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Former Lightning Owner Dies At 86

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 14, 2009

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Former Lightning owner Bill Davidson died on Friday at the age of 86, a team spokesman confirmed..

The Ira Kaufman Chapel Funeral Home told the Detroit Free Press that services are scheduled for noon Tuesday.

Davidson, the principal owner of the Detroit Pistons, purchased the Lightning in 1999 and guided the franchise for eight years. The team captured a Stanley Cup in 2004 under Davidson's ownership.

"Mr. Davidson was an extraordinary brilliant man who understood the dynamics of what was happening in Tampa through the whole process and saw the franchise through the foundation of the Stanley Cup championship, " former Lightning president Ron Campbell said. "So often when it was easy to do the simple thing, he had the vision to be patient and stick to the plan. His knowledge and patience allowed us to do what we needed to win a Stanley Cup and be successful."

Forbes magazine had ranked the Bloomfield Hills billionaire as one of the richest people in Michigan, tied for 68th in the country.

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