William Modell

William D. Modell
BornMay 13, 1921
Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 14, 2008(2008-02-14) (aged 86)
New York City, New York, U.S.
EducationB.A. New York University
Occupationbusinessman
Known forChair of the Modell's Sporting Goods

William D. Modell (May 13, 1921 – February 14, 2008) was an American businessman who chaired the Modell's Sporting Goods retail chain.[1]

Early life

Modell was born on May 13, 1921[1] to a Jewish family.[2] He grew up in the Manhattan Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, before attending New York University.[1] He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II.[1]

Modell's Sporting Goods

William Modell first became involved in Modell's Sporting Goods, a family business, after World War II.[1] The store had been founded in 1889 by Modell's Hungarian immigrant grandfather, Morris Modell, who opened the first store on Cortlandt Street in Lower Manhattan.[1] Modell's Sporting Goods grew rapidly after World War I by stocking up on leftover army surplus and selling it at low prices.[1]

William Modell became chairman of the company in 1985, but had effectively run the company with his father, Henry Modell, who was chairman of the Modell's, since 1963.[1] His expansion strategy for the company involved buying locations from faltering rivals in the sporting goods business. For example, under Modell the company paid $2.5 million for fifteen locations from bankrupt rival, Herman's World of Sporting Goods in 1996.[1] This acquisition expanded the number of Modell's Sporting Goods stores from 52 to 67 stores and increased the company's presence in New Jersey and the Baltimore-Washington D.C. areas.[1]

In 2008, the company operated 136 retail locations across eight states, with a 2007 annual revenue of approximately $635 million.[1]

Personal life

In 1949, Modell married Shelby Zaldin.[2] They had three children: a daughter, Leslie Modell; and two sons, Mitchell, the current CEO of the Modell's Sporting Goods, and Michael, who suffered from Crohn's disease, an inflammation of the digestive tract. Michael died in 2001.[1] He was a resident of Hewlett Harbor, New York.[1]

In 1967, Modell founded the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America,[1] a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding cures for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the quality of life of its victims.

Death

William Modell died in Manhattan on February 14, 2008, of complications from prostate cancer at the age of 86.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Hevesi, Dennis (February 15, 2008). "William D. Modell, Seller of Sporting Goods, Is Dead at 86". The New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  2. ^ a b New York Daily News: "Retail icon, William Modell, dies at 86"[link removed] February 15, 2008

Content Disclaimer

Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.

  1. The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
  2. There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
  3. It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
  4. Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
  5. Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.