Wheelock Whitney Jr.
Wheelock "Whee" Whitney Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 July 1926 |
| Died | 20 May 2016 (aged 89) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, educator, sports executive, philanthropist, political figure |
Wheelock "Whee" Whitney Jr. (July 30, 1926 – May 20, 2016) was a prominent American entrepreneur, educator, sports executive and owner, philanthropist, and political figure.
Early life and education
Whitney studied at Phillips Andover and Yale University, where he was a contemporary of George H. W. Bush; both belonged to the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. His career began in investment banking from 1957 through 1972, after which he transitioned to academia as a faculty member at the Carlson School of Business at the University of Minnesota.
In the political arena, Whitney was the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate representing Minnesota in 1964 but was defeated by Eugene McCarthy. Later, he ran as the Republican nominee for governor of Minnesota in 1982, losing to Rudy Perpich.
Sports executive
Whitney played a pivotal role in establishing the Continental League in 1959 and was instrumental in securing the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball franchise. He served on the Twins' board from 1961 to 1985. Furthermore, he contributed significantly to bringing an National Hockey League franchise—the Minnesota North Stars—to Bloomington, Minnesota in 1967 and helped develop the Met Center. Whitney also held positions as part-owner and president of the Minnesota Vikings football team for several years.
Personal life
In 1948, Whitney married Irene Hixon. Together, they supported Vernon Johnson, who pioneered intervention strategies for alcoholism and substance abuse; Johnson's work led to the founding of the Johnson Institute after assisting Irene Whitney through an intervention. Irene passed away from lung cancer in 1986. Whitney later married Penny Lewis, a professional horse trainer, in 1990; their marriage ended in divorce by 1994. In 2005, he wed Chief Justice Kathleen A. Blatz of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Whitney passed away on May 20, 2016.
Horse racing
Whitney maintained a long-standing involvement in thoroughbred horse racing. His most distinguished horse, Quicken Tree, secured significant victories such as the Santa Anita Handicap, Manhattan Handicap, and Jockey Club Gold Cup during the 1960s.