Walter Lewis Bush Jr. ’51

Walter Lewis Bush Jr. ’51, a leading figure worldwide in the sport of hockey, died in Naples, Florida, on September 22, 2016. Walter’s impact on hockey encompassed national and international, professional and amateur, and men’s and women’s aspects of the game. In recognition of his many contributions he was elected to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and the international Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He received the Lester Patrick Trophy from the National Hockey League, the Olympic Order and the Minnesota Mr. Hockey award. He was named the NHL’s Executive of the Year in 1972. Walter played hockey at Dartmouth, where he was also a member of Alpha Delta Phi and Dragon senior society. He received a law degree from the University of Minnesota and practiced law in the Twin Cities for many years. Hockey was his first love and consuming passion. He was the primary founder of the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL. He served for 30 years as president or chairman of USA Hockey, the national governing body in the United States for amateur hockey. With that organization he was a driving force in the expansion of women’s hockey and central to the inclusion of women’s hockey as an Olympic sport, beginning in 1998. On the board of the U.S. Olympic Committee, he served as general manager of the 1959 U.S. national team and the 1964 U.S. Olympic team. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and three children.