Dick Patrick, along with Ted Leonsis, is one of the original partners in Lincoln Holdings LLC, which was formed in the spring of 1999. A mainstay for the Washington Capitals’ franchise for more than two decades, the owner, president and alternate governor continues to lead the club with his tireless effort and intense desire to continue a family tradition – engraving the Patrick name onto the Stanley Cup.

For three generations the family name of Patrick has been synonymous with the sport of hockey and the National Hockey League. Patrick’s grandfather, Lester Patrick, was the longtime coach and general manager of the New York Rangers. In his honor the Lester Patrick Trophy is awarded annually for “outstanding service to hockey in the United States.” It was Lester who instilled in his family the desire to remain active in the advancement of the sport of hockey and the National Hockey League. Patrick’s father, Muzz, and uncle, Lynn, both played on the 1940 New York Rangers team that captured the Stanley Cup.

Patrick’s cousin, Craig Patrick, played for the Capitals from 1977-79. He won two Stanley Cups as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins and was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2001 in the “builder” category.

Patrick, who joined the Capitals prior to the 1982-83 season, guides the organization on a daily basis. The former chairman of the NHL Finance Committee, Patrick has been instrumental in the Capitals’ long-term success as a franchise both on and off the ice. Patrick was a leader in the conception and development of the Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the team’s state-of-the-art training center and office building that opened in 2006 in Arlington, Va.

Before Patrick’s arrival the Capitals never had advanced to postseason play. In his 27 seasons with the club, Washington has qualified for the playoffs 20 times – including the team’s magical run to the Stanley Cup finals in 1998 with a team led by a blend of veterans and eager youngsters. The 2008-09 Southeast Division championship was the fifth division title Washington has won under Patrick’s watch and second in as many years.

In addition to his commitment to the Capitals, Patrick previously served as co-chairman of the Washington, D.C., Division of the Fighting Blindness League. FBL, a charity event sponsored by the National Hockey League, benefits the Foundation Fighting Blindness in the fight against retinal degenerative diseases. Held in nine NHL cities on the eve of the Stanley Cup playoffs, FBL gives participants the chance to “own” an imaginary NHL franchise and participate in a rotisserie-style fantasy draft of NHL players.

Born in 1946 in Victoria, B.C., Patrick grew up in the United States. He earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and a law degree from the Washington College of Law at American University. He has developed commercial real estate in the Washington, D.C., area for more than 20 years and, while raising children who have skated within local youth hockey programs, he has been instrumental in increasing the Capitals’ involvement in youth programs throughout the area.