Gregory Gray Garland Jr. | |
---|---|
Born |
Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | April 15, 1924
Died | May 29, 2020
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 96)
Education |
Duquesne University School of Law
Harvard Business School |
Occupation(s) | Lawyer, business executive, railroad executive, magazine publisher, novelist |
Employer(s) | McCann, Garland, Ridall and Burke Esq |
Organization(s) |
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Union National Bank |
Gregory Gray Garland Jr. (April 15, 1924 – May 29, 2020) was an American attorney, businessman, author, and magazine publisher. He was also chairman of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. [1]
Garland was born in Richmond, Virginia. [1] His parents were Lula W. and Gregory Gray Garland of 112 Cathedral Place in Richmond. [2] [3] His father was the district superintendent for Autocar Sales and Service Company in Richmond. [4] However, in the mid 1930s, his father became disabled in serious fall. [3]
He attended St. Christopher's School in Richmond, where he graduated in 1942 and received the General Prize for Excellence in Journalism for his work with The Pine Needle. [1] [5] [6] He then enrolled in the Virginia Military Institute for a year. [1] [7]
During World War II in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an ensign. [2] [7] He served as a communications officer on a submarine chaser in the Pacific; his ship was damaged during Typhoon Louise in October 1945. [7] In May 1945, he was sent to a United Nations conference in San Francisco. [2] He was picked for a small group of Navy and Army personnel to attend the conference because of his background, conduct, and talent. [2]
After the war in September 1946, he entered the University of Virginia on the G.I. Bill. [8] [7] While there, he was a member of St. Anthony Hall before graduating with a B.A. in 1947. [1] [7] He also went to Harvard Business School, graduating in 1949. [1] Known as the Gold Rush Class, the Harvard Business School Class of 1949 generated more company presidents and CEOs than any other class. [1]
His father-in-law suggested that he become a lawyer, and Garland enrolled in the Duquesne University School of Law, graduating in 1954. [1] [7]
In 1949, Garland went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with just 24¢ and a Gulf Oil card. [1] He co-founded McCann, Garland, Ridall, and Burke Esq. [1] This law firm specializes in corporate and commercial law, estate planning, nonprofit law, and real estate, but he was most interested in tax law, mergers, and acquisitions. [9] [7]
In 1962, he founded Unionvale Coal Company which distributed coal from Ligonier, Pennsylvania. [1] [10] He also purchased Youngstown Steel Tank, Machinex, and Embassy magazine in New York City. [1] [7] [11] He was chairman Greenville Metals, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, Ranger Investments, and Union National Bank. [1] [12] His specialty was to "take companies and turn them around." [7]
He incorporated his wartime and personal life experiences into three novels, including the thriller Top Secret: Escape from Iran. [1]
Garland married Margaret "Peggy" Garland McCann on August 23, 1948, at Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [13] [14] Their reception was at the University Club. [14] She was the daughter of John A. McCann of Pittsburgh, an attorney. [13] [7] Peggy predeceased Garland after 58 years of marriage. [1] Their daughters were Margaret and Gayle. [1]
In 1980, Garland was invited to visit Liberian President William Tolbert of Liberia. [7] During their stay with the president and his wife in April 1980, the Garlands found themselves amid a coup where the president was executed. [7] The Garlands fled Liberia during the cover of night. [7]
Garland served on the board of directors of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. [15] He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia. He was also a member of The Brook Club in New York City, the Duquesne Club, Fox Chapel Golf Club, and Rolling Rock Club. [1] In 2005, Garland donated an athletic field to the Winchester Thurston School in memory of his wife who had attended the school. [16]
In 2020, he died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [1]
Gregory Gray Garland Jr. | |
---|---|
Born |
Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | April 15, 1924
Died | May 29, 2020
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 96)
Education |
Duquesne University School of Law
Harvard Business School |
Occupation(s) | Lawyer, business executive, railroad executive, magazine publisher, novelist |
Employer(s) | McCann, Garland, Ridall and Burke Esq |
Organization(s) |
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Union National Bank |
Gregory Gray Garland Jr. (April 15, 1924 – May 29, 2020) was an American attorney, businessman, author, and magazine publisher. He was also chairman of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. [1]
Garland was born in Richmond, Virginia. [1] His parents were Lula W. and Gregory Gray Garland of 112 Cathedral Place in Richmond. [2] [3] His father was the district superintendent for Autocar Sales and Service Company in Richmond. [4] However, in the mid 1930s, his father became disabled in serious fall. [3]
He attended St. Christopher's School in Richmond, where he graduated in 1942 and received the General Prize for Excellence in Journalism for his work with The Pine Needle. [1] [5] [6] He then enrolled in the Virginia Military Institute for a year. [1] [7]
During World War II in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an ensign. [2] [7] He served as a communications officer on a submarine chaser in the Pacific; his ship was damaged during Typhoon Louise in October 1945. [7] In May 1945, he was sent to a United Nations conference in San Francisco. [2] He was picked for a small group of Navy and Army personnel to attend the conference because of his background, conduct, and talent. [2]
After the war in September 1946, he entered the University of Virginia on the G.I. Bill. [8] [7] While there, he was a member of St. Anthony Hall before graduating with a B.A. in 1947. [1] [7] He also went to Harvard Business School, graduating in 1949. [1] Known as the Gold Rush Class, the Harvard Business School Class of 1949 generated more company presidents and CEOs than any other class. [1]
His father-in-law suggested that he become a lawyer, and Garland enrolled in the Duquesne University School of Law, graduating in 1954. [1] [7]
In 1949, Garland went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with just 24¢ and a Gulf Oil card. [1] He co-founded McCann, Garland, Ridall, and Burke Esq. [1] This law firm specializes in corporate and commercial law, estate planning, nonprofit law, and real estate, but he was most interested in tax law, mergers, and acquisitions. [9] [7]
In 1962, he founded Unionvale Coal Company which distributed coal from Ligonier, Pennsylvania. [1] [10] He also purchased Youngstown Steel Tank, Machinex, and Embassy magazine in New York City. [1] [7] [11] He was chairman Greenville Metals, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, Ranger Investments, and Union National Bank. [1] [12] His specialty was to "take companies and turn them around." [7]
He incorporated his wartime and personal life experiences into three novels, including the thriller Top Secret: Escape from Iran. [1]
Garland married Margaret "Peggy" Garland McCann on August 23, 1948, at Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [13] [14] Their reception was at the University Club. [14] She was the daughter of John A. McCann of Pittsburgh, an attorney. [13] [7] Peggy predeceased Garland after 58 years of marriage. [1] Their daughters were Margaret and Gayle. [1]
In 1980, Garland was invited to visit Liberian President William Tolbert of Liberia. [7] During their stay with the president and his wife in April 1980, the Garlands found themselves amid a coup where the president was executed. [7] The Garlands fled Liberia during the cover of night. [7]
Garland served on the board of directors of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. [15] He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia. He was also a member of The Brook Club in New York City, the Duquesne Club, Fox Chapel Golf Club, and Rolling Rock Club. [1] In 2005, Garland donated an athletic field to the Winchester Thurston School in memory of his wife who had attended the school. [16]
In 2020, he died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [1]