Richard Francis Canning (April 29, 1912 – August 6, 1990) was an American attorney who was the president of the American Hockey League from 1957 to 1961.
Legal career
editCanning was born on April 29, 1912 in Providence, Rhode Island to Joseph P. and Mary V. Canning.[1] He graduated from Brown University in 1932 and Harvard Law School in 1935.[2] He was admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1935 and practiced with Letts & Quinn and its successor firms, Letts, Quinn, & Licht and Licht & Semonoff.[3] He also served as the city solicitor of Cranston, Rhode Island.[2]
American Hockey League
editIn 1945, Canning became the legal counsel for the Rhode Island Auditorium. In this role, Canning was also involved with the AHL's Providence Reds.[4] In 1952, Reds owner Louis Pieri resigned as club president following a dispute with American Hockey League president Maurice Podoloff. Canning succeeded him as team president and took his seat on the league's board of directors.[5]
Canning was elected vice president of the AHL in 1954 and was promoted to executive vice president three years later.[6][7] On October 7, 1957, Canning was elected president of the American Hockey League, a position he held until 1961, when he resigned to focus on his law practice.[8][9][10]
He returned to the role as governor for the Reds and in 1974 became the AHL's as vice president and general counsel.[4][11] In 1972, Canning received the James C. Hendy Memorial Award, which is given annually to an executive who has made the most outstanding contribution to the American Hockey League.[12] In 1990, the league honored Canning with the Richard F. Canning Trophy, which is awarded to the Eastern Conference playoff champions.[4][11]
Canning died on August 6, 1990, in Providence. He was 78 years old.[3]
References
edit- ^ Alphabetical Index of the Births, Marriages and Deaths Recorded in Providence. Providence: The Oxford Press. 1922. p. 179. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ a b Gurney, Alfred H. (March 1945). "Brunonians Far and Near". Brown Alumni Monthly: 175. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Richard F. Canning; lawyer, official in AHL". Providence Journal. August 7, 1990.
- ^ a b c "AHL names trophy in honor of Canning". Providence Journal. June 24, 1990.
- ^ "Loses Protest, Quits AHL Board". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 31, 1952. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ Snow, Douglas A (July 1954). "Brunonians Far and Near". Brown Alumni Monthly. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ "Chick Steps Down As A.H.L. Prexy". The Windsor Daily Star. June 18, 1957. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ "Richard F. Canning Elected A.H.L. Head". The Boston Globe. October 8, 1957.
- ^ "Canning Heads Hockey Loop". The New York Times. October 8, 1957.
- ^ "AHL Searching For New Head". The Altus Times-Democrat. June 21, 1961. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Richard F. Canning Trophy". American Hockey League Hall of Fame. AHL Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ "James C. Hendy Memorial Award". American Hockey League Hall of Fame. AHL Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 December 2023.