Jack Waldron (basketball)
Jack Waldron | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Joseph Waldron Template:Birth date New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | July 20, 1971 (aged 59) |
| Occupation(s) | Brewing industry executive, sports executive |
| Known for | President of Rupert Knickerbocker Brewing Company, P. Ballantine and Sons Brewing Company; President of the Boston Celtics |
John Joseph "Jack" Waldron (March 13, 1912 – July 20, 1971) was a prominent American executive in the brewing industry, holding the position of President at both the Rupert Knickerbocker Brewing Company and P. Ballantine and Sons Brewing Company. Additionally, he served as President of the Boston Celtics during two separate terms: from 1965 to 1967 and again from 1968 until 1970.
Early life
Raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Waldron pursued higher education at Fordham University, where he participated in football and shared a room with Vince Lombardi. He completed his Master of Business Administration degree at New York University in 1938.
Business career
After becoming a certified public accountant, Waldron spent a decade working at Haskins and Sells before moving to the Rupert Knickerbocker Brewing Company. Within that organization, he progressed from the role of treasurer to being appointed president by the year 1963.
Boston Celtics
Waldron played a key role in 1965 when he facilitated Rupert's purchase of the Boston Celtics from Louis Pieri and Marjorie Brown. Even after Rupert’s parent company divested the brewery, it maintained ownership of the Celtics. Waldron departed from Rupert but continued his involvement with the basketball franchise.
In 1967, he assumed a vice presidential position at Ballantine, where he managed Ballantine’s acquisition of the Celtics and resumed his presidency of the team. He was promoted to president of Ballantine in 1969 but stepped down following its takeover by Investors Funding Corporation. When Trans-National Communications acquired the Celtics, Waldron remained with the organization until 1970, after which he transitioned to become president of Robbin-Dale Uniform Company.
Death
Waldron passed away on July 20, 1971, at age 59, succumbing to cancer after a three-month illness.