Background
Pollin, Abe was born on December 3, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Morris and Jennie (Sack) Pollin.
builder Professional basketball team executive
Pollin, Abe was born on December 3, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Morris and Jennie (Sack) Pollin.
Pollin graduated from The George Washington University in 1945 and took a job with his family’s construction company for 12 years.
Pollin was the longest-tenured owner of an National Basketball Association team, holding the Packers/Zephyrs/Bullets/Wizards franchise for 46 years. When he was 8, Pollin"s family moved to the Washington area from Philadelphia. The Pollins launched their own construction company in 1957.
A successful construction contractor in the Washington area, Pollin headed an investment group that bought the then Baltimore Bullets in 1964.
He moved the team to the Washington area in 1973 after building the Capital Centre. In 1996, Pollin announced that he was changing the team"s name because he felt the name "Bullets" had too many negative connotations.
"Our slogan used to be "Faster than a speeding bullet," but that is no longer appropriate," Pollin told the press A "name-the-team" contest yielded the name "Wizards." Beginning in 2002, an award called "The Pollin Award" has been awarded annually in his honor.
People are chosen for the Pollin Award based on their dedication to the Washington District of Columbia community and the impact they have on lieutenant
Winners of the award have included Georgia M. Dickens, 2002 Executive Director, The South.T.E.P.U.P. Foundation Of Greater Washington, District of Columbia Pollin died on November 24, 2009, nine days before his 86th birthday, of corticobasal degeneration, a rare brain disease. He had made donations totaling $3 million toward finding a cure for the disease. Abe Pollin was the chairman of the board, chief executive, and the majority shareholder of his company, Washington Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Wizards and the Verizon Center, amongst other entertainment interests.
He was also the builder and owner of the Capital Centre, former home of the Washington Bullets (Now Wizards) and Capitals.
Board of directors United Jewish Appeal, National Jewish Hospital, Jewish Community Center. Board directors, advising committee John F. Kennedy Cultural Center. Member National Association Home Builders, Associate Builders and Contractors Maryland., Washington Board Trade.
Married Irene S. Kerchek, May 27, 1945. Children: Robert Norman, James Edward.