Mari Hulman George
Encyclopedia
Mari Hulman George, born Mary Antonia Hulman on December 26, 1934, in Terre Haute, Indiana
, is the daughter of the late Anton "Tony" Hulman
and Mary Fendrich Hulman
, prominent Indiana philanthropists and business owners. She is the current chairman of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
and Hulman & Company
.
, on April 29, 1957. At 22 years of age, she became stepmother to Elmer's children from his first marriage, and the couple would go on to have four children together: three daughters, Nancy, Josie and Kathi; and one son, Anton Hulman George
, who, like his namesake grandfather, would be better known as "Tony."
Elmer George
, who met with little success as a driver, retired from racing in 1963, later becoming a Speedway vice-president and head of the IMS Radio Network.
For most of the couple's marriage, they owned a farm outside of Terre Haute, but spent much of their time at their 1300 acres (5 km²) ranch in Wyoming
.
and Hulman & Co., the family's primary businesses. When Mrs. Hulman's health began to deteriorate, she retired and passed the chairmanship of the companies to her daughter in 1988. Mari Hulman George retains both positions today.
Like her father and mother before her, since 1997, Mari officially starts the Indianapolis 500 and Allstate 400 at the Brickyard races with the command, "(Lady/Ladies and) gentlemen, start your engines!"
among the top recipients of her monetary gifts. The college maintains the Mari Hulman George School of Equine Studies, founded in part due to her love of horses.
In 2001, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security renamed their search-and-rescue training area at Camp Atterbury
the Mari Hulman George Search and Rescue Training Center, in recognition of her contributions to the care of animals displaced and otherwise affected by disasters. She has also been active in the rescue and adoption of racing greyhounds
.
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
, is the daughter of the late Anton "Tony" Hulman
Tony Hulman
Anton "Tony" Hulman, Jr. was a businessman from Terre Haute, Indiana who rescued the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945 and made the Indianapolis 500 popular....
and Mary Fendrich Hulman
Mary Fendrich Hulman
Mary Fendrich Hulman was the wife of the late Indiana industrialist Anton "Tony" Hulman, Jr. and matriarch of the Hulman-George family which today controls Hulman & Co., the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League.-Early life:Born in Evansville, Indiana, Mary was the daughter of...
, prominent Indiana philanthropists and business owners. She is the current chairman of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
and Hulman & Company
Hulman & Company
Hulman & Company is a private, family-owned, company founded in 1850 by Francis Hulman as a wholesale grocery, tobacco, and liquor store in Terre Haute, Indiana. Throughout the early half of the 20th century, Hulman & Co. became nationally known for its Clabber Girl baking powder which it began...
.
Family
Mari was the Hulmans' only child, but from the age of eleven she was often surrounded by the families of Indianapolis 500 drivers, whom she befriended. Perhaps it would come as little surprise that she would marry one such driver, Elmer GeorgeElmer George
Elmer George was an American racecar driver.Born in Hockerville, Oklahoma, George died in Terre Haute, Indiana. He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1963 seasons with 64 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1957, 1962, and 1963...
, on April 29, 1957. At 22 years of age, she became stepmother to Elmer's children from his first marriage, and the couple would go on to have four children together: three daughters, Nancy, Josie and Kathi; and one son, Anton Hulman George
Tony George
Anton Hulman "Tony" George was the former President and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hulman & Company, serving from 1989 to 2009. He was also formerly on the Board of Directors of both entities. He founded the Indy Racing League and co-owns Vision Racing...
, who, like his namesake grandfather, would be better known as "Tony."
Elmer George
Elmer George
Elmer George was an American racecar driver.Born in Hockerville, Oklahoma, George died in Terre Haute, Indiana. He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1963 seasons with 64 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1957, 1962, and 1963...
, who met with little success as a driver, retired from racing in 1963, later becoming a Speedway vice-president and head of the IMS Radio Network.
For most of the couple's marriage, they owned a farm outside of Terre Haute, but spent much of their time at their 1300 acres (5 km²) ranch in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
.
The Chairman
After the death of Tony Hulman in 1977, his wife, Mary Fendrich Hulman, assumed the chairmanship of the Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayIndianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
and Hulman & Co., the family's primary businesses. When Mrs. Hulman's health began to deteriorate, she retired and passed the chairmanship of the companies to her daughter in 1988. Mari Hulman George retains both positions today.
Like her father and mother before her, since 1997, Mari officially starts the Indianapolis 500 and Allstate 400 at the Brickyard races with the command, "(Lady/Ladies and) gentlemen, start your engines!"
Philanthropist and lover of animals
Like her parents, Mari Hulman George is well-known throughout Indiana for her generosity to institutions of higher learning, with her alma mater, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in West Terre Haute, IndianaWest Terre Haute, Indiana
West Terre Haute is a town in Sugar Creek Township, Vigo County, Indiana, on the western side of the Wabash River near Terre Haute. The population was 2,236 at the 2010 census...
among the top recipients of her monetary gifts. The college maintains the Mari Hulman George School of Equine Studies, founded in part due to her love of horses.
In 2001, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security renamed their search-and-rescue training area at Camp Atterbury
Camp Atterbury
Camp Atterbury, near Edinburgh, Indiana, USA, is a training base of the Indiana National Guard. It was planned just months before the U.S. entry into World War II. Originally surveyed and researched by the Hurd Company, the present site was recommended to Congress in 1941. Construction commenced...
the Mari Hulman George Search and Rescue Training Center, in recognition of her contributions to the care of animals displaced and otherwise affected by disasters. She has also been active in the rescue and adoption of racing greyhounds
Greyhound adoption
Greyhound adoption or Greyhound rescue programs focus on finding homes for Greyhounds who are no longer needed for racing. In some countries they live in kennels at the track....
.