Tony Hulman

Anton "Tony" Hulman, Jr. (February 11, 1901 - October 27, 1977) was a businessman from Terre Haute, Indiana and graduated from Worcester Academy in 1920. His business, Hulman & Company, produces Clabber Girl Baking Powder, which Tony Hulman made popular through the use of clever advertising in the 1930s.

Related Topics:
February 11 - 1901 - October 27 - 1977 - Terre Haute, Indiana - Worcester Academy

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Hulman is probably best known for buying the dilapidated Indianapolis Motor Speedway from a group led by World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker immediately after World War II. Influenced by three-time Indy 500 winner Wilbur Shaw (who became the track's president in the early years of the Hulman regime), Hulman made numerous improvements to the track in time for the race to be held in 1946.

Related Topics:
Indianapolis Motor Speedway - World War I - Eddie Rickenbacker - World War II - Wilbur Shaw

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He is also known for starting the tradition of launching the Indianapolis 500 with the command, "Gentlemen, start your engines!"

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Hulman married Mary Fendrich Hulman, the daughter of Evansville, Indiana cigar factory owner John H. Fendrich, in 1926; the couple had one daughter, Mary "Mari" Hulman George.

Related Topics:
Mary Fendrich Hulman - Evansville, Indiana - John H. Fendrich

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Tony and Mary Hulman were well-known in Indiana for their philanthropy; Terre Haute's Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Indiana State University each received gifts of millions of dollars over the years; ISU's Hulman Center and Hulman Memorial Student Union are named for the couple.

Related Topics:
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology - Indiana State University - Hulman Center

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Terre Haute's Hulman Links public golf course is situated on over 200 acres of land donated by Hulman in the early 1970s; it was not completed until after his death, however.

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Ever the shrewd businessman, Tony Hulman owned at various times a string of Coca-Cola bottling plants across Indiana (which were later consolidated to Indianapolis), utility companies, newspapers, radio and television stations, and a great deal of real estate, much of which is still held by family-controlled interests. In recent years, however, as the family has concentrated primarily on the Speedway and racing-related business, they have slowly begun to divest themselves of some of Tony's real estate holdings and "non-core" businesses, such as Wabash Valley Broadcasting, their radio and television holding company, which was sold to Emmis Communications in 1997.

Related Topics:
Coca-Cola - Emmis Communications

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One such property that the family has held for years and has long been the subject of speculation is the Terre Haute House hotel, which has long stood at the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Wabash Avenue in Terre Haute (the historic former "Crossroads of America" junction of U.S. Highways 40 and 41). Tony purchased the hotel in 1959 and closed it to the public in 1970. Noted for the rich and famous (as well as infamous) who vacationed there during the hotel's early years, numerous attempts to restore and reopen the Terre Haute House were advanced and dropped in the years following the hotel's closing. None came to fruition, and in September 2005, the Hulman family (through Terre Haute Realty Corp.) reached an agreement to sell the hotel and surrounding properties. At present, the Terre Haute House is slated for demolition.

Related Topics:
Terre Haute House - Crossroads of America - U.S. Highways 40 - 41 - 1959 - 1970

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Hulman's grandson, Tony George, is currently the president and CEO of the Speedway and the Indy Racing League.

Related Topics:
Tony George - Indy Racing League

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