Walter S. Powell (16 August 1879 – 15 February 1961) was a director and manager for Brown Shoe Company, president of the St. Louis Skating Club, and president of the

United States Figure Skating Association U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee "USOPC" under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act an ...

from 1943 to 1946. He was born in

Greenbackville, Virginia Greenbackville is a census-designated place (CDP) 4.5 miles (5 km) south of Stockton, Maryland in Accomack County, Virginia, located just south of the Maryland state line. Per the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 173 ...

. After his term was complete, Powell remained very active in the international side of the sport, serving as the first chairman of the USFSA's International Committee from 1946 to 1952. He served on the

International Skating Union The International Skating Union (ISU) is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Net ...

Council from 1947 to 1961, and was the first representative of the United States to hold office in that organization.Benjamin T. Wright, ''Skating in America'' Powell was on his way to the 1961

World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships (''"Worlds"'') is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union. Medals are awarded in the categories of single skating, men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ...

when he was killed in the crash of

Sabena Flight 548 Sabena Flight 548 was a Boeing 707-329 flight operated by Sabena that crashed en route from New York City to Brussels, Belgium, on February 15, 1961. The flight, which had originated at Idlewild International Airport, crashed on approach to Bru ...

in Brussels, Belgium.

Powell Hall Powell Hall (formerly known as the St. Louis Theater and Powell Symphony Hall) is the home of the St. Louis Symphony. It was named after Walter S. Powell, a local St. Louis businessman, whose widow donated $1 million towards the purchase and use ...

, the home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, was named in his honor.

References

Figure skating officials 1879 births 1961 deaths Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Belgium People from Accomack County, Virginia Sportspeople from Virginia Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1961 Businesspeople from St. Louis American fashion businesspeople American manufacturing businesspeople 20th-century American businesspeople {{US-figure-skating-bio-stub