11 Facts About Marguerite Norris

Marguerite Ann Norris, known as Marguerite Riker or Marguerite Norris-Riker, was an American ice hockey executive.

Marguerite Norris was the first female team executive in National Hockey League history.

Norris became president of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League after her father James E Norris died in 1952, making her the first female chief executive in the history of the league.

General Manager Jack Adams announced that Marguerite Norris was selected by her father prior to his death to succeed him as president.

Marguerite Norris advocated for arenas to be more female fan friendly and for all farm teams to be equally treated across the system.

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Conn Smythe forbade Marguerite Norris from sitting on the Board of Governors although she secretly voted through Jack Adams using hand gestures.

Marguerite Norris then focused on her business interests in New York City.

Years later, Red Wings great Gordie Howe wrote in his autobiography, Mr Hockey: My Story, that Marguerite Norris's ouster spelled the beginning of the end of the Red Wings' golden age, in which they'd finished first in eight out of 10 seasons–including seven in a row–and won four Cups.

Howe believed that Marguerite Norris was "smart and capable, " as did many of his teammates.

Marguerite Norris noted that Marguerite had been able to rein in Adams' inclination to "upset the apple cart" with blockbuster trades, as evidenced by Adams trading away eight players who had formed the core of the 1955 champions within days of Bruce taking over the team presidency.

Marguerite Norris died in 1994 at age 67 at her home in Southbury, Connecticut due to heart failure.