John Menard Jr.: Difference between revisions
added scandal and lawsuits, additional family information - previous wives and kids |
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==Life and education== |
==Life and education== |
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The oldest of eight siblings, Menard graduated from the [[University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire]] with a degree in business.<ref>http://www.uwec.edu/alumni/e-View/2009/e-ViewJune09.htm</ref> Menard began his career constructing [[pole buildings]] with friends from college.<ref>http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Menard-Inc-Company-History.html</ref> He makes his home in [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]], [[Wisconsin]]. |
The oldest of eight siblings, Menard graduated from the [[University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire]] with a degree in business and a minor in psychology.<ref>http://www.uwec.edu/alumni/e-View/2009/e-ViewJune09.htm</ref> Menard began his career constructing [[pole buildings]] with friends from college.<ref>http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Menard-Inc-Company-History.html</ref> He makes his home in [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]], [[Wisconsin]]. Menard has had six children with three different women, and is currently married to his third wife, Fay Obiad. His first two children, Renee and Christopher, were born from his first marriage, which ended when he had an out-of-wedlock child named Michelle. He then married Paula Menard, and had three children: John R. Menard III, [[Paul Menard]], and Molly Menard. That marriage also ended in divorce. In 2006, Menard ended a long-term relationship with Deb Sands, after Ms. Sands' sister Dawn sued Menard for workplace discrimination. He married Obiad in 2008. <ref>http://www.milwaukeemag.com/article/242011-BigMoney</ref> |
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==Menards== |
==Menards== |
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[[Image:Menards-West-Lafayette.png|thumb|right|300px|A Menards store in [[Lafayette, Indiana|Lafayette]]]] |
[[Image:Menards-West-Lafayette.png|thumb|right|300px|A Menards store in [[Lafayette, Indiana|Lafayette]]]] |
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Menard opened his first hardware store in 1972. As of 2011, his company owned 262 [[Menards]] stores. As of 2005 Menards grossed an estimated $5.5 billion in sales. Menard had a net worth of $7.3 billion in 2007, according to the [[Forbes 400]], and is the richest person in Wisconsin.<ref>http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/54/richlist07_The-400-Richest-Americans-Wisconsin_7Rank.html</ref> He is the 136th richest person in the world, and he is the 68th richest person in the [[United States]].<ref>http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_John-Menard-Jr_35R4.html</ref><ref>http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/54/400list08_John-Menard-Jr_35R4.html</ref> |
Menard opened his first hardware store in 1972. As of 2011, his company owned 262 [[Menards]] stores. As of 2005 Menards grossed an estimated $5.5 billion in sales. Menard had a net worth of $7.3 billion in 2007, according to the [[Forbes 400]], and is the richest person in Wisconsin.<ref>http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/54/richlist07_The-400-Richest-Americans-Wisconsin_7Rank.html</ref> He is the 136th richest person in the world, and he is the 68th richest person in the [[United States]].<ref>http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_John-Menard-Jr_35R4.html</ref><ref>http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/54/400list08_John-Menard-Jr_35R4.html</ref> |
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==Scandal and Lawsuits== |
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In 1997, Menard personally plead no contest to felony and misdemeanor charges that he had hauled chromium and arsenic-laden wood ash to his house in the back of his pickup truck for disposal in his household garbage. He and his company were fined $1.7 million for 21 violations in relation to the case. <ref>http://www.milwaukeemag.com/article/242011-BigMoney</ref> Although this is the only violation for which Menard has personally been cited, his company is the largest polluter in Wisconsin, having more run-ins with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources than any other company in the state. <ref>http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2013/06/20/murphys-law-the-strange-life-of-john-menard/</ref> |
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In 2013, Tomisue Hilbert, wife of Stephen Hilbert, a former business partner of Menard, filed suit against Menard for intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery, attempted battery, assault, and attempted assault. The suit alleges that Menard attempted to pressure Ms. Hilbert into having sex with him and his fiance (later his wife) Fay Obiad. When Ms. Hilbert refused, Menard "began an orchestrated campaign to cause severe financial consequences to Ms. Hilbert." <ref>http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2013/06/20/murphys-law-the-strange-life-of-john-menard/</ref> A similar lawsuit was filed by another employee of the Hilbert-Menard business venture, when Lisa Trudeau, wife of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jack Trudeau, alleged that Menard had also sexually assaulted her, then filed a lawsuit against her when she rebuffed his advances. <ref>http://www.jsonline.com/business/menards-founder-accused-of-pressuring-woman-to-have-sex-b9936287z1-211922401.html</ref> |
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==Motorsports involvement== |
==Motorsports involvement== |
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==Charity== |
==Charity== |
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In January 2008, Menard gave $15 million to support Eau Claire's Luther Midelfort Hospital. The donation will be used for a new emergency services department and to help Mayo Clinic educate and train health professionals.<ref>Eau Claire Leader Telegram, January 23, 2008</ref> |
In January 2008, Menard gave $15 million to support Eau Claire's Luther Midelfort Hospital. The donation will be used for a new emergency services department and to help Mayo Clinic educate and train health professionals.<ref name=":0">Eau Claire Leader Telegram, January 23, 2008</ref> |
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==Horse breeding== |
==Horse breeding== |
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Revision as of 15:43, 30 July 2013
John Menard, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Nationality | United States |
| Education | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founding Menards |
| Children | Paul Menard |
John R. Menard, Jr. (born 1940) is an American entrepreneur and billionaire who is the founder and owner of Menards, a major Midwestern home improvement chain. Additionally, he is a former Indycar racing team owner. Menard is also a partner in Robby Gordon Motorsports with NASCAR owner/driver Robby Gordon. He is the father of NASCAR driver Paul Menard.
Life and education
The oldest of eight siblings, Menard graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire with a degree in business and a minor in psychology.[1] Menard began his career constructing pole buildings with friends from college.[2] He makes his home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Menard has had six children with three different women, and is currently married to his third wife, Fay Obiad. His first two children, Renee and Christopher, were born from his first marriage, which ended when he had an out-of-wedlock child named Michelle. He then married Paula Menard, and had three children: John R. Menard III, Paul Menard, and Molly Menard. That marriage also ended in divorce. In 2006, Menard ended a long-term relationship with Deb Sands, after Ms. Sands' sister Dawn sued Menard for workplace discrimination. He married Obiad in 2008. [3]
Menards
Menard opened his first hardware store in 1972. As of 2011, his company owned 262 Menards stores. As of 2005 Menards grossed an estimated $5.5 billion in sales. Menard had a net worth of $7.3 billion in 2007, according to the Forbes 400, and is the richest person in Wisconsin.[4] He is the 136th richest person in the world, and he is the 68th richest person in the United States.[5][6]
Scandal and Lawsuits
In 1997, Menard personally plead no contest to felony and misdemeanor charges that he had hauled chromium and arsenic-laden wood ash to his house in the back of his pickup truck for disposal in his household garbage. He and his company were fined $1.7 million for 21 violations in relation to the case. [7] Although this is the only violation for which Menard has personally been cited, his company is the largest polluter in Wisconsin, having more run-ins with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources than any other company in the state. [8]
In 2013, Tomisue Hilbert, wife of Stephen Hilbert, a former business partner of Menard, filed suit against Menard for intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery, attempted battery, assault, and attempted assault. The suit alleges that Menard attempted to pressure Ms. Hilbert into having sex with him and his fiance (later his wife) Fay Obiad. When Ms. Hilbert refused, Menard "began an orchestrated campaign to cause severe financial consequences to Ms. Hilbert." [9] A similar lawsuit was filed by another employee of the Hilbert-Menard business venture, when Lisa Trudeau, wife of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jack Trudeau, alleged that Menard had also sexually assaulted her, then filed a lawsuit against her when she rebuffed his advances. [10]
Motorsports involvement
Paul Menard, John Jr.'s son, is the driver of the #27 Menards Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Menard also owns an engine shop in the United Kingdom that produced engines for Team Menard and Robby Gordon Motorsports and was the owner of Team Menard which won the 1997 and 1999 Indy Racing League championships.
Charity
In January 2008, Menard gave $15 million to support Eau Claire's Luther Midelfort Hospital. The donation will be used for a new emergency services department and to help Mayo Clinic educate and train health professionals.[11]
Horse breeding
Menard is a thoroughbred horse owner.
External links
- Forbes.com: Forbes World's Richest People
- Milwaukee Magazine: Big Money - "How home improvement store founder John Menard became the richest man in Wisconsin – and what he sacrificed to do it."
References
- ^ http://www.uwec.edu/alumni/e-View/2009/e-ViewJune09.htm
- ^ http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Menard-Inc-Company-History.html
- ^ http://www.milwaukeemag.com/article/242011-BigMoney
- ^ http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/54/richlist07_The-400-Richest-Americans-Wisconsin_7Rank.html
- ^ http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_John-Menard-Jr_35R4.html
- ^ http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/54/400list08_John-Menard-Jr_35R4.html
- ^ http://www.milwaukeemag.com/article/242011-BigMoney
- ^ http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2013/06/20/murphys-law-the-strange-life-of-john-menard/
- ^ http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2013/06/20/murphys-law-the-strange-life-of-john-menard/
- ^ http://www.jsonline.com/business/menards-founder-accused-of-pressuring-woman-to-have-sex-b9936287z1-211922401.html
- ^ Eau Claire Leader Telegram, January 23, 2008
 | This biographical article related to NASCAR is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This biographical article related to United States auto racing is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article about an American businessperson born in the 1940s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This Wisconsin-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1940 births
- Living people
- American billionaires
- American businesspeople in retailing
- IndyCar Series team owners
- NASCAR team owners
- People from Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire alumni
- Businesspeople from Wisconsin
- NASCAR people stubs
- American auto racing biography stubs
- American business biography, 1940s birth stubs
- Wisconsin stubs