Anniversaries - 2009

Guinness - 250th Anniversary: 1759 - Arthur Guinness signed 9000-year lease on disused brewery at St James's Gate in Dublin for initial £100, annual rent of £45; decided soon after to brew variation of porter stout popular in London); 1799 - concentrated solely on production of porter; 1803 - Arthur Guinness II took over ownership, management of Brewery; 1834 - Glass Tax repealed, GUINNESS® bottled in glass rather than stoneware; 1850 - Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness (grandson) took over Brewery; 1862 - introduced GUINNESS® beer label (buff oval label with harp and Arthur Guinness’s signature); 1868 - Edward Cecil (great grandson) took over; size of the Brewery doubled; 1876 - Harp registered as trademark; 1886 - first major brewery incorporated as public company on London Stock Exchange; largest brewery in world; 1906 - 3,240 employees (one in 30 Dubliners depend on GUINNESS® brewery for their livelihood); June 4, 1907 - Arthur Guinness Son & Co. Limited registered Guinness "Guinness's Extra Stout James's Gate Dublin Bottled By Arth Guinness Son & Co. Limited" trademark first used March 29, 1862 (stout); 1914 - produced almost 3 million barrels; 1931 - S.S. Guinness steamship launched, first custom-built to transport GUINNESS® beer; January 15, 1935 - registered "Guinness" trademark first used January 1, 1764 (beer); 1963 - last wooden keg racked at Brewery at St. James’s Gate; metal kegs used for storing, shipping; 1976 - over 7 million glasses of GUINNESS® drunk daily; 2001 - almost 2 billion pints of GUINNESS® a year sold worldwide, over 1 million pints of GUINNESS® a day sold in Great Britain alone.

Arthur Guinness (http://billcurtsingerphoto.com/ *Resources/*homeimages/Guinness Page/guinness014.jpg)

Presbyterian Ministers' Fund - 250th Anniversary: January 11, 1759 - Governors Thomas and Richard Penn granted charter to Presbyterian Synod of Philadelphia, PA (founded 1716) for The Corporation for Relief of Poor and Distressed Presbyterian Ministers and of the Poor and Distressed Widows and Children of Presbyterian Ministers (successor to charitable organization to assist local Presbyterian ministers called "Fund for Pious Uses" which made first charitable grant to widow of deceased reverend, in 1719); evolved into Presbyterian Ministers and of the Poor and Distressed Widows and Children; America's first life insurance company; separate from but cooperated with Synodical Company; 1760s - had 43 contributors, had issued 21 policies to ministers; May 22, 1761 - wrote first life insurance policy in United States; May 1777 - board of company voted to loan 5000 pounds to Continental Congress to help finance states’ efforts against British; 1850s - encouraged subscriptions from ministers from any church under Presbyterian umbrella (reformed churches); name changed to Presbyterian Annuity Corporation; 1870 - corporation insured 126 of over 4,000 ministers; 1875 - name changed to Presbyterian Annuity and Life Insurance Corporation to offer insurance to all; 1880 - insurance restricted to ministers; 1888 - name changed to Presbyterian Ministers' Fund)corporation had returned to practice of insuring only Presbyterian ministers); 1941 - acquired Ministers Mutual Life Insurance Company; 1990 - renamed Covenant Life Insurance Company; 1994 - acquired by Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company; 2002 - acquired by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Wedgwood - 250th Anniversary: 1759 - Josiah Wedgwood, grandfather of Charles Darwin, opened first factory in Burslem, one of six towns of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, central England; first business in England to make bone china; profits paid for Charles Darwin's scientific research; June 13, 1769 - opened new factory near Hanley with business partner Thomas Bentley, Liverpool merchant who sold Wedgwood ceramics; called Etruria (incorrectly believed that Greek vases originally Etrusacan); 1790 - John, Josiah II and Thomas (sons), Thomas Byerley (nephew) made into partners (John, Tom left in 1793); 1901 - Wedgwood provided bone china dinner service ordered by US President Theodore Roosevelt for White House; 1930s - fifth Josiah Wedgwood built new, modern factory at Barlaston, in Stoke-on-Trent; 1940s - production started; 1986 - acquired by Waterford (founded 1783 by William and George Penrose, developers, exporters who opened factory in Waterford, southeast Ireland; failed in the 1850s; brand revived in 1947 by Czech immigrant Miroslav Havel); 2005 - acquired Stoke-on-Trent ceramics maker Royal Doulton; January 5, 2009 - Waterford Wedgwood PLC filed for bankruptcy protection after failure to restructure, find buyer.

Josiah Wedgwood  (http://uh.edu/engines/romanticism/josiahwedgwood.jpg)

Harrod's - 175th Anniversary: 1834 - Charles Henry Harrod set up wholesale grocer in Stepney, in London’s East End, special interest in tea; 1849 - took over small shop in new district of Knightsbridge (on site of current store) to escape filth of inner city, to capitalize on trade to Great Exhibition of 1851 in nearby Hyde Park;   single room, two assistants, messenger boy; Charles Digby Harrod (son) built business into thriving store, sold medicines, perfumes, stationery, fruit and vegetables; 1880 - expanded into adjoining buildings, employed 100 staff; December 1883 - burnt to ground; fulfilled all Christmas orders, made  record profit; rebuilt; 1889 - went public; 1894 - first sale or "Winter Clearance"; 1898 - introduced world’s first escalator (brandy at top to revive nervous customers), shortened working hours for 200 staff, devised plan to build world’s most luxurious department store; 1901 - building construction began, designed by architect of Claridge’s Hotel C.W. Stephens; 1959 - acquired by House of Fraser; 1967 - 'Way In' boutique opened, brought Carnaby Street to Harrods; 1971 - black marble Perfumery Hall opened; 1972 - white marble Cosmetics Hall counterpart opened; March 11, 1985 - Mohamed Al Fayed acquired House of Fraser Group for £615 million.

Charles Digby Harrod  (http://www.spartacus.schoolnet. co.uk/Bharrod.jpg)

Phelps Dodge - 175th Anniversary: 1834 - Anson Phelps, a one-time saddle maker, William Dodge (son-in-law), a merchant in dry goods, founded Phelps Dodge as New York City-based mercantile company; traded American products to England in exchange for copper, iron, tin, other metals needed in United States; 1881 - entered mining industry when it invested in share of Detroit Copper Mining Co. in Morenci, AZ; 1906 - exited import-export business; early 1900s - among the first in industry converted to open-pit mining from underground method; 1930s - entered copper refining, manufacturing business; January 17, 1933 - registered "PD-Phelps Dodge-Copper Mining Products Corporation Mine to Market" trademark first used Kuly 20, 1932 (seamless brass and copper tubing); 1970s - converted from trains to wheeled and tracked vehicles to haul equipment and ore within open-pit mines; mid-1980s - first to use solution extraction and electrowinning to process ore on commercial scale; March 19, 2007 - acquired by Freeport-McMoRan $25.9 billion in cash, stock; created world's largest publicly traded copper mining company; operates under name Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

Anson Greene Phelps  (http://www.phelpsinc.com/family/resources/history/anson_g_phelps.jpg)

William Earl Dodge  (http://www.barnard.edu/archives/Memorial%20Scroll%20Website/1883Memorial_images/Dodge.jpg)

Equitable Life Insurance - 150th Anniversary: July 26, 1859 - Henry B. Hyde (25), former cashier at Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, rented space in building located at 98 Broadway in Manhattan; hanged 30-foot banner from window, incorporated The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States; 1868 - introduced tontines (annuity products that pay deferred dividends); dominated industry for 35 years (1867-1905); 1870 - first American business to build its own corporate headquarters, put its name on it (120 Broadway in Manhattan),   first to use steam elevators (office building as promotional tool, workplace); 1880 - pioneered practice of paying death claims immediately; 1890 - largest insurance company in world (measured in surplus); 1902 - introduced training classes for new insurance agents; 1909 - developed first modern Home Purchase plan (major industry product for five decades); 1911 - sold first modern Group Life policy to Pantasote Leather Company (to Montgomery Ward in 1912); 1951 - developed Individual In-Hospital Major Medical Expense insurance; 1961 - opened 42-story home office building, largest building in country occupied by single company; 1968 - introduced first line of individual variable annuity products; 1985 - acquired Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, its money management arm, Alliance Capital Management, L.P.; 1991 - New York State Insurance Department certified policyholder approval of demutualization; AXA Group, second largest French insurance company, invested $1 billion; 1992 - completed New York's largest Initial Public Offering for insurance company (AXA Group single largest shareholder); assets under management exceeded $150 billion; 1995 - $230 billion in assets under management; statutory capital/general accounts liabilities ratio reached 11.86%, highest among America's top 10 life insurers; 1997 -AXA Group assets exceeded $450 billion; merged with rival UAP, became second largest insurer in world; 2000 - AXA acquired control of Equitable Life Insurance Company; 2003 - AXA Group leading insurer in world, 50 million clients in 50 countries, $979 billion in client assets under management; 2004 - acquired Mutual of New York (MONY), former employer of Equitable founder Henry Hyde; 2008 - 15th largest organization in world on 2008 Fortune Global 500 list (based on revenues); 2008 - 15th largest organization in world on 2008 Fortune Global 500 list (based on revenues). Hyde May 3, 1899 Obituary: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9B01E3D71030E333A25750C0A9639C94689ED7CF

Gardner Denver - 150th Anniversary: 1859 - Robert Gardner provided first effective speed controls for steam engines; Gardner Governor Company manufactured flyball governors, led to production of steam pumps, high speed vertical air compressors; 1900 - steam pump technology adapted for use in mud pumps (became part of oil, natural gas well drilling process); 1927 - merged with Denver Rock Drill Company, renamed Gardner-Denver; 1959 - acquired CycloBlower Company (manufacturer of helical screw blowers); 1979 - acquired by Cooper Industries; became Gardner Denver Industrial Machinery Division; 1985-1988 - acquired Sutorbilt, DuroFlow blowers, OPI well servicing pumps, Joy compressors; 1994 - spun off as independent company; 2004 - acquired Drum blowers, Emco Wheaton bulk storage and fluid transfer equipment; 2005 - acquired Thomas Industries (Rietschle, Thomas brands, latest line of precision-engineered blowers, pumps, compressors); 2009 - provides compressed air and gas, vacuum and fluid transfer technologies to industries throughout world.

Robert Gardner - Gardner Denver (http://www.gardnerdenver.com/uploadedImages/GardnerDenver/Images/History-graphics(2).jpg)

Oil - 150th Anniversary: August 27, 1859 - Edwin Drake (Seneca Oil Co.), William A. "Uncle Billy" Smith, blacksmith and driller, using old steam engine to power the drill, struck oil on leased land at 69 feet, 6 inches in Venango Oil Field near Titusville, PA; noticed dark film floating on water below derrick floor; started producing about 40 barrels of oil/day; world's first successful oil well; beginning of American oil industry. "Oil 150" is the official website of the 150th anniversary celebration of the oil industry - http://www.oil150.com/.

Edwin Drake - discovered first oil in US (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamerica/whomade/images/who_drake_image.jpg)

IEEE - 125th Anniversary: October 1884 - American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE), organization of individuals in electrical professions dedicated to innovation for betterment of humanity, held first technical meeting in Philadelphia; founding President Norvin Green of Western Union (from telegraphy); organized to serve professionals involved in all aspects of electrical, electronic, computing fields, related areas of science and technology; 1912 - Institute of Radio Engineers founded; devoted to radio, then increasingly to electronics; linked members through publications, standards, conferences, encouraged them to advance their industries by promoting innovation, excellence in emerging new products, services; January 1, 1963 - AIEE merged with IRE; formed Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (150,000 members, 140,000 in United States); 2008 - 375,000 members in 160 countries (43% outside US); worldwide network of geographical units, publications, web services, conferences; world's leading professional association for advancement of technology.

Breitling - 125th Anniversary: 1884 - Leon Breitling opened workshop specializing in making chronographs, precision counters for scientific and industrial purposes in St. Imier, in Jura mountains of Switzerland; 1914 - Gaston Breitling (son) took over; 1915 - created first wristwatch chronograph, subsequently provided pilots with first wrist instruments; 1923 - developed first ever independent chronograph pushpiece; 1932 -Gaston's sons took over; 1936 - became official supplier to Royal Air Force; June 13, 1950 - Breitling Watch Corporation of America registered "Breitling" trademark in U. S. first used November 18, 1946 (watches and clocks); 1984 - Chronomat launched (return of chronograph); became best selling line in Breitling collection; 1985 - launched Breitling Aerospace.

Leon Breitling - Breitling watches (http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:2_83pohMTk4pWM)

Bulgari - 125th Anniversary: 1884 - Sotirio Bulgari opened first jewelry store on via Sistina in Rome; 1905 - opened 10 via Condotti (flagship store); 1970s - first overseas store, in New York; January 5, 1982 - Ditta Sotirio Bulgari di Costantino e Giorgio Bulgari, S.a.s. registered "Bulgari" trademark, first used 1881, in U. S. (Earrings, Bracelets, Broaches, Rings, Necktie Pins, Buckles, Cufflinks, Necklaces, All Made of Precious Metals and Precious or Semi-Precious Stones...Wristwatches, Clocks, Pendulum Clocks, Table Clocks; Watchcases); 1984 - Paulo, Nicola Bulgari (grandsons) became Chairman, Vice Chairman, respectively; 1990s - diversified into perfumes; 1997 - first silk collection; 1998 - leather goods, eyeglass collection launched; 2001 - Bulgari Hotels& Resorts created (joint venture with Marriott).

Sotirio Bulgari - founder Bulgari  (http://www.couleurparfum. com/ static/module/creator/picture/

Marks & Spencer - 125th Anniversary: 1884 - Michael Marks opened stall at Leeds Kirkgate Market; 1894 - 12 locations; formed partnership with Thomas Spencer, former cashier from wholesale company Isaac J. Dewhirst; invested £300; 1903 - Marks and Spencer Ltd registered as firm with capital of 30,000 £1 shares (split equally between two founders); July 1905 - Spencer died; October 1907 - Simon Marks (son) joined company; William Chapman, executor of Spencer estate, named Chairman; February 1914 - bought London Penny Bazaar Company; 1915 - Israel Sieff, very close friend of Simon Marks, elected to Board of Directors; 1916 - Simon Marks (28) became Chairman; 1926 - started buying goods directly from manufacturers; November 1930 - flagship store opened at Marble Arch, London (located in basement, ground floor of newly erected office block); 1931 - introduced food department, sold produce and canned goods; 1934 - established Scientific Research Lab to pre-test garments, research innovative new fabrics; first research lab of any British retailer; 1935 - opened first Cafe Bar in Leeds (82 café bars by 1942; gradually phased out in 1950s); Marcus Sieff (son) joined company; 1939 - 234 stores; 1948 - established Food Technology department; 1956 - all goods sold under St Michael label; 1959 - first retailer to introduce No Smoking rules in stores; 1964 - Israel Sieff became Chairman; 1970 - ‘Sell By Dates’ introduced; 1972 - Marcus Sieff became Chairman; 1975 - opened store on Boulevard Haussman in Paris, first in Europe (closed in 2001); 1985 - Christmas Hampers tested for first time in 30 stores; 1988 - acquired Brook Brothers, American clothing company (sold in 2002), Kings Supermarkets, American food chain (sold in 2006); May 17, 2004 - Phillip Green (Revival Acquisitions Limited) launched takeover attempt; May 31, 2004 - Stuart Rose appointed Chief Executive; pushed business forward with focus on quality, value, service, innovation, trust (named Chairman in June 2008).

Michael Marks, Thomas Spencer - Marks & Spencer (http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/business/gallery/2008/jul/09/marksandspencer.history/marks-8229.jpg)

McGraw-Hill - 125th Anniversary: 1884 - James H. McGraw, a teacher in upstate New York, began working in publishing; 1888 - purchased the American Journal of Railway Appliances; John A. Hill worked as an editor at Locomotive Engineer; 1899 - McGraw incorporated publications under "The McGraw Publishing Company"; 1902 - John Hill incorporated publications under "The Hill Publishing Company"; 1909 - book departments of the two publishing companies merged; formed McGraw-Hill Book Company; John Hill took office of President (died in 1916); James McGraw became company's Vice-President.

James H. McGraw (http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/aboutus/images/history_jmcgraw.jpg)

John A. Hill (http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/aboutus/images/history_jhill.jpg)

Oxford English Dictionary - 125th Anniversary: February 1, 1884 - The first volume (A-Ant) of the Oxford English Dictionary was published (conceived in 1858 as project of Philological Society of England); April 1928 - 125th, final fascicle published; 400,000 words and phrases in 10 volumes, published under title A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles; verb "set" is OED's longest entry (approximately 60,000 words, over 430 uses); 1933 - supplement, containing new entries and revisions, published; original dictionary reprinted in 12 volumes, officially renamed the Oxford English Dictionary.

Sir James A. H. Murray - Primary Editor, Oxford English Dictionary (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/record/archives/vol22/vol22_iss2/murray2.gif)

Audi - 100th Anniversary: July 16, 1909 - August Horch established Horch Automobil-Werke GmbH in Zwickau, Germany (had founded A. Horch & Cie in Ehrenfeld, Cologne, Germany on November 14, 1899, built first car in 1901); changed company name due to legal dispute over Horch trademark; August 25, 1910 - renamed company Audi Automobilwerke GmbH (Audi - Latin translation of Horch); August 1928 - Danish engineer Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen of DKW acquired majority holding in Audiwerke; June 29, 1932 - Audiwerke, Horchwerke,  Zschopauer Motorenwerke - DKW, Automobile Division of Wanderer merged, formed Auto Union AG (second-largest motor vehicle manufacturer in Germany); new company's logo, four interlinked rings, one for each of founder companies; Horch was on  supervisory board of Auto Union; December 13, 1960 - Auto Union G.M.B.H. registered "Audi" trademark in U. S. (Automobiles, Including Motor Cars for Personal Use and Trucks, and Structural Parts Thereof, Including Automobile Heaters and Ventilators, Locks and Closures for Automobile Coolers, and Automobile Safety Locks). 100th Anniversary Exhibit - 'From Horch to Audi' (Audi Forum Ingolstadt) - http://www.audi.com/com/brand/en/experience/ audi_forum_ingolstadt/museum_mobile.html

August Horch - founder Audi (http://www.autonews.com/files/euroauto/art/audi250.jpg)

Bugatti - 100th Anniversary: 1909 - Ettore Bugatti opened manufacturing plant in Molsheim, France (had presented first self-made automobile at  international exhibition in Milan in 1901); 1910 - built, sold 10 automobiles, 5 aircraft engines; March 20, 1920 - delivered  first 16-valve car to  customer in Basel, Switzerland; built total of 7900 cars between 1910-1939.

Ettore Bugatti (http://www.skyblueteal.co.uk/USERIMAGES/Ettore.jpg)

Conde Nast Publications - 100th Anniversary: 1909 - Conde Montrose Nast, successful advertising executive for Collier's, acquired society-focused bi-weekly, Vogue (founded1892, circulation of 14,000, advertising revenues of $100,000); formed Vogue Company; 1913 - acquired House and Garden; 1914 - introduced Vanity Fair; introduced concept of "class publications", targeted groups of readers by income level or common interest vs. focusing on circulation numbers; 1920s - established Conde Nast Publications; July 1932 - became one of first magazines to publish cover with color photograph; 1959 - controlling interest acquired by S.I. Newhouse; part of holding company Advance Publications; 1974 - first cover featuring African-American model.

Drake Relays - 100th Anniversary: April 13, 1910 - 82 athletes (from four local colleges, three high schools), 100 spectators attended first "Drake Relay Carnival" at Drake University  (Iowa's largest private university) in blizzard on dirt track on outskirts of fledgling Des Moines (proposed by John L. Griffith, Director of Athletics at Drake University); 1911 - hosted dinner for visiting coaches, officials to build relationships, exchange ideas; 500 spectators watched more than 250 athletes compete in second Relay; 1915 - recognized as third-largest track and field event in world; 1922 - expanded to 2-day meet (700 athletes, 10,000 spectators); first track and field meet to be broadcast live on radio; 1923 - moved to last week in April to compete with Penn Relays; 1936 - attendance reached 20,000; 1961 - women's competition introduced; 1969 - Tartan track installed; 1976 - oval converted to 400 meters (from 440 meters), all timing became electronic; one of largest, most important track meets in United States (more than 600,000 athletes have competed over 99 years; every Saturday session sold out since 1966; estimated 2.3 million spectators since 1910)

Fletcher Construction - 100th Anniversary: June 1, 1909 - James Fletcher, Scotsman, Albert Morris, Englishman, who had formed Fletcher and Morris, small housing-building and jobbing partnership in Dunedin, New Zealand, awarded first contract to build villa for J. M. Cameron; 1912 - Morris left; William Fletcher (brother) joined business (followed by Andrew, John), renamed Fletcher Brothers; November 4, 1919 - registered The Fletcher Construction Company Limited as limited liability company with capital of £50,000; 1937 - James (J. C.) Fletcher (son) joined company (named Managing Director in 1942); 1940 - formed Fletcher Holdings as public company; 1945 - third of company acquired by Colonial Sugar Refining Co Ltd (Australia) for £250,000; 1951 - joint venture with two American companies, first of its kind in New Zealand;  1952 - with Government, formed the Tasman Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd. to use pulp from radiata pine for kraft papermaking in the central North Island; 1953 - largest construction project undertaken at time in New Zealand (houses of Kawerau township); 1954 - formed seven subsidiaries (timber, construction, steel, sales and service, trust company, industry, plant hire); 1955 - acquired Kauri Timber Co Ltd., became New Zealand's biggest timber processor; annual sales  exceeded £13.2 million; 1965 - generated £1,000,000 profit; late 1970s - shopping mall development, construction and property sector; increasing focus on construction management, design and build; company acted as a developer in its own right; 1981 - formed Fletcher Challenge Ltd (merger of Fletcher Challenge, Tasman Pulp and Paper Co. Ltd, Challenge Corporation), New Zealand's largest public company; December 1999 - reorganized, broken into three companies: Fletcher Building (Fletcher Construction; operating revenue of $2.38 billion in 2000), Fletcher Challenge Forests (now named Tenon), Rubicon (New Zealand) to commercialize emerging technologies; 2002 - building backlog of $400 million; one New Zealand's best-performing listed companies, 12,000 employees worldwide, dominated domestic building industry; pre-eminent general contractor in New Zealand, South Pacific.

James Fletcher (sitting, 3rd from left) - Fletcher Construction (http://www.fletchersince1909.com/timeline/images/1910_image_03.jpg)

Ford Trademark - 100th Anniversary: July 20, 1909 - Ford Motor Company registered "Ford" trademark first used February 15, 1895 (automobiles and their parts).

Goodyear Aviation - 100th Anniversary: 1909 - Goodyear Aviation introduced Goodyear Wing Aeroplane Tire, first tire built for aviation use (lightweight, puncture resistant, easy to remove); 1927 - introduced first re-treadable aircraft tire; opened era of lower cost operation (still vital part of aviation industry); 1928 - introduced Goodyear Airwheel, first low pressure aviation tire, virtually eliminated need for wheel (mounted directly to hub); 1939 - The Goodyear Aircraft Company incorporated; entered other areas of aeronautics (wheels, brakes, fuselages, other critical components for military aircraft); developed first successful autopilot for helicopters (Korean War); produced successful Corsair aircraft; 2009 - world's largest supplier of aviation tires for commercial, military, general aviation aircraft.

Hughes Tool - 100th Anniversary: August 10, 1909 - Howard R. Hughes, Sr., of Houston, TX, received a patent for a "Drill" ("relates to boring drills, and particularly to roller drills such as are used for drilling holes in earth and rock"); twin-cone roller bit; with business associate Walter Benona Sharp, established Sharp-Hughes Tool Company to manufacture and market the bit; 1912 - Estelle Sharp (widow), sold 50% share in company to Hughes Sr.; renamed Hughes Tool Company; 1924 - inherited by Howard Hughes, Jr.; 1932 - formed Hughes Aircraft.

Howard R. Hughes, Sr. - Hughes Tool  (http://lh4.google.com/iggykin/R3FQ9uboc2I/AAAAAAAAATo/YAU6mtUhkQA/tool-father_thumb%5B1%5D)

Indianapolis Motor Speedway - 100th Anniversary: February 9, 1909 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation incorporated with Carl G. Fisher as president; built on 328 acres of farmland five miles northwest of Indiana's capital city; financed by four local businessmen: Carl Fisher, James Allison, Frank Wheeler, Arthur Newby; August 19, 1909 - first race on original surface of crushed rock and tar - disastrous; disastrous due to loose rock track (crashes, fires, injuries to race car drivers and spectators, deaths); halted, canceled when halfway completed; December 14, 1909 -famous brick surface of Indianapolis Motor Speedway (the "Brickyard") finished; 3,200,000 paving bricks imported by rail from western part of state, laid on their sides in bed of sand, fixed with mortar; inspired nickname "The Brickyard"; December 17, 1909 - grand opening; brickwork ceremoniously completed by Governor Thomas R. Marshall of Indiana, cemented last "golden" brick; May 30, 1911 (Memorial Day) - Speedway reopened; 80,000 spectators paid $1 admission, watched first 500 mile auto race (Indianapolis 500).

  Carl G. Fisher - Indianapolis Speedway (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/images/lincoln1s.jpg)

Lonrho plc - 100th Anniversary: May 13, 1909 - London and Rhodesian Mining Company Limited incorporated (Lonrho plc); 1961 - Roland "Tiny" Rowland joined company; sales (over 34 years) increased 787-fold, profits rose 1,365 times; January 1993 - Dieter Bock, German financier, became largest shareholder; shared chief executive's position with Rowland; October 1993 - forced to step down as Chairman; November 3, 1994 - Rowland ousted from chief executive position; January 1997 - Anglo American Corporation of South Africa Ltd., South Africa's largest company, acquired 26% controlling interest in Lonrho; changed focus to mining (platinum, gold, coal) in Africa; 1997 - Bock gone; 1999 - renamed Lonmin plc to symbolize return to mining roots.

L'Oreal - 100th Anniversary: 1909 - Eugène Schueller, French chemist, registered company as L'Oreal (liked sound of name), "Société Française de Teintures Inoffensives pour Cheveux" ("Safe Hair Dye Company of France"; had developed innovative hair-color formula in 1907, called Auréole); formulated, manufactured his own products, sold to Parisian hairdressers;  1936 - invented first sunscreen; April 3, 1951 - registered "L'Oreal" trademark in U. S. (rouge, face cream, hair lotion, hand cream, eye shadow, face lotion, perfume, cologne, nail polish, suntan oil and face powder); March 17, 2006 - agreed to pay £652 million to acquire ethical cosmetics company, The Body Shop.

Plastics - 100th Anniversary:  September 14, 1909 - Leo H. Baekeland, of Yonkers, NY, registered "Bakelite" trademark first used June 30, 1907 (condensation products of phenol and formaldehyde); December 7, 1909 - received patent for for a "Method of Making Insoluble products of Phenol and Formaldehyde" ("production of hard, insoluble and infusible condensation products of phenols and formaldehyde"); received two patents for "Condensation Product and Method of Making Same" ("some industrial applications in the manufacture of varnishes, resinous products and plastic compounds"); thermosetting artificial plastic; called Bakelite (nonflammable material that was cheaper , more versatile than other known plastics), commonly referred to as the "heat and pressure" patent); gave birth to modern plastics industry; 1910 -  founded General Bakelite Corporation, later Bakelite Company; 1939 - merged with Union Carbide Corporation.

Leo H. Baekeland (1907 - transformed phenol and formaldehyde into a moldable substance called "Bakelite" - "the material of a thousand uses" (i. e plastic) (http://img.timeinc.net/time/ magazine/archive/ covers/1924/1101240922_400.jpg)

Rizzoli - 100th Anniversary: 1909 - Angelo Rizzoli founded A. Rizzoli & Compagnia printing and publishing house in Milan. Italy; 1927 - entered publishing; acquired four Italian magazines: Novella, Il Secolo Illustrato, La Donna and Commedia; 1929 - entered book publishing; began publication of Italy's most monumental editorial project, Treccani Encyclopaedia; October 1984 - acquired by Generale Mobiliare Interessenze Azionarie (Gemina S.p.A.) investment group, unit of Fiat; June 18, 1992 - Gemina raised stake in its Rizzoli Corriere della Sera Editori subsidiary to 88% (acquired 8.11% stake from Hachette for $74.2 million); 1997 - spun off within Holding di Partecipazioni Industriali (Hdp) in which Agnelli interests have controlling stake; 2003 - name changed to Rizzoli Corriere della Sera MediaGroup SpA (RCS Media Group).

Wizard of Oz - 75th Anniversary: January 26, 1934 - Samuel Goldwyn bought film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum; 1939 - released 101 minute film; 1956 - estimated 45 million people tuned in to watch movie debut on television; 1998 - ranked sixth in American Film Institute's poll of America's 100 Greatest Movies.

Amway - 50th Anniversary: 1959 - Jay Van Andel, Rich DeVos started Amway in Ada, MI; November 29, 1960 - Amway Sales Corporation registered "Amway" trademark first used November 16, 1959 (Waxes and Polishes, Particularly Furniture Polishes and Floor Waxes); one of world's leading direct-selling companies (450 exclusive products, services); 2005 - worldwide retail sales of $6.4 billion.

Jay Van Andel, Rich DeVos - Amway (http://users.telenet.be/bope/o-histPhoto1.jpg)

Carrefour - 50th Anniversary: 1959 - Marcel Fournier, Louis Defforey established Carrefour in Annecy (eastern France); January 7, 1960 - opened first supermarket in basement of Fournier's department store, Grand Magasin de Nouveau; January 11, 1960 -  goods sold out; closed for restocking; June 3, 1960 - opened main store; generated year's worth of sales in three weeks; June 1963 - opened new store concept in Saint-Genevieve-des-bois, hypermarket, to sell food and non-food items under same roof; 1979 - developed hard discount; 1991 - acquired hypermarket chains Euromarche and Montlaur; 1999 - acquired rival Promodes for $16.5 billion, formed largest European food retailing group - 8,800 stores in 26 countries, combined revenues of $65 billion (second largest in world).

Marcel Fournier - Carrefour (http://www.worldretailcongress.com/g/2009/ArchiveID_55/hof_marcelfournier.jpg)

Casey's General Stores - 50th Anniversary: 1959 - Don Lamberti leased father's store with gasoline outside in Des Moines, IA (Domenic Lamberti, Italian immigrant, former coal miner opened coal- and ice-delivery business in 1935, developed into country store); remodeled as convenience store; 1967 - Kurvin C. Fish, gasoline supplier, persuaded him to buy an Ames, IA oil company which owned four Square Deal service stations (Lamberti provided capital:, Fish agreed to operate business, named for Fish's first, middle initials); 1968 - opened first Casey's (general store with gasoline) in converted three-bay gasoline station in Boone, IA; December 31, 1974 - Casey's General Stores, Inc. registered "Casey's General Store" trademark first used August 1, 1968 (convenience grocery store services); 1979 - net sales of $58.6 million, operated 118 convenience stores in Iowa; October 1983 - went public (net sales of $188.5 million, 191 company-owned, 215 franchised stores in 8 states); 1996 - sales exceeded $ 1 billion, opened 1,000th store in Altoona, IA; 2006 - acquired Lincoln, NE-based Gas 'N Shop, Cedar Rapids, IA-based HandiMart; 2007 - operated 1,463 company-owned, 15 franchised convenience stores in SD, NE, KS, MN, IO, WI, IL, IN.

Haagen Dazs - 50th Anniversary: 1959 - Reuben Mattus (45) created first national brand of premium ice cream (high butter-fat, all natural ingredients); manufactured at family's ice cream factory, Senator Frozen Products, in Bronx; 1961 - called new brand Danish-sounding Haagen-Dazs (appreciated Dane's treatment of Jews during WW II); conveyed aura of old-world traditions, craftsmanship; formed company of same name to distribute it; introduced three flavors - vanilla, coffee, chocolate packed in cartons with map of Scandinavia; September 4, 1962 - Rose Mattus registered Haagen-Dazs trademark first used October 24, 1960; 1976 - product took off; 1983 - acquired by The Pillsbury Company for more than $70 million.

Reuben Mattus - Haagen Dazs (http://www.journaldunet.com/management/0708/fondateurs-entreprises/images/4.jpg)

Inter-American Development Bank - 50th Anniversary: December 30, 1959 - 18 countries signed Articles drafted by Special Advisory Commission of Inter-American Economic and Social Council of Organization of American States; created Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, DC; oldest and largest regional multilateral development finance institution (MDFI); main source of multilateral financing, expertise for sustainable economic, social, institutional development in Latin America, Caribbean; initial resources: $1 billion, $850 million of which authorized for ordinary capital ($400 million payable in cash), $150 million for Fund for Special Operations (FSO); 2009 - 47-country membership.

Kum & Go - 50th Anniversary: September 1, 1959 - Two Hampton, IA entrepreneurs, W.A. Krause and T.S. Gentle, founded Hampton Oil Company as small gas station with full service gas, infallible customer service; 1963 - converted "gas stations" into convenience stores, or "station stores", with fuel and merchandise; Krause Gentle Corporation third Iowa company to receive beer license for convenience stores; 1964 - purchased Solar Transport, flourished in trucking business; 1970s - name changed to Kum & Go (first letter in each last name); 1977 - 65 convenience stores, 327 employees; November 4, 1980 - Krause Gentle Oil Corporation registered "Kum & Go" trademark first used November 1. 1975 (Retail Convenience Store Services); end of 1989 -134 stores across the Midwest; 2008 - 22nd largest convenience store chain, ranked among top 10 privately-held convenience store chains in United States; more than 420 Kum & Go convenience stores in 13 states, 3,500 employees.

 W. A. Krause - Kum & Go, L. C. (http://www.biz.uiowa.edu/leaders/krause/krause_sm.jpg)

Motown Records - 50th Anniversary: January 12, 1959 - Berry Gordy, Jr. borrowed $800 from his family's loan fund, incorporated Tamla Records; first signed act was The Matadors, group he had written and produced songs for; changed their name to The Miracles when signed them; Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson became vice president of company (November 4, 1957 - quit $85/week upholstery trimmer's job at Lincoln-Mercury assembly line in Detroit to become full-time songwriter; hit pop charts for first time with Jackie Wilson's "Reet Petite"); January 1960 - Motown moved headquarters into house in Detroit; "Hitsville U.S.A." sign hanged outside; basement made into studio; April 1963 - Mary Wells's song "You Beat Me to the Punch" first Motown record to receive Grammy nomination; December 28, 1965 - Motown Record Corporation registered "Motown" trademark first used April 30, 1960 (phonograph records); 1966 - produced 14 songs that reached Top 10; January 25, 1968 - Marvin Gaye's "Heard It Through the Grapevine" No. 1 on charts for seven weeks, longest run of any Motown single to that time; 10 singles in 1968 in Top 10; 1971 - 11 singles reach Top 10; August 1978 - The Commodores's song "Three Times a Lady" first Motown recording to register No. 1 on pop, R & B, adult contemporary charts at same time ; January 1987 - Lionel Ritchie first Motown artist to record country music hit with "Deep River Woman"; June 1988 - acquired by partnership between MCA, Boston Ventures (now  subsidiary of Universal Motown Records Group, itself a subsidiary of Universal Music Group).

Berry Gordy - Motown Records (http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/ap/ny11102232215.vsmall.jpg)

Ronnie Scott - Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club (http://www.jazzphotography.us/images/musicians/ronnie_scott.JPG)

Apple Macintosh - 25th Anniversary: January 24, 1984 - Apple Inc. introduced the original Macintosh at Flint Center at De Anza College in Cupertino, CA (on heels of January 22, 1984 Super Bowl XVIII commercial, by film director Ridley Scott, that featured a lone runner defeating Big Brother - IBM); first personal computer to draw masses, introduce mouse, incorporate graphical user interface, relying on images instead of text; named by Jef Raskin, Apple employee who created the project, after his favorite kind of apple, McIntosh (had to change name for legal rights); came with 128 kilobytes of RAM (later became known as Macintosh 128K), featured 8 MHz Motorola 68000 microprocessor, 9-inch black and white CRT screen, 400 kB, single-sided 3.5-inch floppy disk drive; priced at $2,495 (over $5,000 in today's dollars); made available to the public two days after a $1.5 million commercial, made by Ridley Scott, wowed audiences during Super Bowl XVIII; titled "1984," it invoked author George Orwell's message and stood as a warning against conformity.

Apple Macintosh computer (http://library.stanford.edu/mac/primary/images/gartner/hello.jpg)