Fred Zollner

Fred Zollner ( born January 22, 1901 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, † 21 June 1982) was American owner of the Zollner Pistons of the National Basketball League. The trophy of the Western Conference in the NBA was named after him.

Biography

Fred Zollner was with 13,000 inhabitants born in 1901 in Fergus Falls, a small town. He attended Central High School in Duluth (Minnesota). In 1927 he received from the University of Minnesota its conclusion.

In the following years, Fred Zollner, the owner of Zollner Machine Works, the piston (technology) was produced for General Motors. In 1941, Zollner founded the basketball team Wayne Zollner Pistons Ford in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Zollner Pistons played successfully in the National Basketball League ( NBL kurz. ) and could in the NBL two titles fetch ( / 1943/44 and 1944 45) pick. In the season 1948/49, took the " Fort Wayne Pistons " in the Basketball Association of America ( BAA short ) part. The Fort Wayne Pistons continued to play successfully in the National Basketball Association ( NBA kurz. ) and made ​​it twice in the finals ( in 1954/55 and 1956).

In 1952, Fred Zollner was the first one team one aircraft ( DC-3 Airplane ) that the team is transported to the basketball games. Previously Zollner was also one of the first owners, who signed a contract with an African- American players.

In 1957, the Fort Wayne Pistons named into " Detroit Pistons " and played absofort in the 37,000 -square-foot Cobo Hall in Detroit. 1974 Fred Zollner sold his team for $ 35 million to William Davidson, who later became chairman of Guardian Industries Corp.. A year later, Zollner was the " Silver Anniversary NBA All- Star Game " by the NBA for "Mr. Explains Pro Basketball ".

Zollner counted in the 1940s to the conveyance of the BAA and NBA. He helped the league financially and provided transportation and personnel. He was also involved in important rule changes (eg, the 24-second clock or the six- foul rule).