George Haas Jr.
George Haas Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 10, 1920 |
| Died | June 12, 2006 (aged 85) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, polo player |
George Haas Jr. (September 10, 1920 – June 12, 2006) was an American businessman and polo player.[1] He founded the Haas Financial Corporation.
Biography[edit]
Early life[edit]
George Haas Jr. was born on September 10, 1920, in New York City.[2] He attended Brooks School, a private school in North Andover, Massachusetts.[2] He graduated from Yale University, where he won his first polo trophy in 1938.[1]
Second World War[edit]
He joined the United States Army in the Second World War and served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Armored Division.[2] He was captured by German soldiers and managed to escape six months later.[2] He later received the Silver Star, the Purple Heart and the Air Medal.[2]
Business[edit]
In the 1950s, he worked in industrial sales for The Coca-Cola Company, followed by PepsiCo.[2] In 1960, he founded the Haas Financial Corporation headquartered in New York City.[2] It specialized in beverage industry mergers and acquisitions as well as commercial aviation leases.[2]
Polo[edit]
As a professional polo player, he won the East Coast Open three times, the Monty Waterbury Cup three times and the Arena Sherman Memorial.[1]
He served as President of the Gulfstream Polo Club in Lake Worth, Florida.[1] In 2003, he sold his property near the grounds of the Gulfstream Polo Club, in the midst of controversy about the possible relocation of the club.[3]
As chairman of the United States Polo Association's Safety and International Committees, he improved the safety of polo helmets.[1] He also served on the executive committee of the Federation of International Polo.[1] He served as chairman of the Polo Training Foundation.[1] He served on the board of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame and was inducted on February 16, 2002.[1]
Personal life[edit]
He died on June 12, 2006.[2]
Bibliography[edit]
- Against All Odds (1998)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, George Haas Jr.'s biography". Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame: George Haas Remembered". Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
- ^ Sam Tranum, Pushing For Change, Sun-Sentinel, May 12, 2003
- 1920 births
- 2006 deaths
- Businesspeople from New York City
- Yale University alumni
- American polo players
- People from Lake Worth Beach, Florida
- Brooks School alumni
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- United States Army personnel of World War II
- United States Army officers
- American prisoners of war in World War II
- World War II prisoners of war held by Germany
- American escapees
- Escapees from German detention