Abe Pollin
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Abe Pollin | |
---|---|
Born | December 3, 1923 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | November 24, 2009 Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 85)
Occupation(s) | Building contractor Real estate developer Sports team owner Philanthropist |
Known for | owner of the: |
Spouse | |
Children | 4, including Robert |
Abraham J. Pollin (December 3, 1923 – November 24, 2009) was the owner of a number of professional sports teams including the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League (NHL), the Washington Mystics in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the Baltimore / Washington Bullets / Wizards in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Pollin was the longest-tenured owner of an NBA team, holding the Packers / Zephyrs / Bullets / Wizards franchise for 46 years.
Biography
Pollin was born to a
Pollin was a successful construction contractor in the Washington area. He, along with Earl Foreman and real estate investor/former NBA referee Arnold Heft purchased the then-Baltimore Bullets from Dave Trager for $1.1 million on November 23, 1964.[8][9] He moved the team to the Washington area in 1973 after building the Capital Centre in suburban Landover, Maryland.[5] In 1996, Pollin announced that he was changing the team's name because he felt the name "Bullets" had too many negative connotations.[5] "Our slogan used to be 'Faster than a speeding bullet,' but that is no longer appropriate", Pollin told the press. A "Name the Team" contest yielded the name "Wizards."
Pollin supported the Washington, D.C. community philanthropically, including a 1988 partnership with businessman Melvin Cohen to award college scholarships to 59 fifth-graders in
.Death
Pollin died on November 24, 2009, at age 85, of corticobasal degeneration, a rare brain disease.[5][11][12] He had made donations totaling $3 million toward finding a cure for the disease.
Personal
Pollin and his wife,
Holdings
Abe Pollin was the chairman of the board, chief executive, and the majority
Accomplishments and honors
In 1999, Pollin received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[13]
On March 9, 2009, Pollin was inducted into the
Pollin's building and financing of
Mayor Adrian Fenty named December 3, 2007, "Abe Pollin Day" in Washington, D.C.[15]
References
- ^ Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an American Community retrieved May 13, 2015
- ^ Washington Post: "Abe Pollin Timeline" November 25, 2009
- ^ a b "Pollin-Kerchek Nuptials Read In City Hotel". The Washington Post. June 14, 1945. p. 10.
- ^ a b Feinstein, John. "Capital Abe," The Washington Post, Sunday, April 8, 1984. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin dies at 85". November 24, 2009. Archived from the original on February 13, 2010. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
- ^ "In Memoriam: Abe Pollin," GW Today (George Washington University), Monday, November 23, 2009. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- ^ "Washington Wizards Owners Irene & Abe Pollin". National Basketball Association.
- ^ The Associated Press (AP) Wirephoto of Earl Foreman, Arnold Heft and Abe Pollin after their $1.1 million purchase of the Baltimore Bullets on Monday, November 23, 1964. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ Williams, Juan. "Holding Back the Shadows," The Washington Post, Sunday, February 17, 1991. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ Schwartzman, Paul (December 20, 2011). "The Promise: Two wealthy men set out to transform the lives of 59 fifth-graders". The Washington Post.
- ^ Goldstein, Richard (November 25, 2009). "Abe Pollin, Team Owner and Philanthropist, Dies at 85 (Published 2009)". The New York Times.
- ^ "Funeral for Wizards owner Pollin to be held Friday". ESPN. Associated Press. November 25, 2009. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
- American Academy of Achievement.
- ^ "Mesler inducted into Jewish shrine". The Buffalo News. March 27, 2011. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
- ^ a b Steinberg, Dan (December 3, 2007). "Today is Abe Pollin Day". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
External links
- Wizards profile
- AISH profile
- Goldstein, Richard "Abe Pollin, Team Owner and Philanthropist, Dies at 85" The New York Times, Wednesday, November 25, 2009