About James Disbrow
Lived 1948 – 2002 (aged 54). James Disbrow was an American restaurateur and figure skater.
James "Jimmy" Disbrow (July 9, 1948 – October 16, 2002) was a figure skater and restaurateur who later served as president of the United States Figure Skating Association from 1998 to 2000.
Disbrow contracted polio as a child and started skating to strengthen his legs. He won the silver medal in the junior men's division at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1966 and also competed in pairs at the national level with partner Katie Walker. He was coached by David and Rita Lowery; they became his adopted family. Scott Hamilton, who also trained with the Lowerys at the time, later cited Disbrow as one of his childhood role models.
Following his competitive skating career, Disbrow spent two years touring with Holiday on Ice. Later, he became a skating judge. He was chairman of the USFSA's International Committee during the Tonya Harding scandal at the time of the 1994 Winter Olympics and served as the US figure skating team leader at the 1998 Winter Olympics and chairman of the organizing committee for the 1998 World Figure Skating Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota before his election to the USFSA presidency.
Jim Disbrow co-founded the Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck (later renamed Buffalo Wild Wings) restaurant chain with Scott Lowery in 1982 and served as its president and CEO until 1997.
Disbrow died of brain cancer at age 54. He had been diagnosed with the disease shortly after his election to the USFSA presidency in 1998.
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Important facts
People in James Disbrow's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped James Disbrow's
Frequently asked questions
Who was James Disbrow?
figure skater and businessman (1948–2002)
When was James Disbrow born?
James Disbrow was born on 9 July 1948.
When did James Disbrow die?
James Disbrow died on 16 October 2002.
What was James Disbrow's occupation?
James Disbrow was a restaurateur and figure skater.
What nationality was James Disbrow?
James Disbrow was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Disbrow. https://biography.guide/james-disbrow/
MLA: "James Disbrow." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-disbrow/.
Chicago: "James Disbrow." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-disbrow/.
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