Bud Gingher (inducted 2002) - BUILDER
Bud Gingher formed the Peoria Hockey Task force when the Civic Center, which owned the Rivermen, was preparing to fold the team and end pro hockey in Peoria. Gingher produced a couple of sellouts and implemented marketing schemes to prove the team was viable. That success led to interest from Bruce Saurs, who then bought the team in 1989.
Gingher went on to co-found the ECHL, with ex-Rivermen coach Pat Kelly as his partner and league commissioner. Gingher was ECHL chairman of the board of governors, and also founded and owned the Dayton Bombers franchise.
Gingher was inducted into ECHL Hall of Fame in 2010. He founded Bombers in 1991, was ECHL Chairman board governors 1992-95 and the ECHL American Conference champ wins the E. A. Bud Gingher Memorial Trophy.
He died in 2002.
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