Bill Wirtz dead at 77

by KT on Sep 26, 2007 9:02 AM CDT

Reinsdorf's UC partner died this morning.

throwback to a bygone era in American sports when family ownership of professional sports franchises was the norm, Bill Wirtz died early Wednesday morning at age 77 at Evanston Hospital after a recent battle with cancer.

Many considered Wirtz to be a dinosaur in today's environment of corporate ownership.

A more apt metaphor would be to describe him as a mammoth, a giant of the modern ice age that saw him play an integral role in the expansion of the National Hockey League from six to 30 teams.

Although Wirtz was best known for his long tenure as president of his family-owned hockey team, the Chicago Blackhawks, his business ventures went far beyond sports. And his sports ventures went far beyond the Blackhawks.

He was chairman of Wirtz Beverage Group, president of Wirtz Corp. and Wirtz Realty, director of First Security Trust and Savings Bank and chairman of the South Miami Bank Corp. He also served as a director of U.S. Bank Corp. and Alberto Culver.

He was one of the original Bulls owners, and he may still own part of the Bulls. I wonder who'll take over the running of the hockey team?

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Comments

hopefully the new person in charge of the

Black hawks will help them win.

by SRQman on Sep 26, 2007 10:47 AM CDT reply actions

may he rest in peace

....with the madhouse's organ pereptually playing...asshole

now hopefully the 'hawks can begin to un-suck

by milesgmsu on Sep 26, 2007 11:43 AM CDT reply actions

yeesh

by hscs on Sep 26, 2007 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

does anybody still care about hockey?

really?

Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Sep 26, 2007 11:52 AM CDT reply actions

I bet people really don't care, with their

lackluster history. I mean, the National Hockey League was only made 29 years before the NBA, and 3 years before the NFL.

Oh wait, I bet people do care. Hooray Americans!

"My jumper's so smooth it will seduce your girlfriend." -1958ChiTown

by NittanyBull on Sep 26, 2007 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions

So do you actually follow hockey?

Because that'd be one. And what does hockey's age have to do with anything?

Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Sep 27, 2007 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions

I hope the Hawks pay tribute to Wirtz this season

With a patch of a dollar bill on their jerseys. It would only be appropriate.

by Big D on Sep 26, 2007 4:12 PM CDT reply actions

they'll take donations at the door

because they won't be paying for it

by milesgmsu on Sep 27, 2007 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions

now that Wirtzy's passed on,

maybe some of the archaic liquor distribution laws he's helped ram through the state legislature will pass on, too. It'd be nice to be able to get some nice West Coast microbrews in this state for a change.

by ChrisRobin on Sep 27, 2007 1:32 AM CDT reply actions

do you live under a rock

with no liqour store? (thin, i know).

go to binny's, and say craft brew.

by hscs on Sep 27, 2007 7:49 AM CDT up reply actions

and

spell liquor correctly, dammit.

by hscs on Sep 27, 2007 7:50 AM CDT up reply actions

Get it straight!!!!!!!!!!!!

He never was part owner of the Bulls. He owned the Chicago Stadium. Peter & Rockey Wirtz, his two sons, will take over the Blackhawks. And all those concession stands > the majority of $$$$$ went to Bill Wirtz. That is his company. He made a boat-load of money off the Bulls. So, not only did the Bulls have to pay monthly rent to the Bulls back when they were at the Chicago Stadium. He also made concession money off of the Bulls as he did at the U.C.

Is it me or does Lebron walk like a duck?!

by GranvilleWaiters on Sep 28, 2007 9:57 PM CDT reply actions