John Redpath (1970 - 1869)

A building contractor who in 1854 built Canada’s first sugar refinery, importing sugar cane from the West Indies on his own ships. As a philanthropist he supported missions, colleges and hospitals. His son Peter financed the building of McGill’s Redpath Museum (to house the collections of Sir William Dawson) and the Redpath Library of McGill. […]

Orville Redenbacher (1907 - 1995)

Businessman. He is best remembered for his trademark bowtie, thick black glasses, and his folksy manner in television commercials of the 1960s and 1970s, where he advertised his “Orville Redenbacher Gourmet Popping Corn”. Born in Brazil, Indiana, he was the third child and only son of a general farmer in Clay County, Indiana.  In 1924, […]

Jheri Redding (1907 - 1998)

Hair-care products guru who introduced the concept of pH balance to shampoo. (bio by: Damien)

Harold Rea (1907 - 1985)

Sportsman/Business Executive. Well-known sportsman who devoted most of his time to volunteer and organize projects involving sports. He served as the national President of the YMCA from 1963 to 1965. (bio by: K)

George Henry Rawlings (1855 - 1909)

Business Magnate. Born in St. Louis, Rawlings began his business career as a young boy with the M.J. Steinburg Hat and Fur Company for three and a half years. In 1871 he became associated with Albright Brothers Sporting Goods and remained with them until 1879. He was the manager of the gun department for C […]

John Jakob Raskob (1879 - 1950)

Businessman, Political Leader,  Philanthropist. Educated at Bryant and Stratton Business Institute, in 1900 he was hired as Pierre DuPont’s private secretary. In 1914 DuPont became DuPont Company President, and Raskob became Treasurer. Raskob facilitated the DuPont purchase of a stake in General Motors and creation of General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) in the early 1920s, […]

William Ramsay (1868 - 1914)

Inventor, Manufacturer. In 1906 this native Australian invented Kiwi Boot Polish. “Kiwi”, the national bird of New Zealand was chosen as the brand name to honor his New Zealander wife, Ann Elizabeth Meek Ramsay. He began his business by loading his horsedrawn wagon with his polish and selling it door to door to farmers throughout […]

William Chapman Ralston (1826 - 1875)

Banker, Businessman. A native of Ohio, Ralston moved to Panama after the discovery of gold in California and joined a banking and shipping firm that carried miners to San Francisco. In 1854, he settled in San Francisco himself and spent the next ten years with various banking firms. In 1864, he co-founded the Bank of […]

Walter William Ralphs, Sr (1884 - 1971)

Supermarket chain executive. Walter William Ralphs was the nephew of Ralphs grocery store founder George A. Ralphs. When the company incorporated as the Ralphs Grocery Company in 1909, Walter W. Ralphs was one of three partners, along with his uncle and his father, Walter B. Ralphs. In 1914, after the death of George A. Ralphs, […]

Walter Benjamin Ralphs (1854 - 1954)

Supermarket chain executive. Walter B. Ralphs went into business with his older brother, George A. Ralphs, forming Ralphs Brothers Grocers in downtown Los Angeles in 1875. Prior to entering the grocery business, Walter Ralphs operated a ranch in San Bernardino County, California. After George A. Ralphs died in 1914, Walter Ralphs, his two sons, and […]

George Albert Ralphs (1850 - 1914)

Businessman. Founder of Ralphs Supermarket chain, the largest market chain in Southern California.  Family links:  Parents:  Richard Ralphs (1812 – 1877)  Mary Newell Ralphs (1820 – 1887)  Spouses:  Wallula Ralphs (1876 – 1941)  Mary E Ralphs (1853 – 1880)*  Children:  William W Ralphs (1875 – 1876)*  Minnie Elizabeth Ralphs White (1879 – 1942)*  Walter Ralphs […]

Elmer L. Ralphs (1886 - 1930)

Supermarket chain executive. Elmer Ralphs was the nephew of George A. Ralphs, founder of the Ralphs grocery store chain. After George Ralphs died in 1914, management of the chain was passed to his son, Albert, and his two nephews, Elmer and Walter W. Ralphs. At the time of his death, from blood poisoning at the […]

Albert George Ralphs, Sr (1897 - 1973)

Supermarket chain executive. Albert Ralphs was the only son of George A. Ralphs, founder of the Los Angeles-based Ralphs Grocery Company, one of the nation’s oldest and largest grocery chains. George Ralphs died in 1914, leaving financial control of the business to 17-year-old Albert. After Albert returned from military service in France during World War […]

John Francis Queeny (1859 - 1933)

Business Magnate. After working as a buyer for Meyer Brothers Drug Company in St. Louis, Queeny established his own small chemical company in 1901 and began producing saccharin locally because no company in the United States produced it. He called his firm Monsanto. The firm expanded rapidly and John became the chairman of the board. […]

Edgar Monsanto Queeny (1897 - 1968)

Businessman. The son of John F. Queeny, the founder of the Monsanto Company, Edgar showed a flair for writing by starting the company’s first employee newspaper even before his father retired. He had many different ideas for the company and took it to new heights. Monsanto went public just before the stock market crash of […]

Bernard Quaritch (1819 - 1899)

Established the world’s largest antiquaarian book business.

William Procter (1801 - 1884)

Manufacturer. Co-Founder of the Procter and Gamble Company. A native of England, he was born in Herefordshire and educated at the Luckston School. Procter entered into business in 1818 and was connected with the clothing industry in London in the late 1820’s. In 1827, he became acquainted with William Hooper, who urged him to emigrate […]

William Cooper Procter (1862 - 1934)

Businessman. Born in Glendale, Ohio, he was the grandson of William Procter, the co-founder of the Procter and Gamble Soap Company. As manager of manufacture production, he was noted for creating a profit-sharing program for his employees, which was the first in America. He served as head of the company, (1907-30). He died at age […]

Sol Price (1916 - 2009)

Entrepreneur. He changed retail shopping by pioneering the first nationwide members-only discount warehouse stores. As a business lawyer in 1954, he founded the retail chain Fed-Mart in California, selling it to German investors in 1975. In 1976, with co-investors he started the first Price Club, which offered a varied selection of consumer goods and household […]

Bernard Pratte (1803 - 1866)

First St. Louis-born mayor (1844-1846). During his tenure, the Mississippi River levee was paved with cobblestones, gas street lights were installed & City Hospital was opened. He also served as President of the Bank of the State of Missouri & was a delegate to the Missouri State Constitutional Convention from St. Louis County in 1880. […]

Francis Ashbury Pratt (1827 - 1902)

Manufacturer, Businessman. A trained mechanical engineer, he was the co-founder of the Pratt and Whitney Company, which he began in 1860 with Amos Whitney as a machine tool manufacturer. It eventually evolved into the aircraft and aerospace manufacturing business it is know for today.  He is credited with being first to permit production of fine […]

Daniel Pratt (1799 - 1873)

Industrialist. In 1836 he bought land on the Autuaga Creek in Alabama where he built a cotton gin factory, cotton mill, grist mill, woolen mill, and a foundry. The area became known as Prattville. Pratt was one of the first people to develop Alabama’s coal and iron ore mines, and he helped establish the North […]

John Robert Powers (1892 - 1977)

Founded the Powers Modeling Agency. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Spouse:  Alice Burton Powers (1908 – 1972)* *Calculated relationship

Marjorie Merriweather Post (1887 - 1973)

American socialite, heir to the Post cereal fortune, and wealthiest woman in America. Marjorie Merriweather Post was a businesswoman, collector, museum founder, and philanthropist. She was the only child of C.W. Post, founder of the Post Cereal empire.  When Marjorie’s father died in 1914, she became head of the $20 million cereal company that would […]

Don Post (1902 - 1979)

Mask maker, prop fabricator. Celebrated as The Godfather Of Halloween, pioneer original creator of Over-The-Head Rubber masks, founder and namesake of Don Post Studios. His own curiosity prompted a backstage visit to examine Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily producing clown Paul Wenzel’s Popeye The Sailor Man full head mask, serving as Don Post’s inspiration […]

Dr Ferdinand Porsche (1875 - 1951)

Austrian/German Automotive Engineer. Founder of Porsche Motor Cars, creator of the world’s first hybrid vehicle (gasoline-electric) the iconic Volkswagen Beetle, and the ground-breaking Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK. He designed the 1923 Benz Tropfenwagen, which was the first race car with mid-engine, rear-wheel drive automobile. Known as the “Great engineer” he designed the German tanks Tiger I, Tiger […]

Ferdinand Anton Ernst “Ferry” Porsche (1909 - 1998)

Designer and Engineer. The Chief Executive Officer of Porsche cars until the family left management in 1972. He designed and created the Type 356, the company’s first production automobile, a sports car that was groundbreaking both in style and innovation. He led the Porsche company for over 30 years, along with garnering many racing championships […]

Generoso Paul Pope, Jr (1927 - 1988)

Publishing Mogul.  Founder of the National Enquirer. The son of businessman Generoso Pope,  he purchased the New York Enquirer,  a fading local newspaper,  for $75,000 in 1952.  Two years later he transformed it into a tabloid,  renamed it the National Enquirer,  and gave it coast to coast distribution. Known for his eccentric marketing schemes,  Pope […]

Generoso Pope, Sr (1891 - 1950)

Generoso Pope, Sr., was the owner and publisher of the newspaper IL Progresso Italo-Americano. Mr. Pope purchased IL Progresso in 1928 and built it into the largest Italian language newspaper in the United States. He died on April 28,1950. After Mr. Pope’s death his son GenerosoJr. became IL Progresso’s publisher. Generoso, Jr., who was also […]

Albert Augustus Pope (1843 - 1909)

Bicycle and Automobile Manufacturer. During the Civil War he served in the 35th Massachusetts Infantry, leaving with the rank of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel at war’s end. After the war he entered the manufacturing field. In 1877 he founded the Pope Manufacturing Company. The company made the popular Columbia Bicycle and was the largest manufacturer of […]