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| birth_place = [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts|Hopkinton]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts|Hopkinton]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1964|9|7|1905|2|10}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1964|9|7|1905|2|10}}
| death_place = [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Hyannis, Massachusetts|Hyannis]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S.
| nationality = American
| other_names =
| other_names =
| occupation = [[Basketball]] team owner<br>[[Ice hockey]] coach and team owner
| occupation = [[Basketball]] team owner<br>[[Ice hockey]] coach and team owner
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==Life==
==Life==
He was born in [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts]], and attended [[Boston Latin School|Boston Latin]] from 1922 to 1923 and [[Phillips Exeter Academy]] from 1923 to 1926. After succeeding his father, [[George V. Brown]], as manager of the [[Boston 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 the [[Basketball Association of America]] in 1946, and was instrumental in merging the BAA and the [[National Basketball League (United States)|National Basketball League]] into the [[National Basketball Association]] in 1949.
Walter Brown was born in [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts]], and attended [[Boston Latin School|Boston Latin]] from 1922 to 1923 and [[Phillips Exeter Academy]] from 1923 to 1926. After succeeding his father, [[George V. Brown]], as manager of the [[Boston 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 the [[Basketball Association of America]] in 1946, and was instrumental in merging the BAA and the [[National Basketball League (United States)|National Basketball League]] into the [[National Basketball Association]] in 1949.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}


Brown ran the Celtics as a subsidiary of the [[Boston Garden-Arena Corporation]] until 1950, when he bought the team in his own name and took on former [[Providence Steamrollers]] owner [[Louis Pieri|Lou Pieri]] as a minority partner. He oversaw the transformation of the Celtics into a dynasty, as they won six [[championship]]s in the seven years before his death. He is buried in St. John the Evangelist Cemetery in [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts]].
Brown ran the Celtics as a subsidiary of the [[Boston Garden-Arena Corporation]] until 1950, when he bought the team in his own name and took on former [[Providence Steamrollers]] owner [[Louis Pieri|Lou Pieri]] as a minority partner. He oversaw the transformation of the Celtics into a dynasty, as they won six [[championship]]s in the seven years before his death. He is buried in St. John the Evangelist Cemetery in [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts]].{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}


Brown was the President of the [[Boston Athletic Association]] from 1941 to 1964.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/sports/specials/marathon/articles/2008/04/17/legacy_on_the_line/ | work=Boston Globe | title=Legacy on the line | first=Marvin | last=Pave | date=April 17, 2008}}</ref> In 1951 during the height of the [[Korean War]], Brown denied Koreans entry into the [[Boston 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."<ref name="Time2">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100810155331/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,820682,00.html Sport: Banned in Boston.] ''Time'', February 12, 1951.</ref>
Brown was the President of the [[Boston Athletic Association]] from 1941 to 1964.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/sports/specials/marathon/articles/2008/04/17/legacy_on_the_line/ | work=Boston Globe | title=Legacy on the line | first=Marvin | last=Pave | date=April 17, 2008}}</ref> In 1951 during the height of the [[Korean War]], Brown denied Koreans entry into the [[Boston 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."<ref name="Time2">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100810155331/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,820682,00.html Sport: Banned in Boston.] ''Time'', February 12, 1951.</ref>


==Hockey==
==Hockey==
Brown also played an important role in the development of hockey; he coached the amateur [[Boston Olympics]] to five [[Eastern Hockey League]] championships and guided the USA to its first [[gold medal]] in the [[Ice Hockey World Championships]] in 1933. In February 1940, Brown and eight other arena managers organized the [[Ice Capades]].<ref name="Hamilton">{{cite book | last = Hamilton | first = F. F. Jr. | title = Ice Capades "years of entertainment" | publisher = Penchant Publishing Company, Ltd. | year = 1974 | location = Washington, DC }}</ref> In 1951, he bought the financially strapped [[Boston Bruins]]; he had been the Bruins' landlord since becoming the Garden's manager. He served as the president of the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] from 1954 to 1957.
Brown also played an important role in the development of hockey; he coached the amateur [[Boston Olympics]] to five [[Eastern Hockey League]] championships and guided the US to its first [[gold medal]] in the [[Ice Hockey World Championships]] in 1933. In February 1940, Brown and eight other arena managers organized the [[Ice Capades]].<ref name="Hamilton">{{cite book | last = Hamilton | first = F. F. Jr. | title = Ice Capades "years of entertainment" | publisher = Penchant Publishing Company, Ltd. | year = 1974 | location = Washington, DC }}</ref> In 1951, he bought the financially strapped [[Boston Bruins]]; he had been the Bruins' landlord since becoming the Garden's manager. He served as the president of the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] from 1954 to 1957.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}


The Walter A. Brown International Hockey Tournament was held in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]] from 1964-1968. That "Brown Trophy" can be seen in at least one publication from the [[Pikes Peak]] [[El Paso County, Colorado|region]].
The Walter A. Brown International Hockey Tournament was held in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]] from 1964 to 1968. That "Brown Trophy" can be seen in at least one publication from the [[Pikes Peak]] [[El Paso County, Colorado|region]].{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}


==Death and Honors==
==Honors==
[[File:Celtics1.png|thumb|right|95px|The Boston Celtics retired uniform number "1" in Brown's honor in 1964.]]
[[File:Celtics1.png|thumb|right|95px|The Boston Celtics retired uniform number "1" in Brown's honor in 1964.]]
Brown was honored by having the NBA championship trophy named after him after he died in 1964.
Brown was honored by having the NBA championship trophy named after him after he died in 1964.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

On September 3, 1964 Brown suffered a heart attack at his home in [[Centerville, Massachusetts]] at around midnight and died the next day at the [[Cape Cod Medical Center]] in [[Hyannis, Massachusetts|Hyannis]].


He was inducted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] in 1962, the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 1965, and [[IIHF Hall of Fame]] in 1997, its inaugural year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hhof.com/IZone/izone.member.info.do?mem=6|title=2.6 Walter Brown|year=2013|website=[[Hockey Hall of Fame]]|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-walter-brown.html |title=Basketball Hall of Fame |access-date=December 2, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071012212411/http://hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-walter-brown.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = October 12, 2007}}</ref>
He was inducted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] in 1962, the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 1965, and [[IIHF Hall of Fame]] in 1997, its inaugural year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hhof.com/IZone/izone.member.info.do?mem=6|title=2.6 Walter Brown|year=2013|website=[[Hockey Hall of Fame]]|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-walter-brown.html |title=Basketball Hall of Fame |access-date=December 2, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071012212411/http://hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-walter-brown.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = October 12, 2007}}</ref>
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{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before = [[George V. Brown]] | title = General Manager of the [[Boston Garden]] | years = 1937–64 | after = [[Edward J. Powers]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[George V. Brown]] | title = General Manager of the [[Boston Garden]] | years = 1937–1964 | after = [[Edward J. Powers]]}}
{{succession box| before=[[Clarence A. Barnes]]| title=President of the [[Boston Athletic Association]]| years= 1940–64 | after=[[Will Cloney]]}}
{{succession box| before=[[Clarence A. Barnes]]| title=President of the [[Boston Athletic Association]]| years= 1940–1964 | after=[[Will Cloney]]}}
{{succession box | before = First | title = President of the [[Boston Celtics]] | years = 1946–63 | after = [[Louis Pieri]]}}
{{succession box | before = First | title = President of the [[Boston Celtics]] | years = 1946–1963 | after = [[Louis Pieri]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Boston Celtics]] general manager | years=1946–1951 | before =First | after=[[Red Auerbach]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Boston Celtics]] general manager | years=1946–1951 | before =First | after=[[Red Auerbach]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Boston Celtics]] principal owner | years=1950–1964 | before =[[Boston Garden-Arena Corporation]] | after=[[Louis Pieri]] and [[Marjorie Brown]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Boston Celtics]] principal owner | years=1950–1964 | before =[[Boston Garden-Arena Corporation]] | after=[[Louis Pieri]] and [[Marjorie Brown]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Weston Adams|Weston Adams, Sr.]] | title = President of the [[Boston Bruins]] | years = 1951–64 | after = [[Weston Adams|Weston Adams, Sr.]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Weston Adams|Weston Adams, Sr.]] | title = President of the [[Boston Bruins]] | years = 1951–1964 | after = [[Weston Adams|Weston Adams, Sr.]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Fritz Kraatz]] | title = President of the [[International Ice Hockey Federation|IIHF]] | years = 1954–57 | after = [[Bunny Ahearne]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Fritz Kraatz]] | title = President of the [[International Ice Hockey Federation|IIHF]] | years = 1954–1957 | after = [[Bunny Ahearne]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


⚫
{{Boston Athletic Association}}
{{Boston Celtics general manager navbox}}
{{Boston Celtics general manager navbox}}
{{Boston Celtics}}
{{Boston Celtics}}
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[[Category:1905 births]]
[[Category:1905 births]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
⚫
[[Category:Boston Athletic Association]]
[[Category:Boston Bruins executives]]
[[Category:Boston Bruins executives]]
[[Category:Boston Bruins owners]]
[[Category:Boston Bruins owners]]
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[[Category:People from Hopkinton, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:People from Hopkinton, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Phillips Exeter Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Phillips Exeter Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Boston Athletic Association]]
[[Category:Sports venue managers]]
[[Category:Sports venue managers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Middlesex County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Middlesex County, Massachusetts]]

Latest revision as of 18:17, 25 November 2024

For other people with the same name, see Walter Brown.

Walter A. Brown
Brown in 1960
Born(1905-02-10)February 10, 1905
Hopkinton, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedSeptember 7, 1964(1964-09-07) (aged 59)
Hyannis, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)Basketball team owner
Ice hockey coach and team owner
Known forBoston Celtics
HonorsHockey 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 the Boston Celtics,[1] operated the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation, and served as president of the Boston Athletic Association. In ice hockey, he coached the Boston Olympics to five Eastern Hockey League championships, owned the Boston Bruins, and served as president of the International Ice Hockey Federation. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1965, and IIHF Hall of Fame in 1997.

Life

[edit]

Walter Brown was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and attended Boston Latin from 1922 to 1923 and Phillips Exeter Academy from 1923 to 1926. After succeeding his father, George V. Brown, as manager of the Boston 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 the Basketball Association of America in 1946, and was instrumental in merging the BAA and the National Basketball League into the National Basketball Association in 1949.[citation needed]

Brown ran the Celtics as a subsidiary of the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation until 1950, when he bought the team in his own name and took on former Providence Steamrollers owner Lou Pieri as a minority partner. He oversaw the transformation of the Celtics into a dynasty, as they won six championships in the seven years before his death. He is buried in St. John the Evangelist Cemetery in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.[citation needed]

Brown was the President of the Boston Athletic Association from 1941 to 1964.[2] In 1951 during the height of the Korean War, Brown denied Koreans entry into the Boston 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."[3]

Hockey

[edit]

Brown also played an important role in the development of hockey; he coached the amateur Boston Olympics to five Eastern Hockey League championships and guided the US to its first gold medal in the Ice Hockey World Championships in 1933. In February 1940, Brown and eight other arena managers organized the Ice Capades.[4] In 1951, he bought the financially strapped Boston Bruins; he had been the Bruins' landlord since becoming the Garden's manager. He served as the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation from 1954 to 1957.[citation needed]

The Walter A. Brown International Hockey Tournament was held in Colorado Springs, Colorado from 1964 to 1968. That "Brown Trophy" can be seen in at least one publication from the Pikes Peak region.[citation needed]

Honors

[edit]
The Boston Celtics retired uniform number "1" in Brown's honor in 1964.

Brown was honored by having the NBA championship trophy named after him after he died in 1964.[citation needed]

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1965, and IIHF Hall of Fame in 1997, its inaugural year.[5][6]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Significant Owners: Walter A. Brown (Celtics)" at Real Clear Sports
  2. ^ Pave, Marvin (April 17, 2008). "Legacy on the line". Boston Globe.
  3. ^ Sport: Banned in Boston. Time, February 12, 1951.
  4. ^ Hamilton, F. F. Jr. (1974). Ice Capades "years of entertainment". Washington, DC: Penchant Publishing Company, Ltd.
  5. ^ "2.6 Walter Brown". Hockey Hall of Fame. 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  6. ^ "Basketball Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2007.
[edit]
Preceded by General Manager of the Boston Garden
1937–1964 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Boston Athletic Association
1940–1964 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
First
 President of the Boston 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 the Boston Bruins
1951–1964 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the IIHF
1954–1957 		Succeeded by
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