Mercer Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Mercer "Merce" Reynolds III (born 17 June 1945) is an American
businessman. He was the finance chair of U.S. President George W. Bush
's presidential campaign.
, earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, and an M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
. After serving briefly in the United States Army
(1968-1969), he worked for Coca-Cola
for ten years.
founded the investment firm Reynolds, DeWitt & Co.; he was its co-chair until 2001. Reynolds' other business ventures included Spectrum 7
, an oil company which he co-chaired from 1980 to 1985 and which, in 1984 merged with the struggling firm Arbusto Energy
, which was owned by George W. Bush. Reynolds was later an investor with Bush in the Texas Rangers
baseball team. From 1985 to 2001, he was CEO of Reynolds Plantation, a golf community near Lake Oconee
in Georgia
.
Reynolds was Ohio
finance chairman for George W. Bush's 2000 presidential and campaign, raising over $600,000 and was named to co-chair Bush's inaugural committee. From August 2001 to September 2003, Reynolds served as U.S. ambassador to Switzerland
and Liechtenstein
although he came under fire with criticisms for his lack of actual qualifications other than being a monetary contributor to George W. Bush's campaign. As the national finance chair of U.S. President George W. Bush
's 2004 re-election campaign
, Reynolds helped raise over $200 million for the successful effort and is sometimes credited with helping to deliver Ohio's key electoral votes to the President. He was a frequent guest of President Bush at the White House
and at Camp David
, and was a leading contender for the post of Commerce Secretary
upon the 2004 resignation of Don Evans
.
Reynolds has been active in fundraising for community and civic organizations as well, for Summerbridge
, a tutoring program for inner-city youth in Cincinnati, for the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, and for the United Way. In the field of foreign policy, he sits on the advisory board of the Center for Strategic and International Studies
and has been involved with the Bridging the Rift Foundation in the Middle East.
; they have five children. Gabrielle Reynolds was appointed by President Bush in 2004 to serve on the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman. He was the finance chair of U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's presidential campaign.
Education and early career
Reynolds, born in Chattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, and an M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public university located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The University, often referred to as UTC or simply "Chattanooga" , is one of three universities and two other affiliated institutions in the University of Tennessee System; the others being in...
. After serving briefly in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(1968-1969), he worked for Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
for ten years.
Career
In 1979, Reynolds and business partner William DeWittWilliam DeWitt, Jr.
William O. DeWitt, Jr. is an American businessman and currently the managing partner and chairman of the St. Louis Cardinals. He served on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board during the George W...
founded the investment firm Reynolds, DeWitt & Co.; he was its co-chair until 2001. Reynolds' other business ventures included Spectrum 7
Spectrum 7
Spectrum 7 was an oil company started by William DeWitt and Mercer Reynolds.In 1984, Spectrum 7 merged with George W. Bush's Arbusto Energy. After the merger, Bush became the Chairman and CEO of Spectrum 7....
, an oil company which he co-chaired from 1980 to 1985 and which, in 1984 merged with the struggling firm Arbusto Energy
Arbusto Energy
Arbusto Energy was a petroleum and energy company formed in Midland, Texas, in 1977, for former US President George W. Bush by a group of investors which included Dorothy Bush, Lewis Lehrman, William Henry Draper III, Bill Gammell, and James R. Bath. The company's chief financial officer was K...
, which was owned by George W. Bush. Reynolds was later an investor with Bush in the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
baseball team. From 1985 to 2001, he was CEO of Reynolds Plantation, a golf community near Lake Oconee
Lake Oconee
Lake Oconee is a reservoir in central Georgia on the Oconee River near Greensboro and Eatonton. It was created in 1979 when Georgia Power completed the construction of the Wallace Dam on the Oconee River. Lake Oconee is the second largest lake in the state of Georgia...
in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Reynolds was Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
finance chairman for George W. Bush's 2000 presidential and campaign, raising over $600,000 and was named to co-chair Bush's inaugural committee. From August 2001 to September 2003, Reynolds served as U.S. ambassador to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
although he came under fire with criticisms for his lack of actual qualifications other than being a monetary contributor to George W. Bush's campaign. As the national finance chair of U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's 2004 re-election campaign
George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2004
This article is about the presidential campaign of George W. Bush, the former President of the United States and winner of the 2004 Presidential Election. See George W. Bush for a detailed biography and information about his full presidency, and George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000 for a...
, Reynolds helped raise over $200 million for the successful effort and is sometimes credited with helping to deliver Ohio's key electoral votes to the President. He was a frequent guest of President Bush at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
and at Camp David
Camp David
Camp David is the country retreat of the President of the United States and his guests. It is located in low wooded hills about 60 mi north-northwest of Washington, D.C., on the property of Catoctin Mountain Park in unincorporated Frederick County, Maryland, near Thurmont, at an elevation of...
, and was a leading contender for the post of Commerce Secretary
United States Secretary of Commerce
The United States Secretary of Commerce is the head of the United States Department of Commerce concerned with business and industry; the Department states its mission to be "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce"...
upon the 2004 resignation of Don Evans
Don Evans
Donald Thomas "Don" Evans was a noted African-American playwright, theatre director, actor and educator.-Early life and education:...
.
Reynolds has been active in fundraising for community and civic organizations as well, for Summerbridge
Summerbridge
Summerbridge may refer to:*Summerbridge, North Yorkshire, village in England*Breakthrough Collaborative, formerly Summerbridge National, educational programs in USA and Hong Kong...
, a tutoring program for inner-city youth in Cincinnati, for the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, and for the United Way. In the field of foreign policy, he sits on the advisory board of the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Center for Strategic and International Studies
The Center for Strategic and International Studies is a bipartisan Washington, D.C., foreign policy think tank. The center was founded in 1962 by Admiral Arleigh Burke and Ambassador David Manker Abshire, originally as part of Georgetown University...
and has been involved with the Bridging the Rift Foundation in the Middle East.
Personal life
Reynolds and his wife, Gabrielle, live in Indian Hill, OhioIndian Hill, Ohio
The Village of Indian Hill is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and an affluent suburb of the Greater Cincinnati area. The population was 5,907 at the 2000 census. Prior to 1970, Indian Hill was incorporated as a village, but under Ohio law became designated as a city once its...
; they have five children. Gabrielle Reynolds was appointed by President Bush in 2004 to serve on the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.