William Wirtz was a prominent figure in the hockey world for over four decades. He was born in Chicago in 1917 and was the son of Arthur Wirtz, who was the owner of the Chicago Blackhawks. William began his career in hockey in 1945 when he joined the Blackhawks as the team's treasurer. He quickly rose through the ranks and became the team's president in 1966.

During his tenure as president, William was a driving force in the NHL's expansion into the United States. He was also instrumental in the creation of the NHL's pension plan and the league's first television contract. William was also a major proponent of the NHL's entry into the Olympics, which allowed the league to gain international recognition.

William was also a major advocate for the players, and he was a strong supporter of the NHL Players' Association. He was also a major proponent of the NHL's entry into the Olympics, which allowed the league to gain international recognition.

William's contributions to the game of hockey were recognized in 1976 when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was the first owner of a professional hockey team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. William Wirtz was a major figure in the hockey world for over four decades and his contributions to the game will never be forgotten.

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