Walter Augustine Brown - Born February 10, 1905 in Hopkinton, Massachusetts - Died September 7, 1964 in Hyannis, Massachusetts was an American ice Hockey coach, general manager, president, chairman and influential sports promoter.

- 1931, 1934 Ice Hockey World Championships Silver Medal Winner with Team USA (manager)

- World Ice Hockey Champion 1933 with Massachusetts Rangers / Boston Olympics (coach).

- 1936 Winter Olympics Bronze Medal Winner with Team USA (manager).

- The Boardwalk Challenge Trophy (Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy) Champion 1944. 1945, 1946, 1947, 1951 with Boston Olympics (coach).

Following his graduation from Philips Exeter Academy, Walter Brown became an apprentice for his father, Boston Garden manager George V. Brown. Following the death of his father, he became president and manager of both the Boston Garden and Boston Arena in 1937.

In 1951, Brown co-bought (60%) the financially strapped Boston Bruins. He had been the Bruins' landlord since becoming the Boston Garden manager and president. He helped re-build the Boston franchise that had sunk to a level where it attracted less than half capacity crowds. Before he was finished the Bruins would play in 3 Stanley Cup finals - 1953, 1957 and 1958, losing to the powerful Canadiens each time.

Brown also started The Beanpot, an annual ice Hockey tournament , 1st held at Boston Arena in 1952, then moved to Boston Garden from 1953 to 1995.

In 1960, as chairman of the United States Olympic Ice Hockey Committee, Brown played a significant role in the selection of the gold medal winning United States team.

Brown was the President of the Boston Athletic Association from 1941 to 1964.

Brown served as the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation from 1954 to 1957.

Walter Brown was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.

Walter A. Brown was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1965.

Walter A. Brown was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973. (Inaugural class)

Walter Brown was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation / IIHF Hall of Fame in 1997.

The Walter Brown Arena in Boston, Massachusetts is named in his honour.

The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Contributors 2025

NOTE
Walter A. Brown is most recognized in the United States for his basketball involvement, but he was a Hockey man, 1st and foremost.

He is the only man to date enshrined in both the Basketball and Hockey Hall of Fame.

The original NBA championship trophy, The Walter A. Brown Trophy was actually purchased at Birks Jewellers (Henry Birks and Sons) on Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario in September of 1962. Marjorie Brown, wife of Walter Brown had spotted the punch bowl in the window of Birks and brought her husband into the store, insisting it would make a wonderful N.B.A. trophy. After some negotiation the punch bowl was purchased for approximately $1200 and brought back to Boston. The Brown's had been in Ottawa for a Bruins pre-season NHL game during a 1962 exhibition tour.

The Solid Silver Punch Bowl, measuring 13 inches high and 19 in inches in diameter was made in 1889 for Canadian Governor General Lord Stanley and used at his residence at Rideau Hall in Ottawa for official parties.

Ellery Koch Awards of Belmont, Massachusetts buffed out the Lord Stanley Crest, built a suitable base, engraved the previous NBA winners, added Walter Brown's name and it was 1st ready for the 1964 NBA championship, won by Walter Brown's Boston Celtics. It was officially awarded from 1964 to 1977, and is now on display at Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.