Seller Story
Walter Bush, Minneapolis, MN
For more than 50 years, Walter L. Bush Jr. was the heart and soul of American hockey. After playing at Dartmouth University, the Minneapolis-native returned home and earned his law degree at the University of Minnesota. While playing in an amateur league, his legal expertise was called on to negotiate a matter with USA hockey, and so began his long tenure working to develop the sport at every level — from the ice to the back office. “More than anything, my dad was one of the world’s most devoted volunteers,” recalls his son Steve. “He got into amateur hockey in a big way around 1957, after the Olympics. He attended every winter Olympics until 2014 to represent his country and the sport he loved so much.”
Bush went on to manage the 1959 national and the 1964 Olympic teams, and became the president of USA Hockey from 1986 to 2003. As president, Bush advocated for the addition of women’s hockey as an Olympic sport for many years before it became a reality at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, where the US beat the Canadians for their first gold medal. Bush was behind the hiring of Herb Brooks, the coach of legendary 1980 men’s team that beat the favored Soviets at the height of the Cold War before the US went on to beat Finland in the gold medal game. Bush is portrayed in Miracle, the 2004 feature film about the team. “There’s a letter in the sale that’s signed from Herb, which is a big deal because it’s from 1980,” notes Steve.
Bush met his first wife, Steve’s late mother, Mary Relf, sailing in Lake Calhoun as a teen. She went on to travel the country skating with the ice follies, and her likeness is captured in a black and white photo in the collection. Steve recalls that much of the crystal in the sale came from his parents’ trip to Czechoslovakia while his father was managing the 1959 national team. The achievement that brought him the most pride, however? “Bringing the North Stars to Minneapolis,” Steve recalls. His family watched with pride as their father received well-deserved inductions into the US Hockey Hall of Fame (1980), the Hockey Hall of Fame (2000) and the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of fame (2009).
EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Waterford "Colleen" Crystal Footed Brandy Decanter With Stopper
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Oil Painting of a Winter Landscape with Horse Drawn Carriage
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Jevgenijus Litvinas Nocturne Seascape Oil Painting
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Kevin Kasik Landscape Oil Painting "Bluebonnetts with Gathering Storm," 2024
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Burberry Thomas Bear in Metallic Silver
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Charles Alfred Meurer Still Life Oil Painting with Fruit
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
William Woollett Engraving "A View of Foots Cray Place in Kent"
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
14K Two Tone Hammered Hoop Earrings
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Eastern Orthodox "Book of Gospels" Design Parcel-Gilt Icon
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
David Berger Still Life With Violin Oil Painting
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
10K White Sapphire Solitaire Pendant on Gold-Filled Chain
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
East Asian Polychrome Carved Wood Seated Vairocana Buddha Figure
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Bohemian Style Cut to Clear Emerald and Cobalt Crystal Wine Glasses
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
"Joy of Cooking" by Irma S. Rombauer and Marion R. Becker and More Cookbooks
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
José M. Lima Oil Painting of Floral Still Life, 2023
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling 1.02 CT Diamond Ring
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Robert H. Joseph Woodland Landscape Oil Painting "Beech Trees," 1968
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
2000 Pokémon Team Rocket Machop 1st Edition Graded CGC 10
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Oil Painting of Still Life with Flowers
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Oil Painting of Nude Figure Study in Academic Setting, 1887
Did you ever go with your father to the Olympics?
I got to go to Nagano in 1998 and watch the women win the gold medal. My father was really the godfather of making women’s hockey an Olympic sport – it was initially just going to be an exhibition sport.
Where did he keep all of these pieces?
They were all on display. He had a big glass case that was lit up, as well as a trophy case. His most prized accolade was from B’nai B’rith, from the highest organization for Judaism, for outstanding achievement in the community, which he received when he founded the North Stars. He was one of the few non-Jewish people to receive the award.
Did he think it was crazy that he was portrayed in Miracle?
No, my dad didn’t think anything was crazy. He saw a lot of crazy in his life and he was never shocked!