ABA salutes Co-Founder/Special Counsel Richard P. Tinkham
Published on October 29, 2006 under American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release
Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) salutes its Co-Founder/Special Counsel Richard P. Tinkham for the outstanding contributions he has made to the success of the current ABA and for his prior contributions to the original ABA. In 1967, Tinkham co-founded the original ABA and the Indiana Pacer franchise. He served for two years as President of the ABA Board of Trustees. In 1972-75, he was instrumental in the creation of Market Square Arena in Indianapolis and chaired the ABA merger committee and helped lead the ABA/NBA consolidation in 1976 that saw the Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets and Denver Nuggets join the NBA.
Dick is a member of the DePauw University Hall of Fame where he was co-captain of the varsity basketball team his senior year and ran track. He was a state champion in the quarter mile, half mile and mile relay. After graduation from DePauw, Tinkham earned his law degree at the University of Michigan in 1957 and served on active duty with the United States Marine Corps, attaining the rank of captain and conducting more than one 100 trials as general courts martial counsel. In 1962, he co-founded one of Indianapolis' largest law firms. In 1976, he left the firm and began a merger and acquisition practice that specializes in helping small and medium-sized companies deal with legal and financial complexities of start-up, growth and acquisitions.
In 2000, Tinkham co-founded the current ABA and has helped it become the largest professional sports league in North America (US, Canada, Mexico) and also the most diversified professional sports league ever. According to Joe Newman, ABA CEO, "Dick's background, experience, knowledge and creativity were key to the development of the ABA, old and new. It wouldn't have happened with the original ABA of Dr. J, George Gervin, Spencer Haywood, Connie Hawkins, David Thompson, George McGinnis - and it wouldn't have happened with this ABA without Dick. Because he stays "behind the scenes," he does not get the credit and recognition he deserves. We thought it appropriate this week before the new season begins to let the world know how all of us in the ABA family feel."
In 1987, Tinkham and his wife Wynn founded the Food Link, an organization that distributes food and other necessities to inner city Indianapolis residents and in 1994, he received the "Spirit of Indy" Award from Catholic Social Services. He is the father of seven children and five grand children. For more information, email rptinkham@aol.com. or visit www.abalive.com.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
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