In Memoriam - E.A. "Bud" Gingher (1937-2002)
Published on July 3, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release
The driving force behind the birth of the Dayton Bombers East Coast Hockey League Professional Hockey Team in 1991 as its original owner, president, and governor, Bud Gingher passed away Monday of an apparent heart attack in Peoria, Illinois. He was 65 years of age.
The owner of two successful businesses in his hometown of Peoria, Illinois, Gingher previously served on the Board of Directors for the then-International Hockey League Peoria Rivermen in the mid-80s. Under his tenure, the Rivermen captured the 1985 Turner Cup Championship.
There was an 11-year gap of no professional hockey in the city of Dayton until Gingher spearheaded the "Bombers" entry into the emerging East Coast Hockey League in 1991. Always putting a competitive team on the ice, the Bombers made the playoffs every year of Gingher's ownership. From 1992-95, Gingher served as the Chairman of the Board of the East Coast Hockey League. In 1996, he was instrumental in relocating the team from Hara Arena to the 10,000 seat state-of-the-art Ervin J. Nutter Center. He sold the club in the summer of 1998.
A member of the Dayton Hockey Hall of Fame, Bud Gingher also served in the United States Navy from 1954-58. A 1962 graduate of Bradley University with a degree in Mechanical Contracting, Gingher was also a member of numerous civic and church organizations in the Peoria, Illinois area.
Gingher is survived by his wife of over 41 years, Phyllis; son and current Bombers General Manager/Alternate Governor Ed Gingher; and daughters Julie and Karen of Peoria, Illinois.
Visitation and funeral services will be held at the St. Vincent de Paul Church at 6001 North University Street, Peoria, Illinois, 61614. A visitation will be held this coming Sunday, July 7 from 4-8 p.m. Central Time. Funeral services will take place on Monday, July 8 at 11 a.m. Central Time with an additional visitation one hour prior to the funeral.
Directions to St. Vincent de Paul Church in Peoria, Illinois can be obtained by contacting the church at (309) 691-3602. Wright & Salmon Mortuary, handler of the funeral arrangements, can also be contacted at (309) 688-4441.
Those wishing to offer flowers and condolences can send them c/o The Gingher Family to 4612 North Woodview, Peoria, Illinois, 61614.
ECHL Stories from July 3, 2002
- Defense Imported - Bakersfield Condors
- Falcons Add Senior Marketing Exec - Fresno Falcons
- ECHL Mourns Loss of Gingher - ECHL
- Corliss Resigns As Director of Finance for ECHL - ECHL
- Greenville Grrrowl Complete Deal With Reading - Greenville Grrrowl
- In Memoriam - E.A. "Bud" Gingher (1937-2002) - Dayton Bombers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
