Age, Biography and Wiki

Fred Zollner was born on 22 January, 1901, is an American industrialist (1901–1982). Discover Fred Zollner's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 81 years old?

Popular As N/A
Occupation N/A
Age 81 years old
Zodiac Sign Aquarius
Born 22 January, 1901
Birthday 22 January
Birthplace N/A
Date of death June 21, 1982
Died Place N/A
Nationality

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 22 January. He is a member of famous with the age 81 years old group.

Fred Zollner Height, Weight & Measurements

At 81 years old, Fred Zollner height not available right now. We will update Fred Zollner's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Dating & Relationship status

He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Not Available
Sibling Not Available
Children Not Available

Fred Zollner Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Fred Zollner worth at the age of 81 years old? Fred Zollner’s income source is mostly from being a successful . He is from . We have estimated Fred Zollner's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income

Fred Zollner Social Network

Instagram
Linkedin
Twitter
Facebook
Wikipedia
Imdb

Timeline

1901

Fred Zollner (January 22, 1901 – June 21, 1982), nicknamed "Mr. Pro Basketball", was the founder and owner, along with his sister Janet, of the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (now the Detroit Pistons) and a key figure in the merger of National Basketball League (NBL) and Basketball Association of America (BAA) into the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949.

He was inducted as a contributor into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

1912

Zollner Corporation, formed in 1912, was a Tier-1 supplier of pistons to companies such as Ford, General Motors, International Harvester (now Navistar), John Deere and Outboard Marine.

At one time, he employed more than 1,200 people in his Fort Wayne, Indiana foundry.

1927

Zollner, an industrialist, was born in Little Falls, Minnesota and received a degree from the University of Minnesota in 1927.

1939

The Zollner Pistons began playing in 1939 as an independent and in 1941 joined the National Basketball League, which was just shaking off its roots as an industrial league.

1944

The Zollner Pistons were a very popular franchise, winning the world championship in 1944 and 1945, and reaching the NBA Finals in 1954 and 1955, losing both times.

He was the first pro basketball team owner to hire a bench coach.

1949

Zollner brought together leaders of the NBL and the BAA to meet at his house in 1949.

Sitting around his kitchen table, they agreed to merge, forming the NBA.

1952

In 1952, when he purchased a DC-3, Zollner was the first to fly his players to away games.

Several years later, the Minneapolis Lakers were stranded in Milwaukee after playing a game against the Milwaukee Hawks; the temperature was -15 °F, and the train was running well behind schedule.

Zollner sent the plane to Milwaukee to meet the players and bring them to the game, but due to a mixup, coach John Kundla was left behind.

He had gone to the dining car and didn't get word.

As the train pulled out the station, he looked out the window and saw the other players waving to him.

The game started with Lakers player Jim Pollard acting as coach.

Kundla arrived shortly before halftime, and tried to sneak to the bench, but the fans spotted him and roared.

"I took quite a razzing from the guys for that," said John, "especially since we were ahead by eight when I arrived and we ended up losing by five."

It soon became apparent that the NBA had outgrown small cities like Fort Wayne.

1957

In 1957, Zollner moved the team to Detroit, a much larger city that had previously had an NBA franchise, the Detroit Falcons, which failed after the 1946–47 season, the NBA's (BAA's) first.

Since Detroit was the center of the automobile industry, the name Pistons still fit.

However, they were nowhere near as successful as they had been in Fort Wayne; they would only tally two winning seasons in the next 17 years.

1974

In 1974, he recalled that, "Instead of making friends, we made enemies, because no one could beat us."

He personally recruited his players, including later Hall of Famers Andy Phillip, Bob McDermott, Bob Houbregs, Buddy Jeannette and George Yardley.

By 1974, the Pistons' lackluster performance on the court was starting to hurt Zollner's bottom line; the team had never turned a profit since moving to Detroit.

Even the best regular season in franchise history at the time was not enough to stop the bleeding.

After the season, Zollner sold the Pistons to glass magnate William Davidson for $7 million (equal to $ million in ).

1975

At the 1975 Silver Anniversary NBA All-Star Game, Zollner was named "Mr. Pro Basketball" for his status as a founder and longtime supporter of the NBA.

He died in North Miami, Florida.

1999

The company had 230 employees when it was acquired by Kolbenschmidt Pierburg AG in 1999.

Zollner Island in Lake Kabetogama in Voyageurs National Park, where he had a cabin, is named for him.

On October 1, 1999, Zollner was inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor.

2009

Zollner and Davidson remained the only two majority owners in the history of the NBA's second-oldest team until the death of Davidson in March, 2009.