Mike Shanahan (ice hockey)

Mike Shanahan
Born Michael Francis Shanahan, Sr.
(1939-10-29)October 29, 1939
University City, Missouri[1]
Died January 15, 2018(2018-01-15) (aged 78)
St. Louis, Missouri
Nationality American
Education Saint Louis University
Known for Businessman, owner of St. Louis Blues
Spouse(s) Mary Ann Barrett
Parent(s) James Shanahan
Mary Shanahan
Association football career
Playing position Defender
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960 Saint Louis Billikens[2] 10

Michael Shanahan (October 29, 1939 – January 15, 2018) was an investor, and owner of the American professional hockey franchise, the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1986 through 1995.

Early life

He grew up as a son of a truck driver in University City[3], and was a star athlete at Mercy High School.[4] He then attended St. Louis University, where he was a soccer star on their Billikens soccer teams that won national championships in 1959, and 1960.[5][2]

Early business ventures

After graduating, he became a successful investor in St. Louis.[6] He co-founded Engineered Support Systems Inc., and was president, CEO, and chairman from 1982 to 2005.[4]

St. Louis Blues (1986–95)

Mayor Vincent C. Schoemehl asked if he would be interested in helping give the Blues local ownership. “That’s a question you don’t expect,” Shanahan later recalled. “But we began discussing it, and I got involved.” Shanahan led an investment group that purchased the Blues from California businessman Harry Ornest in December 1986, when Ornest was in talks to move the team to Saskatoon (Canada). At the same time, the city purchased The Arena (1929-1999) from Ornest. His gregarious personality and daring management style made him one of the most popular executives in this region’s sports history. Under his leadership in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the St. Louis Blues regained their standing as a mainstream sports attraction. The franchise’s revival led to the construction of a downtown arena that opened in 1994. By 1990, Shanahan had sold his ownership stake to the Kiel Center Partners as that group led efforts to build a new downtown arena for the team. Shanahan stayed on as team chairman until replaced by former Cardinals executive Jerry Ritter after the 1994-95 season.[6]

Shanahan donated more than $10 million to mostly St. Louis charitable efforts personally and through the Shanahan Family Foundation.[4]

Honors

The atrium at the business school at St. Louis University, his alma mater, is named after him.

He was inducted into the St. Louis University Billikens Hall of Fame in 1994, and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.[7]

Death

He died after a fall[4] on January 15, 2018, at 78.[5] He is survived by his wife Mary Anne, his son Michael Junior, his daughters Meg and Maureen and his 13 grandchildren.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Michael Francis Shanahan, Sr". Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "SLU Billikens History & Record Book" (PDF). SLU. 2015. pp. 4–5.
  3. 1 2 "Cusumano: St. Louis will never have another like Mike Shanahan". KSDK. January 15, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Mike Shanahan, former Blues owner, dies". St. Louis Business Journal. January 16, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Former Blues owner Mike Shanahan dies". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 15, 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Mike Shanahan dies at 78; former Blues chairman revived the franchise". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 16, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Former St. Louis Blues Chairman Mike Shanahan Has Died". KMOX. January 15, 2018.
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