Bill Wirtz

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Lore & Background

Bill Wirtz was born to Arthur Wirtz and Virginia. He grew up in Chicago and attended the Latin School of Chicago where he was a star athlete in football and track. He graduated from Brown University in 1950. He married Joan Roney in 1950; they had five children: two sons, Rocky Wirtz and Peter Wirtz; and three daughters, Gail Wirtz Costello, Karey Wirtz Fix, and Alyson Wirtz. Joan died in 1983. In 1987, Bill Wirtz married Alice Wirtz. He died at Evanston Hospital on September 26, 2007, following a brief battle with cancer. During a tribute and moment of silence for Bill Wirtz during the Blackhawks' home opener on October 6, 2007, the crowd booed.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Bill Wirtz is one of contradictions: a man vilified by fans yet hailed by peers for loyalty. While critics pointed to his role in trading Phil Esposito in 1967 or Chris Chelios (who requested the trade), those within the circle saw differently. Former general manager Dale Tallon, star Stan Mikita, and Martin Lapointe described him as generous and fiercely loyal. In 1993, he established Blackhawk Charities, donating millions to groups like the Boys and Girls Clubs. He served on the Olympic Committees for both the 1980 and 1984 Winter Olympics. His death in 2007 following a battle with cancer was met with irony; during the Blackhawks' home opener tribute on October 6, 2007, the crowd booed his memory. His son Peter briefly took over before handing control to Rocky Wirtz, who immediately reversed many policies.

Reader's Guide

Bill Wirtz was the team president of the Blackhawks for 41 years and served as chairman of the Board of Governors of the NHL for 18 years, helping to merge the NHL and the World Hockey Association during the 1970s. As owner, he earned the nickname 'Dollar' Bill for his frugality. He forbade home games to be televised unless picked up by national broadcasters, which only happened when the Blackhawks made the playoffs. For a short time during the 1991–92 and 1992–93 seasons, he introduced Hawkvision, a pay television service costing $29.95 per month. He was blamed for allowing Bobby Hull to leave the Blackhawks (though his father Arthur was actually responsible), and for the loss of Dominik Hašek, Ed Belfour, and trades of Denis Savard, Chris Chelios (though Chelios told the general manager to trade him), Jeremy Roenick, and Phil Esposito. Under his ownership, the Blackhawks had the longest Stanley Cup drought in team history, and ESPN in 2004 named the Blackhawks the worst franchise in sports. Despite criticism, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976 and the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1993, he established Blackhawk Charities. He was on the Olympic Committees for both the 1980 and 1984 Winter Olympics.

Did You Know?

• Bill Wirtz was never the general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks.
• During Bill Wirtz's tenure as owner (1966–2007), the Blackhawks won zero Stanley Cups.
• Bill Wirtz's father was Arthur Wirtz, not Bill Wirtz Sr.