Dick Tinkham
{{Short description|American sports executive}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dick Tinkham
| birth_name = Richard P. Tinkham
| birth_date = June 24, 1932
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|10|14|1932|6|24}}
| nationality = American
| education = Law degree
| alma_mater = University of Michigan
| occupation = Sports executive
| years_active = 1967-2018
| known_for = Establishing the American Basketball Association and the Indiana Pacers
}}
Richard P. Tinkham (June 24, 1932{{Cite web|url=https://m.legacy.com/obituaries/indystar/obituary.aspx?n=richard-parsons-tinkham&pid=190491530&referrer=0&preview=false|title = Richard Parsons Tinkham Obituary (1932 - 2018) the Indianapolis Star| website=Legacy.com }} – October 14, 2018) was an American sports executive who was the co-founder of the American Basketball Association with Joe Newman.[http://a.espncdn.com/nba/s/2000/1006/803119.html Skyliners? Houn' Dawgs? Meet the new ABA 2000]. ESPN.
Biography
Tinkham grew up in Hammond, Indiana. He graduated from DePauw University, where he was on the varsity basketball and relay teams, before earning his law degree from the University of Michigan law school in 1957. He later served in the United States Marine Corps, where he reached the rank of captain and served as general court martial counsel. Afterwards, he started a legal practice in Indianapolis, and chaired the ABA–NBA merger.
In 1967, he co-founded the original ABA and the Indiana Pacers franchise, serving for two years as President of the ABA Board of Trustees. Tinkham was also owner and executive of the Pacers franchise, and was responsible for its early success.{{cite web |last = Benbow | first = Dana Hunsinger |title=Indiana Pacers' first owner Dick Tinkham dies |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2018/10/15/indiana-pacers-first-owner-dick-tinkham-dies/1648355002/ |website=IndyStar.com |accessdate=October 15, 2018 |date=October 15, 2018}} He hired Mike Storen, then business manager of the Cincinnati Royals, as the first general manager of the Pacers. Tinkham and Storen had first met while serving in the Marines together.{{Cite book |last=Pluto |first=Terry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G_FAzZA07tUC&dq=dick+tinkham+marines&pg=PA135 |title=Loose Balls |date=2011-07-19 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-4391-2752-0 |pages=135 |language=en}} In 1972–75, he was instrumental in the creation of Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.
Tinkham died on October 14, 2018, from muscular dystrophy at the age of 86.{{cite web |last=Montieth | first = Mark|title=Tinkham was Instrumental to Pacers' Survival |url=https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/tinkham-was-instrumental-pacers-survival |website=NBA.com |accessdate=October 15, 2018 |date=October 15, 2018}}
References
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Category:American Basketball Association executives
Category:Deaths from muscular dystrophy
Category:DePauw Tigers men's basketball players
Category:Indiana Pacers owners
Category:Sportspeople from Hammond, Indiana
Category:University of Michigan Law School alumni
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
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