Bruce Ullrich
Bruce Ullrich | |
|---|---|
 Ullrich in 2007 | |
| Born | Noel Bruce Ullrich 23 June 1938 New Plymouth, New Zealand |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse |
Jeannette Axelsen
(m. 1962; died 2020) |
| Children | 3 |
Noel Bruce Ullrich OBE (born 23 June 1938) is a New Zealand accountant and sports administrator.
Early life and family
[edit]Ullrich was born on 23 June 1938 in New Plymouth, to August and Daisy Winifred Ullrich (née McMeekan). He started his education at Westend Primary School in New Plymouth before continuing at Shirley Primary School in Christchurch. He then attended Shirley Intermediate and Christchurch Boys' High School.[1]
In March 1961, Ullrich's engagement to Jeannette Axelsen was announced,[2] and the couple married the following year.[3] They went on to have two sons and one daughter.[1]
In March 1962, Ullrich became an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) of the New Zealand Society of Accountants.[4] He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Canterbury in 1965.[1] While a student at Canterbury, he served as treasurer of the University of Canterbury Students' Association in 1961 and president in 1962.[3][5] A versatile sportsman, he represented the university at rugby union, squash, tennis, and cricket.[3]
Career
[edit]Accountancy
[edit]Ullrich was a partner at Morris Pattrick & Co, which is today part of KPMG, from 1962 to 1974. He then set up his own business consultancy.[1] In 1992, Ullrich completed a Master of Business Administration degree at Massey University.[3]
Sports administration
[edit]Ullrich has gained prominence through sports administration. He was vice-chairman of the organising committee for the 1974 British Commonwealth Games held in Christchurch. He was team manager of the New Zealand team at the 1982 and 1986 Commonwealth Games, and the chef de mission for the New Zealand team at the 1988 Summer Olympics.[6] He also served as vice-president of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association.[3]
In the 1987 New Year Honours, Ullrich was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for services to sport.[7]
Ullrich has tried for many years to bring the Winter Olympic Games to New Zealand,[8] and chaired the promotion committee for a bid in 2002.[3]
Other activities
[edit]From 1970 to 1990, Ullrich was a member of the council of the University of Canterbury, and between 1971 and 1981 he was the council's representative on the Christchurch Boys' High School board of governors.[3] In 2007, he was elected by the Court of Convocation to the council of Massey University, and served in that role for nine years.[9][10]
Later life
[edit]Ullrich's wife, Jeannette, died in 2020.[11] In November 2023, he published his autobiography that he called My Arena.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Lambert, Max (1991). Who's Who in New Zealand, 1991 (12th ed.). Auckland: Octopus. p. 654. ISBN 9780790001302.
- ^ "Engagements". The Press. Vol. 100, no. 29461. 13 March 1961. p. 2. Retrieved 13 April 2025 – via PapersPast.
- ^ a b c d e f g Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 376. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ "N.Z. Society Of Accountants". The Press. Vol. 101, no. 29778. 22 March 1962. p. 12. Retrieved 12 April 2025 – via PapersPast.
- ^ "Mr N. B. Ullrich". The Press. Vol. 101, no. 29779. 23 March 1962. p. 13. Retrieved 12 April 2025 – via PapersPast.
- ^ Hill, Ben (27 March 2017). "Ditching team sports key for Comm Games survival, according to former Kiwi Olympic boss". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "New Year honours 1987" (PDF). Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette. No. 3. 16 January 1987. p. 92.
- ^ "Sporting Legends". University of Canterbury. 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "Five new members on university council for 2007". Massey News. No. 1. 26 February 2007. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "My Arena : The Life and Legacy of Bruce Ullrich". Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "Jeannette Ullrich obituary". The Press. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "Bruce Ullrich: The man, the legacy". Metropol. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2025.