Bruce Norris
Encyclopedia
Bruce Arthur Norris was owner of the Detroit Red Wings
from 1952 to 1982. He was the son of James E. Norris and half-brother of James D. Norris
. Members of the Norris family owned the Red Wings for almost fifty years before selling the franchise to Mike Ilitch
in 1982. Bruce and Marguerite Norris
inherted the Detroit Red Wings from James E. Norris Sr. who died on December 4, 1952. Marguerite Norris was named President. After winning the Stanley Cup in 1955 Bruce bought out his sister Marguerite (was first women to be engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1954, 1955) shares to become the sole owner of the Red Wings. He was later elected the chairman of the National Hockey League
's Board of Governors. Bruce Norris was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1969, joining his father and brother. Bruce Norris name was engraved on the Stanley Cup as a Vice President in 1952, 1954, 1955.
Bruce Norris served as an Ensign with the United States Navy
in the Pacific Theater
during World War II
. Bruce Norris married Naoma Donnelley on June 28, 1947. The couple divorced in 1949. He remarried in 1958 to Patricia Anne Shephard. That marriage ended in divorce and in 1967 he married the former Mrs. Armene Lamson Clark of Seattle. They divorced in 1970.
In 1957, Mr. Norris ordered the trade of Ted Lindsay
from the Red Wings to Chicago because of Mr. Lindsay's efforts to form the National Hockey League Players Association. His role in the union-busting efforts are dramatized in the TV movie, Net Worth
.
In 1976, Bruce Norris was awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy
for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
Bruce Norris died at age 61 on January 1, 1986 at Stony Brook University hospital in Stony Brook
, Long Island
, New York
.
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
from 1952 to 1982. He was the son of James E. Norris and half-brother of James D. Norris
James D. Norris
James Dougan Norris was an American sports businessman, with interests in boxing, ice hockey, and horse racing. He was the son of James E. Norris and half-brother of Bruce Norris and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.Born in Chicago, Norris served as a Lieutenant with the United States Navy...
. Members of the Norris family owned the Red Wings for almost fifty years before selling the franchise to Mike Ilitch
Mike Ilitch
Michael "Mike" Ilitch Sr. is an American entrepreneur and owner of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers. In addition to his sports ownerships, he is the founder and owner of Little Caesars Pizza since 1959, which has become an international fast food franchise...
in 1982. Bruce and Marguerite Norris
Marguerite Norris
Marguerite Norris was the first female executive in NHL history.Marguerite Norris was the team president of the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL from 1952 - 1955. She was the first female chief executive in the history of the National Hockey League. She was the first woman to have her name engraved on...
inherted the Detroit Red Wings from James E. Norris Sr. who died on December 4, 1952. Marguerite Norris was named President. After winning the Stanley Cup in 1955 Bruce bought out his sister Marguerite (was first women to be engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1954, 1955) shares to become the sole owner of the Red Wings. He was later elected the chairman of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's Board of Governors. Bruce Norris was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1969, joining his father and brother. Bruce Norris name was engraved on the Stanley Cup as a Vice President in 1952, 1954, 1955.
Bruce Norris served as an Ensign with the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in the Pacific Theater
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Bruce Norris married Naoma Donnelley on June 28, 1947. The couple divorced in 1949. He remarried in 1958 to Patricia Anne Shephard. That marriage ended in divorce and in 1967 he married the former Mrs. Armene Lamson Clark of Seattle. They divorced in 1970.
In 1957, Mr. Norris ordered the trade of Ted Lindsay
Ted Lindsay
Robert Blake Theodore Lindsay is a former professional ice hockey player, a forward for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League . He scored over 800 points in his Hockey Hall of Fame career, won the Art Ross Trophy in 1950, and won the Stanley Cup four times...
from the Red Wings to Chicago because of Mr. Lindsay's efforts to form the National Hockey League Players Association. His role in the union-busting efforts are dramatized in the TV movie, Net Worth
Net Worth (TV film)
Net Worth is a 1995 television film that starred Aidan Devine, Al Waxman, R.H. Thomson and Kevin Conway. It was directed by Jerry Ciccoritti from a script written by Don Truckey, Phil Savath, David Cruise and Allison Griffiths...
.
In 1976, Bruce Norris was awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy
Lester Patrick Trophy
The Lester Patrick Trophy has been presented by the National Hockey League and USA Hockey since 1966 to honor a recipient's contribution to ice hockey in the United States. It is considered a non-NHL trophy because it may be awarded to players, coaches, officials, and other personnel outside the NHL...
for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
Bruce Norris died at age 61 on January 1, 1986 at Stony Brook University hospital in Stony Brook
Stony Brook, New York
Stony Brook is a hamlet located in the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York, which is on the North Shore of Long Island...
, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.