Joseph E. Cole | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 4, 1914 |
| Died | January 8, 1995 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Employer | Cole National Corp. |
Joseph Edmund Cole (January 4, 1914 – January 8, 1995) was an American businessman. He was founder of Cole National Corp. and the final publisher of the Cleveland Press newspaper, as well as part-owner of the Cleveland Indians major league baseball team.
Business career
Cole was born January 4, 1914, in Cleveland, Ohio.[1] He began his career in 1926 working for the National Key Company in Cleveland.[2] After working for the company for seven years, he left to establish a retail key division of Curtis Industries, building it into the country's second-largest key company, after National Key.[2][3] In 1950, Cole purchased National Key as well as Curtis's key business, becoming the largest key retail business in the United States.[2][1] As the company grew, diversifying into such areas as car dealerships, the Things Remembered gift shop, and the Original Cookie Company, it was renamed Cole National Corp.[1]
In the 1950s, Cole became a minority owner of the Cleveland Indians (now "Guardians") baseball team; he twice attempted to purchase the team in its entirety, but was unsuccessful.[3]
In 1980, Cole purchased the struggling Cleveland Press newspaper.[3] He expanded the paper's publication to seven days, adding a Sunday edition, but ultimately the newspaper ceased publication in 1982.[1]
Political activity
Cole was active in the U.S. Democratic Party. He served as chairman of the Ohio campaign for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1960,[3] and gave financial support to Hubert Humphrey's presidential campaign in 1968.[3] He became treasurer of the party in 1973, and served on the Democratic National Committee and its executive committee.[3]
Death
Cole died January 8, 1995, in Palm Beach, Florida from complications from a stroke, shortly after his 81st birthday.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d Washington, Julie. "Joseph E. Cole owned, shuttered Cleveland Press: PD 175". Cleveland.com. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ^ a b c Grabowski, John J., ed. (29 June 2018). "Cole National Corp". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Cleveland, Ohio: Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Joseph E. Cole, 80, Newspaper Owner". The New York Times. January 10, 1995. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
This page was last edited on 6 December 2023, at 07:20