Mercer Reynolds
Mercer Reynolds | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 17, 1945 Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, diplomat |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Known for | Finance chairman for George W. Bush's election campaign; United States ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein |
Mercer "Merce" Reynolds III (born June 17, 1945) is an American entrepreneur who served as the finance chairman for President George W. Bush's election campaign.
Education and early career
Hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Reynolds obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed his M.B.A. at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Following a short period of service in the United States Army between 1968 and 1969, he spent a decade working at Coca-Cola.
Career
In 1979, Reynolds partnered with William DeWitt, Jr. to establish the investment company Reynolds, DeWitt & Co., where he held the position of co-chair until 2001. Between 1980 and 1985, he also co-led the oil enterprise Spectrum 7, which merged with George W. Bush's firm, Arbusto Energy, in 1984. Subsequently, Reynolds joined Bush as an investor in the Texas Rangers. From 1985 through 2001, he was the chief executive officer of Reynolds Plantation, a golf community located near Lake Oconee, Georgia.
As Ohio's finance chairman during Bush's 2000 presidential bid, Reynolds raised upwards of $600,000 and later co-chaired Bush's inaugural committee. Serving as national finance chair for the 2004 re-election effort, he played a key role in generating more than $200 million in funds and was instrumental in securing Ohio’s pivotal electoral votes. Although considered for the position of Commerce Secretary in 2004, he was ultimately passed over in favor of Carlos Gutierrez.
Reynolds has contributed to various charitable organizations including Cincinnati's Summerbridge, the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, and United Way of America. In terms of international affairs, he is a member of the advisory board at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and participates with the Bridging the Rift Foundation focused on Middle Eastern issues.
Ambassadorship
Between August 2001 and September 2003, Reynolds held the post of United States ambassador to both Switzerland and Liechtenstein, despite facing criticism regarding his limited diplomatic background.
Personal life
Residing in Indian Hill, Ohio, Reynolds is a father to five children. His late spouse, Gabrielle Reynolds (1948–2018), was appointed by President Bush in 2004 to serve on the board of trustees for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. His daughter-in-law, Lindsay Reynolds, occupied the role of Chief of Staff to First Lady Melania Trump.
Additionally, Mercer achieved national recognition as a platform tennis competitor during the 1970s and 1980s.