a banner next to the team's retired numbers. His name was also placed on the Palace floor along with Piston legends Dave Bing, Bill Laimbeer, Vinnie Johnson, Chuck Daly, Joe Dumars, Isiah Thomas and Bob Lanier.

In 2008, Davidson was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor for his successes as an owner of the Pistons and Shock. [ [http://www.hoophall.com/genrel/040708aaa.html Naismith Hall of Fame 2008 Class Announced] ]

Davidson currently lives in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Philanthropic activities

A noted philanthropist, Davidson has given extensively to various organizations. The William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan was created at Davidson's alma mater, the Ross School of Business, following a gift of $30 million. Davidson's cumulative gifts to the school exceed $55 million. In addition, Davidson funds the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York. The excavations on the southern wall of the temple mount in Jerusalem have been named the Davidson excavations in tribute to his generous donations to the project. He is also a contributor to the Wexner Foundation which gives grants to post-undergrad students of Jewish Studies. In March 2007 Davidson donated $75 million dollars to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3372318,00.html] .

ee also

* List of University of Michigan alumni
* List of billionaires (2005)

References

External links

* [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/10/07billionaires_William-Davidson_SA0J.html]
* [http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/william_davidson_profile.html Pistons.com William Davidson profile]
* [http://www.jtsa.edu/davidson]