Walter A. Brown | |
|---|---|
 Brown in 1960 | |
| Born | (1905-02-10)February 10, 1905 Hopkinton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | September 7, 1964(1964-09-07) (aged 59) Hyannis, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupations | Basketball team owner Ice hockey coach and team owner |
| Known for | Boston Celtics |
| Honors | Hockey Hall of Fame (1962) Basketball Hall of Fame (1965) IIHF Hall of Fame (1997) |
Walter Augustine Brown (February 10, 1905 – September 7, 1964) was an American sports executive. He was the founder and original owner of theBoston Celtics,[1] operated theBoston Garden-Arena Corporation, and served as president of theBoston Athletic Association. In ice hockey, he coached theBoston Olympics to fiveEastern Hockey League championships, owned theBoston Bruins, and served as president of theInternational Ice Hockey Federation. He was inducted into theHockey Hall of Fame in 1962, theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1965, andIIHF Hall of Fame in 1997.
Walter Brown was born inHopkinton, Massachusetts, and attendedBoston Latin from 1922 to 1923 andPhillips Exeter Academy from 1923 to 1926. After succeeding his father,George V. Brown, as manager of theBoston Garden, he stated his belief that, "Boston should have a basketball team." Taking a mortgage out on his home, he founded the Celtics in 1945. He then helped to found theBasketball Association of America in 1946, and was instrumental in merging the BAA and theNational Basketball League into theNational Basketball Association in 1949.[2]
Brown ran the Celtics as a subsidiary of theBoston Garden-Arena Corporation until 1950, when he bought the team in his own name and took on formerProvidence Steamrollers ownerLou Pieri as a minority partner. He oversaw the transformation of the Celtics into a dynasty, as they won sixchampionships in the seven years before his death. He is buried in St. John the Evangelist Cemetery inHopkinton, Massachusetts.[citation needed]
Brown was the President of theBoston Athletic Association from 1941 to 1964.[3] In 1951 during the height of theKorean War, Brown denied Koreans entry into theBoston Marathon. He stated: "While American soldiers are fighting and dying in Korea, every Korean should be fighting to protect his country instead of training for marathons. As long as the war continues there, we positively will not accept Korean entries for our race on April 19."[4]
Brown also played an important role in the development of hockey; he coached the amateurBoston Olympics to fiveEastern Hockey League championships and guided the US to its firstgold medal in theIce Hockey World Championships in 1933. In February 1940, Brown and eight other arena managers organized theIce Capades.[5] In 1951, he bought the financially strappedBoston Bruins; he had been the Bruins' landlord since becoming the Garden's manager. He served as the president of theInternational Ice Hockey Federation from 1954 to 1957.[citation needed]
The Walter A. Brown International Hockey Tournament was held inColorado Springs, Colorado from 1964 to 1968. That "Brown Trophy" can be seen in at least one publication from thePikes Peakregion.[citation needed]
Brown died on September 7, 1964, inHyannis, MA, of a heart attack.[6] His share of Celtics ownership passed to his widow,Marjorie Brown, who sold the team the following year.
Brown was honored by having theNBA championship trophy named after him after he died in 1964.[2]
He was inducted into theHockey Hall of Fame in 1962, theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1965, andIIHF Hall of Fame in 1997, its inaugural year.[7][2]
| Preceded by | General Manager of theBoston Garden 1937–1964 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of theBoston Athletic Association 1940–1964 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by First | President of theBoston Celtics 1946–1963 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by First | Boston Celtics general manager 1946–1951 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Boston Celtics principal owner 1950–1964 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of theBoston Bruins 1951–1964 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of theIIHF 1954–1957 | Succeeded by |
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