Gale Lemerand
Encyclopedia
L. Gale Lemerand is an entrepreneur, restaurateur and prominent philanthropist. He is the subject of "To Win in Business... Bet on the Jockey," which tells his remarkable and inspiring entrepreneur story.
Lemerand is also the inventor of Sanidoor, a new touch-free, germ-free restroom door system that is being used in Florida restaurants.
Lemerand grew up in a working class family in Michigan. After serving in the Korean War, he returned stateside and began a career at Williams Insulation in Chicago in 1968. At the age of 40, Lemerand bought out his partner and renamed the business Gale Industries. He moved the company to Daytona Beach, Florida
in 1978. By 1990, the corporation was the largest insulation contractor in the nation, with more than 100 locations in 23 states. He sold Gale Industries to the Fortune 200 company Masco Corporation in 1995, and stayed on as CEO and president until 2000.
Lemerand is also a co-founder and majority owner of Stonewood Grill & Tavern restaurants. He owns major interest in 29 restaurants which include Stonewood, Peach Valley Café, Houligan's, Perkins Family Restaurant and Bakery, The Dish and Ormond Wine Company.
Lemerand is one of the top donors at the University of Florida
. The road near UF's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
and the L. Gale Lemerand Athletic Center are named is his honor. In May 2003, the University of Florida awarded Lemerand an honorary doctor's degree. He was also named Florida Entrepreneur of the Year in 1995.
In addition to the University of Florida, Lemerand has donated to Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona State College and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Lemerand has served on numerous local community boards, including SunTrust Banks
, WDSC PBS 15, Ormond Beach Memorial Hospital and donated to his alma mater, Escanaba High School, in Michigan. He also supports local groups and charities, such as Boy Scouts of America
, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, March of Dimes
, The Volusia Council on Aging, and the United Way.
Lemerand is also the inventor of Sanidoor, a new touch-free, germ-free restroom door system that is being used in Florida restaurants.
Lemerand grew up in a working class family in Michigan. After serving in the Korean War, he returned stateside and began a career at Williams Insulation in Chicago in 1968. At the age of 40, Lemerand bought out his partner and renamed the business Gale Industries. He moved the company to Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
in 1978. By 1990, the corporation was the largest insulation contractor in the nation, with more than 100 locations in 23 states. He sold Gale Industries to the Fortune 200 company Masco Corporation in 1995, and stayed on as CEO and president until 2000.
Lemerand is also a co-founder and majority owner of Stonewood Grill & Tavern restaurants. He owns major interest in 29 restaurants which include Stonewood, Peach Valley Café, Houligan's, Perkins Family Restaurant and Bakery, The Dish and Ormond Wine Company.
Lemerand is one of the top donors at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. The road near UF's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field is the football stadium for the University of Florida and the home field of the university's Florida Gators football team. It is located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. The stadium was originally built in 1930, and has been regularly...
and the L. Gale Lemerand Athletic Center are named is his honor. In May 2003, the University of Florida awarded Lemerand an honorary doctor's degree. He was also named Florida Entrepreneur of the Year in 1995.
In addition to the University of Florida, Lemerand has donated to Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona State College and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Lemerand has served on numerous local community boards, including SunTrust Banks
SunTrust Banks
SunTrust Banks, Inc., is an American bank holding company. The largest subsidiary is SunTrust Bank. It had US$172.7 billion in assets as of September 30, 2009...
, WDSC PBS 15, Ormond Beach Memorial Hospital and donated to his alma mater, Escanaba High School, in Michigan. He also supports local groups and charities, such as Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, March of Dimes
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
, The Volusia Council on Aging, and the United Way.