Jack McGregor obit

Jack McGregor, original founder of Pittsburgh Penguins, dies at 91

 

He was not on the list.

Jack McGregor, a former state senator and the original founder of the Pittsburgh Penguins, died at the age of 91 on Tuesday. The organization announced the news in a post on social media on Thursday.

"The team extends our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and teammates during this difficult time," a post on X said.

No other information was provided in the post, which was shared before the team's game at PPG Paints Arena against the New Jersey Devils. 

According to his biography on the United States Senate Library, McGregor served in the state Senate from 1963-1970. He represented District 44 in Allegheny County and was a Republican.

He was born in Kittanning, Armstrong County, and attended the University of Pittsburgh and Quinnipiac University before getting into politics, according to his biography. He also served in the United States Marine Corps.

In 1966, the NHL granted a franchise to Pittsburgh after McGregor formed a group of investors that included H. J. Heinz II and Art Rooney. McGregor was named president and chief executive officer by the investors and represented Pittsburgh on the NHL's Board of Governors, according to his biography.

The team played its first game in 1967 at the Civic Arena. McGregor owned the team for four years before selling it.

There is also a scholarship in his name at Pitt. It aims to provide "financial assistance to a law student who excels academically and has committed to working in the public sector," the university says.

U.S. Marine, Yalie, Pennsylvania state senator, lawyer, oil man, founder Pittsburgh Penguins, CEO Aquarion Water Company, founder Bridgeport Bluefish, Bridgeport resident – Jack McGregor did all those things and much more. He passed away on Tuesday at age 91. A lifelong Republican, Jack was a marvelous friend and influence in my life.

A number of years ago Jack moved back to the Pittsburgh area, the city of his youth.

About 20 years ago we collaborated on a book about his Forrest Gump life. That project introduced me to a mega list of accomplished including one of my political idols, legendary campaign guru David Garth. As his New York Times obituary points out, he was an innovator, a godfather of campaign consultants, having furthered the elections of New York City mayors John Lindsay, Ed Koch, Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg. He was the media brain behind New York governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo and United States Senators John Heinz and Arlen Specter.

But “the most attractive candidate” he ever handled was Jack McGregor who served as a Republican in the Pennsylvania State Senate.

Following his years at Aquarion, McGregor took a deep interest in sports entertainment in the city. He said Bridgeport was a viable market for a professional baseball team as well as professional hockey. Jack married Mary-Jane Foster and they became the power couple in the city. He and investors set upon property at the juncture of Downtown and South End for a professional baseball stadium.

One of the properties was owned by Donald Trump who purchased a parcel in anticipation of a potential casino gaming location as the state had grappled with potential gaming expansion. When that failed to materialize Trump did not envision an alternative project. I was then a media and communications consultant to Trump. He had groused about paying the taxes on the property for which he had no use so he stopped paying the taxes.

A deal was brokered between the city and Trump. The city waives the taxes owned by Trump and he deeds the property to the city. In 1998, the Ballpark at Harbor Yard opened playing host to the Bridgeport Bluefish. That parcel is now home to the city’s concert amphitheater.

Bluefish baseball was a hit for first couple of seasons drawing nearly 5,000 per game. (In time interest waned and the amphitheater replaced baseball.) At the height, McGregor sold his interest in the team and set his sights on developing a city-owned arena to host professional hockey. The arena opened in 2001 and his work would lead to the farm team of the New York Islanders as the anchor tenant.

A few years later, now in his 70s and leaving a lasting legacy on the city, he decided to chronicle his life in a book he would share with family and friends. It was an enjoyable collaboration visiting his home in Black Rock to discuss his eclectic life.

Thanks to the book project with McGregor I had a chance to meet David Garth on several occasions including one memorable day on August 12, 2005 in a joint interview with McGregor and Garth in the famed Manhattan steakhouse Sparks, a place where a few political deals have been cut through the years, location of arguably the most historic mob hit in history, when John Gotti took out Gambino leader Paul Castellano, December 16, 1985.

In the spring of 1965, McGregor travelled along the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Harrisburg with a law school classmate, Peter Block, who was an enthusiastic ice hockey fan. During the long car ride, McGregor stated that he felt that Pittsburgh had not reached its potential as a sports town. This led both men to examine ways on bring the NHL back to Pittsburgh after a 35-year absence.

McGregor's plan involved lobbying some of his campaign contributors who were avid sports fans, as well as community leaders. The senator formed a group of local investors for the Pittsburgh franchise that included H. J. Heinz Company CEO H. J. Heinz II, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney, and Mellon family heir Richard Mellon Scaife. The 1967 NHL Expansion depended on securing votes from the then-current NHL owners. To ensure Pittsburgh would be selected for expansion, McGregor enlisted the help of Rooney to petition votes from Jim Norris, owner of the Chicago Black Hawks, and Bruce Norris, owner of the Detroit Red Wings. The effort was a success and on February 8, 1966, the National Hockey League granted a franchise to Pittsburgh.[9] The Penguins paid $2.5 million for its entry to the NHL and $750,000 more for start-up costs. The Civic Arena's capacity was boosted from 10,732 to 12,500 to meet the NHL requirements for expansion. The Pens also paid an indemnification bill to settle with the Detroit Red Wings that held a minor league team in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Hornets. McGregor was named president and chief executive officer by the investor group, and he represented Pittsburgh on the NHL’s Board of Governors. McGregor and Block each owned 12.5 percent of the team.

The team was officially named February 10, 1967, after more than 26,000 entries from a newspaper contest were fielded. McGregor's wife, Carol, named them the "Penguins" since the team would play in the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, which had been dubbed "The Igloo" by the locals. Meanwhile, Jack McGregor obtained Andy Bathgate for the team's first pick in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft.

McGregor was also responsible for the Penguins' their first mascot, Penguin Pete, an Ecuadorian-born penguin on loan from the Pittsburgh Aquazoo. The bird was meant as a surprise for McGregor's son, Doug, for his ninth birthday. Pete made a six appearances at various Penguins' home games before dying from pneumonia. McGregor sent Pete to an area taxidermist, and was he later displayed in the lobby of the Penguins team offices at the arena until several callers objected to the stuffed bird.

On October 11, 1967, Clarence Campbell and McGregor jointly dropped the ceremonial first puck of the Penguins opening home game against the Montreal Canadiens. The Penguins would go 27-34-13 that year. However, during the 1969-70 NHL season, financial issues caught up with the team. The investors were "tapped out" after having invested in a pro soccer team, the Pittsburgh Phantoms. The Penguins were sold to the Donald Parsons Group out of Michigan. The Penguins would be sold by Parsons three years later.

McGregor also founded the Pittsburgh Penguins' second farm team, the Amarillo Wranglers, and served as team president. The Wranglers participated in the 1968-69 season, then suspended operations. After a one season hiatus, the team returned for the 1970–71 CHL season, but permanently ceased operations after that season.