Colton Greene (1833 - 1900)

Civil War Confederate Army Officer, Business Magnate. Confederate General who later organized State Savings Bank and the Tennessee Club. (bio by: Anonymous)  Inscription:First President The Tennessee Club 1875

Julien Green (1900 - 1998)

Author, Playwright. He was born in Paris, France. In 1970 the Académie Française awarded Green its grand prize for literature. Next year he was the first person of American parentage to be elected to the Académie Française. He is remembered for his books “Moïra,” “Chaque Homme dans sa Nuit” (about the troubles of a young […]

Henrietta Howland “Hetty” Robinson Green (1834 - 1916)

Businesswoman. She inherited $10 million dollars, which she parlayed into a vastly greater sum through shrewd stock investments. She was the richest woman in the world during the early 20th Century. An incredibly miserly woman (her nickname was the “Witch of Wall Street”), her eccentricies became legendary in her time.  Family links:  Parents:  Edward Mott […]

Malcolm E Gray (1867 - 1932)

Businessman. The inventor of the five-day work week, he was the president, owner and primary inventor at the Rochester Can Company in the 1910s when he had the chance to observe Alfred Wright’s system of Monday-to-Friday and a half day on Saturday, which gave Wright’s employees a half day free of work to recuperate before […]

Admiral Nelson Gray (1970 - 1862)

Newspaper Publisher. He was a co-founder of the Cleveland “Plain Dealer” newspaper.  Family links:  Spouse:  Roxanna A Gray (____ – 1887)* *Calculated relationship

Henry Charles Grawemeyer (1912 - 1993)

Businessman, Philanthropist. Best known for creating the Grawemeyer Awards – international awards in music composistion, world order, education, psychology and religion. The $200,000 each recipient recieves make these awards among the largest world wide. Winners have included former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev and Norwegian prime minister Gro Harlan Brundtland. (bio by: Mike Maloney)  Family links: […]

Henry Graves (1806 - 1892)

Printer, founded Illustrated London news.  Family links:  Children:  Algernon Graves (1845 – 1922)* *Calculated relationship

William Thomas Grant (1876 - 1972)

Businessman. He founded the W.T. Grant Department Store chain, which at its height included over 1,200 locations. Started in 1906 in Lynn, Massachusetts with a 25 cent ceiling on prices, it grew to a business empire after World War I. After his death, though, the empire collapse in what is to date the largest retail […]

Bill Graham (1931 - 1991)

Businessman. He was a pioneering music talent promotor and impresario who is considered by many to be the “Father of the Modern Music Business”. The many musical singers and acts he promoted and stages shows for at his music venues include Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zepplin, Cream, Crosby, Stills, Nash & […]

Archibald Gracie (1755 - 1829)

Businessman. He was a business magnate who accumulated great wealth through his shipping industry. He built the famous Gracie Mansion, which is now the official residence of the Mayors of New York City, New York.  Family links:  Spouse:  Esther Rogers Gracie (1757 – 1833)*  Children:  Eliza Gracie King (1790 – 1825)*  Sarah Rogers Gracie King […]

W.T. Grace (1907 - 1989)

Founder of Helen Grace Candy. He began his career as a candy assistant.  Family links:  Parents:  James Grace (1865 – 1913)  Mary Della Fisher Luten (1878 – 1969)  Spouse:  Helen Grace (1914 – 2002)  Siblings:  Leona Brook Fraseur (1896 – 1960)**  James Grace (1902 – 1902)**  James R Grace (1904 – 1923)*  India Grace Sax […]

Helen Grace (1914 - 2002)

Businesswoman. With her former husband W.T. Grace together they founded the company “Helen Grace Candy”. He began his career as a candy assistant, then formed his own putting her name on the company. (bio by: Graving Queen of the OC)  Family links:  Spouse:  W.T. Grace (1907 – 1989)* *Calculated relationship

Jay Gould (1836 - 1892)

Businessman. He was born into poverty on May 27, 1836 in Roxbury, New York.  Too frail for farming, Gould’s early career in land surveying and commodity speculation got him interested in railroad stocks, which were the high-growth glamour issues of the day. In 1859 he moved to New York City, where he became a broker […]

Sam Goody (1904 - 1991)

Record Store Magnate.  Family links:  Spouse:  Sadie Goody (1911 – 1996)*  Children:  Howard Goody (1942 – 2002)* *Calculated relationship

Julian Goodman (1922 - 2012)

Television Executive. In 1945, he began at the NBC television studios as a correspondent during the formative years of television news and entertainment, going on to set industry standards. He rose through the ranks to become executive vice president, chief executive officer and retired as chairman of the NBC Television Network in 1979. In his […]

Samuel Gompers (1850 - 1924)

Labor Leader. He was born in London and together with his family immigrated to America in 1863. They lived on the Lower East Side, where he found work as a cigar-maker. In 1864 he joined the Cigar Makers’ International Union. He became an American citizen in 1872. Gompers had seen what things were like for […]

Leon Shaffer Golnick (1913 - 1999)

Businessman. Pioneer of syndicated automotive and financial advertising, and was the founder of Golnick Advertising in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As a youth was a vaudeville song-and-dance man.

Phillip York Goldman (1964 - 2003)

Businessman, Scientist. A Silicon Valley engineer and entrepreneur, he was a Princeton University computer science graduate and also won 19 patents. He worked for Apple Computers and General Magic, before being one of the three founding members of Webtv Inc. After the sale of Webtv Inc. to Microsoft, he founded Mailblocks where he was working […]

Solomon Harry “Sol” Goldberg (1880 - 1940)

Businessman. He founded the Hump Hairpin Manufacturing Company in Chicago, Illinois, making his fortune when in 1915 he patented a hairpin made with ridges so they would not fall out of hair.

Larry Goldberg (1934 - 2003)

Businessman. Owner of several pizza establishments in New York City known as Goldberg’s Pizza. Winner of the best pizza award for many years. Author of the books “Controlled Cheating: The Fats Goldberg,” “Take It Off, Keep It Off Diet Program” and “The Goldberg’s Pizza Book.”  (bio by: Erik Lander)  Family links:  Parents:  Arthur P. Goldberg […]

Roberto Crispulo Goizueta (1931 - 1997)

Businessman, Philanthropist. He was the Chairman, Director, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Coca-Cola Company from August 1980 until his death in October 1997. Born into a prominent family in Havana, Cuba, his father was an architect and real estate investor and his mother’s family was part owner of a sugar mill. He attended […]

Thomas Blake Glover (1838 - 1911)

Entrepreneur.  Blake was a Scottish merchant who came to Japan in 1959. Soon after his arrivial, he founded the Glover Trading Company in Nagasaki to export gold and silver and to import ships and weapons for the Choshu and Satsuma clans. In 1865, he imported the first locomotive in Japan and later established shipyards and […]

Francis K. Glidden (1855 - 1933)

Businessman. The son of Francis H. Glidden, who founded the Glidden Paint and Varnish Company in Cleveland, Ohio. He started as a secretary for his father and remained in that capacity for much of his career. When his brother Fred became president, he became vice president of the company. He retired when the company was […]

Sam Glazer (1923 - 2012)

Businessman. Co-founder of the Mr. Coffee beverage machine. The son of European-Jewish immigrants, his father died while Sam was a child leaving his mother and siblings to struggle with impoverished circumstances. This harsh experience made an indelible impression on him and shaped his earnest strives towards a highly-successful future in business. Following service with the […]

Stephen Girard (1750 - 1831)

Financier, Businessman, Educator. He attained great wealth as a banker and merchent, and left provisions in his will that created Girard College.

Ellis Gimbel (1865 - 1950)

Department Store Founder.  Family links:  Parents:  Adam Gimbel (1816 – 1896)  Fridoline Kahnweiler Gimbel (1830 – 1886)  Children:  Fridolyn Gimbel Graham (1891 – 1971)*  Ellis A Gimbel (1898 – 1964)*  Richard Gimbel (1898 – 1970)*  Siblings:  Harriet Gimbel Labe (1848 – 1909)*  Julia Gimbel Greenewald (1849 – 1903)*  Jacob Gimbel (1851 – 1922)*  Sallie Gimbel […]

Charles Gimbel (1861 - 1932)

Businessman. He was the founder of the Gimbel’s Department Store.  Family links:  Parents:  Adam Gimbel (1816 – 1896)  Fridoline Kahnweiler Gimbel (1830 – 1886)  Spouse:  Ella Long Gimbel (1865 – 1949)*  Children:  Gertrude Gimbel Dannenbaum (1889 – 1948)*  Siblings:  Harriet Gimbel Labe (1848 – 1909)*  Julia Gimbel Greenewald (1849 – 1903)*  Jacob Gimbel (1851 – […]

Bernard Feustmann Gimbel (1885 - 1966)

Department Store Founder.  Family links:  Parents:  Isaac Gimbel (1857 – 1931)  Rachel Feustmann Gimbel (1863 – 1944)  Spouse:  Alva Bella Bernheimer Gimbel (1893 – 1983)*  Children:  Bruce Alva Gimbel (1913 – 1980)*  Caral Glazier Gimbel Lebworth (1914 – 2008)*  Hope Alva Gimbel Solinger (1914 – 2016)*  Peter Robin Gimbel (1928 – 1987)*  David Alva Gimbel […]

Adam Gimbel (1816 - 1896)

Founder of Gimbel’s Department Stores. Gimbel arrived in American in 1834, and shortly afterwards traveled to Vincennes, Indiana where he opened a trading post. Much of his business was with the Indian’s, trading beads and other items for furs and pelts. He developed a trustworthy reputation with all customers and his motto was well known […]

Earl Bell Gilmore (1887 - 1964)

Entrepreneur. Earl Bell Gilmore was the son of Arthur F. Gilmore, founder of Gilmore Oil Company in Los Angeles. Besides expanding the oil company, Gilmore built the first race track designed specifically for midget racers. He also sponsored Indy cars, and in 1987 was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame. Last, but […]