George Albert Hormel (December 4, 1860 – June 5, 1946) was an American entrepreneur, he was the founder of
Hormel Foods Corporation (then known as George A. Hormel & Co.) in 1891. His ownership stake in the company made him one of the wealthiest Americans during his lifetime.
Early life
Hormel was born in
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...
, in 1860 to German immigrant John George Hormel, a leather tanner, and Susannah "Susan" Hormel (née Decker), and later settled in
Austin, Minnesota
Austin is a city in, and the county seat of, Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 26,174 at the 2020 census. The town was originally settled along the Cedar River and has two artificial lakes, East Side Lake and Mill Po ...
. At the age of twelve, he began working in a Chicago packinghouse. Hormel married Lilian Belle Gleason in 1892.
Hormel Foods Corporation
He established his meat packing company in 1891 and established a food company that continues to thrive today.
He remained head of the company until 1929, when he passed it to his son
Jay Catherwood Hormel.
Death and legacy
He died on June 5, 1946, in
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, at the age of 85. He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Minnesota.
His great-grandson
Smokey Hormel
Smokey Hormel (born circa 1959)Cohen (2017) quotes Hormel as saying he was "4 or 5 ears old when "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles was "a big hit on the radio"; the song was released in America in December 1963. is an American guitarist ...
is a noted guitarist.
[Alex Cohen (2017)]
How Smokey Hormel Became The Quintessential Session Musician
NPR.org, accessed 20 July 2021
See also
*
Hormel Historic Home
References
External links
Hormel Historic Homein Austin, Minnesota
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hormel, George A.
1860 births
1946 deaths
American people of German descent
Meat packing industry
Hormel Foods people
People from Austin, Minnesota