William Wirtz, the longtime owner of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League and the owner of 1977 Little Brown Jug winner Governor Skipper, died Wednesday in Chicago at age 77. Wirtz died at Evanston Hospital after battling cancer.
"Bill Wirtz was a giant presence in a giant city, his beloved Chicago and an even greater presence in the National Hockey League," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
The Wirtz family, led by Arthur Wirtz, purchased the Chicago Blackhawks in 1954. In 1966 William Wirtz became team president.
William Wirtz, his father Arthur and his brother Arthur Jr. raced as the Ivanhoe Stable and traveled the country with their star homebred pacer Governor Skipper. William watched the colt win such top events as the Adios and the Jug, and received the Jug trophy from Ohio Gov. James Rhodes.
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