Jack Cole (businessman)
Jack Ridnour Cole | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Lawrence County, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | July 29, 2007 (aged 87) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Developing crisscross directories (Cole Directory) |
Jack Ridnour Cole (February 12, 1920 – July 29, 2007) was a notable American businessman recognized for developing "crisscross directories," which organized millions of individuals by their street addresses. His initial publication, known as the "Blue Book," became a vital resource for libraries and proved highly useful to a variety of sectors such as law enforcement, marketing professionals, journalists, insurance representatives, private investigators, and small enterprises.
Cole obtained a degree in business from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and initially worked as an IBM sales representative based in Dallas. In 1947, he launched the Cole Directory, a reverse directory system that cataloged residents by their addresses and telephone numbers through the use of IBM punch card technology. Starting with digitizing the Dallas telephone directory onto punch cards, he later expanded this approach to additional cities by incorporating census and tax information. Presently, Cole Directories encompass approximately 200 metropolitan areas and are produced in both printed and digital formats by MetroGroup Corporation located in Lincoln, Nebraska.
MetroGroup Corporation owns Cole Information, which is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. This company transitioned from traditional print directories to providing comprehensive marketing solutions including internet marketing, web-based lead generation services, and online directory platforms.
Jack Cole passed away at age 87 due to cancer. He is survived by three children, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a sister.