E. Bronson Ingram II
E. Bronson Ingram II | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | June 15, 1995 (aged 63) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, corporate leader |
| Years active | 1955–1995 |
| Known for | Chairman of Ingram Industries; director and shareholder of Weyerhaeuser |
E. Bronson Ingram II (1931–1995) was an American billionaire heir and corporate leader, holding the position of Chairman at Ingram Industries from 1963 until 1995. He also served as a director and significant shareholder of Weyerhaeuser. During the 1970s, he faced charges in a corruption case involving a Chicago sewage contract but was ultimately acquitted.
Early life
Erskine Bronson Ingram II was born on November 27, 1931, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to wealthy businessman Orrin Henry Ingram, Sr. and Hortense Bigelow Ingram. Bearing his grandfather’s name, his family moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1948.
His education included attending Phillips Academy and Montgomery Bell Academy, followed by studies at Vanderbilt University before transferring to Princeton University, where he graduated in 1953 with a degree in English. While at Princeton, he was actively involved in the Republican Club.
Career
E.B. Ingram started his professional journey as a naval officer in the United States Navy until 1955. Afterwards, he entered the family business, Ingram Oil & Refining Co., which later became Ingram Corporation, overseeing service station operations and developing truck stops for company drivers.
Upon his father’s passing in 1963, E.B. Ingram assumed the role of President while his brother Frederic B. Ingram took on the Chairmanship. Both brothers were indicted in 1976 for bribery connected to a $48 million Chicago sewage contract; E.B. was acquitted whereas Frederic was found guilty. By 1978, the siblings split their enterprise, with Frederic retaining control of oil refineries and pipeline operations headquartered in New Orleans.
E.B. Ingram gained leadership over the Tennessee Book Company, Ingram Materials Company, Ingram Barge Company, and Bluewater Insurance Company, merging these entities under the umbrella of Ingram Industries. By 1995, the Ingram Barge Company had evolved into the Inland Marine Transportation Group, ranking as the third-largest inland waterway carrier within the United States. The Tennessee Book Company was rebranded as Ingram Book Company in 1970 and by 1995 commanded 52% of the wholesale book distribution market serving American retailers. He also founded Ingram Software, which acquired Micro D in 1985 and eventually became Ingram Micro Incorporated, recognized as the world’s largest distributor of microcomputer hardware and software.
Additionally, he launched Ingram Entertainment, which grew to be the largest wholesale distributor of pre-recorded videocassettes.
E.B. Ingram held a seat on Weyerhaeuser’s Board of Directors and owned more than 222,000 shares as of 1988. He served as President of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce in 1987 and later acted as Vice-Chairman of the Tennessee Industrial and Agricultural Development Commission.
Philanthropy
During the late 1970s, E. Bronson Ingram played a leadership role with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and contributed to Tennessee’s Bicentennial Celebration in 1996. He joined Vanderbilt University’s Board of Trust in 1967 and chaired it from 1991 to 1995. His philanthropic efforts included donating $25 million to Vanderbilt and assisting in raising $500 million for the institution.
In 1993, he nominated the first African-American member at Belle Meade Country Club. His support extended to organizations such as Inroads and the Nashville Symphony. He was also a member and former Chair of the PENCIL Foundation, which focuses on enhancing public education in Nashville. Moreover, he chaired Nashville’s Agenda steering committee.
Personal life
In 1958, E. Bronson Ingram wed Martha Robinson Rivers in New York City. The couple first resided in New Orleans, the location of the Ingram Corporation's headquarters, before moving their home to Nashville in 1961. Together, they raised four children: three sons—David Bronson Ingram, Orrin H. Ingram II, and John R. Ingram—and a daughter, Robin Ingram Patton.
Death and legacy
E.B. Ingram passed away from cancer on June 15, 1995. At the time of his passing, he was Tennessee’s sole billionaire and ranked as the 56th wealthiest individual in the United States. Notably, golfer Arnold Palmer participated as a pallbearer at his funeral service. Ingram’s final resting place is Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville. His name endures through institutions such as the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Ingram Studio Arts Center.
About him
- Martha Rivers Ingram, E. Bronson Ingram: Complete These Unfinished Tasks of Mine (2001)