Sac History Happenings: In History's Spotlight: Gregg Lukenbill

Sac History Happenings

News and developments in Sacramento and California history

October 2, 2011

In History's Spotlight: Gregg Lukenbill

Born: Aug. 15, 1954

Known for: Gregg Lukenbill formed Lukenbill Enterprises with his father, Frank, and led the group that forged a new era of sports in Sacramento, bringing the Kings here from Kansas City in 1985. Without Lukenbill, we'd have no passion for purple, although back then the losing team was bathed in baby blues.

Background: A Sacramento native, he picked up his first paycheck at age 7 and worked in construction for his dad. They became partners in 1976. In 1983, he and investors bought the Kings and moved them two years later to Natomas, where he built the old Arco Arena and then the current one to house the NBA team. He sold the team in 1992. In 1990, he founded Sky King, which flies the Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers.

A highlight: On a rain-soaked night, March 1, 1989, clad in his trademark plaid shirt, he climbed the rafters of Arco Arena and plugged a leak so the Kings could play on.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

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California and Sacramento have a long, rich, vibrant history. And our region is blessed with an abundance of historical resources maintained by museums, libraries, archives and societies. This blog aims to alert readers to the latest developments in local/state historical education and research.

Send tips concerning upcoming exhibits, tours, lectures and meetings, as well as new books, magazine articles and online collections to the blog's contributors.

The Contributors:

Michael Dolgushkin

Michael Dolgushkin is Manuscript Librarian at the California State Library History Section. He is co-author of San Francisco's California Street Cable Cars and is a frequent contributor to the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. Contact him at mdolgushkin@library.ca.gov.

Amanda Graham is a Certified Archivist working in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library. She earned a BS in History from Southern Oregon University and a MS in Information Studies with an emphasis in archives from The University of Texas at Austin. Contact her at agraham@saclibrary.org.

Pete Basofin is Director of Editorial Research at The Sacramento Bee. He previously worked at The St. Petersburg Times and Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. Contact him at pbasofin@sacbee.com.

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