Joseph Edmund Cole (January 4, 1914 – January 8, 1995) was an American businessman. He was founder of Cole National Corp. and the final publisher of the Cleveland Press newspaper, as well as part-owner of the Cleveland Indians major league baseball team.

Business career

Cole was born January 4, 1914, in Cleveland, Ohio. ^[1] He began his career in 1926 working for the National Key Company in Cleveland. ^[2] After working for the company for seven years, he left to establish a retail key division of Curtis Industries, building it into the country's second-largest key company, after National Key. ^{[2] [3]} In 1950, Cole purchased National Key as well as Curtis's key business, becoming the largest key retail business in the United States. ^{[2] [1]} As the company grew, diversifying into such areas as car dealerships, the Things Remembered gift shop, and the Original Cookie Company, it was renamed Cole National Corp. ^[1]

In the 1950s, Cole became a minority owner of the Cleveland Indians (now "Guardians") baseball team; he twice attempted to purchase the team in its entirety, but was unsuccessful. ^[3]

In 1980, Cole purchased the struggling Cleveland Press newspaper. ^[3] He expanded the paper's publication to seven days, adding a Sunday edition, but ultimately the newspaper ceased publication in 1982. ^[1]

Political activity

Cole was active in the U.S. Democratic Party. He served as chairman of the Ohio campaign for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1960, ^[3] and gave financial support to Hubert Humphrey's presidential campaign in 1968. ^[3] He became treasurer of the party in 1973, and served on the Democratic National Committee and its executive committee. ^[3]

Death

Cole died January 8, 1995, in Palm Beach, Florida from complications from a stroke, shortly after his 81st birthday. ^[3]

References