O. Roy Chalk
Encyclopedia
Oscar Roy Chalk was a New York
entrepreneur who owned real estate, airlines, bus companies, newspapers and a rail line that hauled bananas in Central America. His diverse holdings included DC Transit, Trans Caribbean Airways
, the Houdon bust of Thomas Jefferson
now at Monticello
, the Chalk Emerald
, and the New York Spanish-language newspapers El Diario de Nueva York and La Prensa, merging them into El Diario La Prensa
.
and emigrated to the United States at age three. He grew up in the Bronx where his neighbors included Ira
and George Gershwin
and Lou Gehrig
.
He graduated from New York University
and its law school. He learned the real estate business and bought several apartment buildings.
s. It was through the airline that in the mid 1960's he eventually purchased the 800-mile rail line, International Railways of Central America, that transported bananas in Central America. He later purchased a banana plantation which he owned for a time. Chalk sold his airline to American Airlines
on March 3, 1971, in exchange for stock and became the single largest shareholder.
He purchased the Washington, D.C.
transit system on August 15, 1956, for $13.5 million, renaming it DC Transit , and in 1959 attempted to purchase New York City
's transit system, but city officials rejected the offer after weeks of serious consideration.
Chalk owned the Georgetown Car Barn in Washington, D.C., adjacent to the famous steps where the part of "The Exorcist"
was filmed. The building was a streetcar shop erected in 1895 that supported the Capital Transit Company system which circulated through the District of Columbia. By Public Law 389, enacted by the United States Congress, Chalk was directed to replace all streetcar operations with buses, which was completed on January 28, 1962. On January 14, 1973, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
(WMATA) purchased DC Transit, Inc. and another bus company, WV&M Coach Co., for $38.2 million, ending Chalk's association with District transportation. He retained ownership of the Georgetown Car Barn, however, which had been converted into office space between 1957 and 1960. Chalk owned the building until 1992 when the Minneapolis-based Lutheran Brotherhood
took possession of the property in a foreclosure. Developer Douglas Jemal bought it in May 1997.
Chalk owned El Diario-La Prensa until the New York-based Spanish daily was sold to the Gannett Company
in 1981.
Chalk helped the newly formed Russia draft its first constitution after splitting from the USSR. Chalk's work consisted in analyzing early drafts of the United States constitution and noting the changes from draft to draft for the newly formed Russian republic constitution committee.
Chalk was a founder of the American-Korean Foundation and as a result the South Korean Government
gave him its National Medal of Honor.
The 1789 plaster bust of Thomas Jefferson by Jean-Antoine Houdon
now displayed at Monticello
was owned for many years by Chalk. That image appeared on the U.S. nickel beginning in 1938. The bust set a world auction record for a pre-20th-century sculpture when it was sold by Christie's
in New York on May 29, 1987.
In 1970, Chalk donated several former DC Transit streetcars to the National Capital Trolley Museum
in Colesville, Maryland
.
Chalk donated the famous 37.82-caret "Chalk Emerald
" ring to the Smithsonian Institution
's National Museum of Natural History
in 1972. It is prominently displayed next to the "Hope Diamond
" in the museum's Washington Mall building.
Chalk was chairman of the United Nations
finance committee for several years and was a prominent fund raiser for the Democratic Party in the 1960s. He also helped raise money for the United Negro College Fund
and served on the Georgetown University
Board of Regents.
He died from cancer in a New York hospital at the age of 88.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
entrepreneur who owned real estate, airlines, bus companies, newspapers and a rail line that hauled bananas in Central America. His diverse holdings included DC Transit, Trans Caribbean Airways
Trans Caribbean Airways
Trans Caribbean Airways is a former airline owned by O. Roy Chalk. Its hub was San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1945, it was acquired by American Airlines in 1971. Its headquarters was located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City....
, the Houdon bust of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
now at Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
, the Chalk Emerald
Chalk Emerald
The Chalk Emerald is a Colombian emerald.The royal rulers of Baroda State, a princely state in India, once owned the emerald. It was the centerpiece of an emerald and diamond necklace worn by the Maharani Saheba, who passed it down to her son, the Maharajah Cooch Behar.In the 20th century, the...
, and the New York Spanish-language newspapers El Diario de Nueva York and La Prensa, merging them into El Diario La Prensa
El Diario La Prensa
El Diario la Prensa is the largest and oldest Spanish-language daily newspaper in New York City, and the oldest Spanish-language daily in the United States. Published by ImpreMedia, the paper covers local, national and international news with an emphasis on Latin America, as well as human-interest...
.
Early life
Chalk was born in London, EnglandLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and emigrated to the United States at age three. He grew up in the Bronx where his neighbors included Ira
Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century....
and George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
and Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
.
He graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and its law school. He learned the real estate business and bought several apartment buildings.
Business career
He started Trans Caribbean Airlines in 1945 for $60,000, with two DC-4Douglas DC-4
The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s in a military role...
s. It was through the airline that in the mid 1960's he eventually purchased the 800-mile rail line, International Railways of Central America, that transported bananas in Central America. He later purchased a banana plantation which he owned for a time. Chalk sold his airline to American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
on March 3, 1971, in exchange for stock and became the single largest shareholder.
He purchased the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
transit system on August 15, 1956, for $13.5 million, renaming it DC Transit , and in 1959 attempted to purchase New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's transit system, but city officials rejected the offer after weeks of serious consideration.
Chalk owned the Georgetown Car Barn in Washington, D.C., adjacent to the famous steps where the part of "The Exorcist"
The Exorcist (film)
The Exorcist is a 1973 American horror film directed by William Friedkin, adapted from the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty and based on the exorcism case of Robbie Mannheim, dealing with the demonic possession of a young girl and her mother’s desperate attempts to win back her...
was filmed. The building was a streetcar shop erected in 1895 that supported the Capital Transit Company system which circulated through the District of Columbia. By Public Law 389, enacted by the United States Congress, Chalk was directed to replace all streetcar operations with buses, which was completed on January 28, 1962. On January 14, 1973, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is a tri-jurisdictional government agency that operates transit service in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess...
(WMATA) purchased DC Transit, Inc. and another bus company, WV&M Coach Co., for $38.2 million, ending Chalk's association with District transportation. He retained ownership of the Georgetown Car Barn, however, which had been converted into office space between 1957 and 1960. Chalk owned the building until 1992 when the Minneapolis-based Lutheran Brotherhood
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a Fortune 500 financial services organization with dual corporate headquarters based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Appleton, Wisconsin...
took possession of the property in a foreclosure. Developer Douglas Jemal bought it in May 1997.
Chalk owned El Diario-La Prensa until the New York-based Spanish daily was sold to the Gannett Company
Gannett Company
Gannett Company, Inc. is a publicly-traded media holding company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, United States, near McLean. It is the largest U.S. newspaper publisher as measured by total daily circulation. Its assets include the national newspaper USA Today and the weekly USA Weekend...
in 1981.
Chalk helped the newly formed Russia draft its first constitution after splitting from the USSR. Chalk's work consisted in analyzing early drafts of the United States constitution and noting the changes from draft to draft for the newly formed Russian republic constitution committee.
Chalk was a founder of the American-Korean Foundation and as a result the South Korean Government
Government of South Korea
The Government of South Korea is divided into executive, judicial, and legislative branches. The executive and judicial branches operate primarily at the national level, although various ministries in the executive branch also carry out local functions. Local governments are semi-autonomous, and...
gave him its National Medal of Honor.
The 1789 plaster bust of Thomas Jefferson by Jean-Antoine Houdon
Jean-Antoine Houdon
Jean-Antoine Houdon was a French neoclassical sculptor. Houdon is famous for his portrait busts and statues of philosophers, inventors and political figures of the Enlightenment...
now displayed at Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
was owned for many years by Chalk. That image appeared on the U.S. nickel beginning in 1938. The bust set a world auction record for a pre-20th-century sculpture when it was sold by Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
in New York on May 29, 1987.
In 1970, Chalk donated several former DC Transit streetcars to the National Capital Trolley Museum
National Capital Trolley Museum
The National Capital Trolley Museum is a non-profit organization that operates historic trolleys for the public on a regular schedule. It is located at 1313 Bonifant Road,Colesville, Maryland USA.-History:...
in Colesville, Maryland
Colesville, Maryland
Colesville is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland in the USA.-Geography:As an unincorporated area, Colesville's boundaries are not officially defined. Also, many residents consider the town to be one of the many neighborhoods of Silver Spring, Maryland...
.
Chalk donated the famous 37.82-caret "Chalk Emerald
Chalk Emerald
The Chalk Emerald is a Colombian emerald.The royal rulers of Baroda State, a princely state in India, once owned the emerald. It was the centerpiece of an emerald and diamond necklace worn by the Maharani Saheba, who passed it down to her son, the Maharajah Cooch Behar.In the 20th century, the...
" ring to the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year....
in 1972. It is prominently displayed next to the "Hope Diamond
Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond, also known as "Le bleu de France" or "Le Bijou du Roi", is a large, , deep-blue diamond, now housed in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. It is blue to the naked eye because of trace amounts of boron within its crystal structure, but exhibits red...
" in the museum's Washington Mall building.
Chalk was chairman of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
finance committee for several years and was a prominent fund raiser for the Democratic Party in the 1960s. He also helped raise money for the United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund
The United Negro College Fund is an American philanthropic organization that fundraises college tuition money for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944 by Frederick D. Patterson , Mary...
and served on the Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
Board of Regents.
He died from cancer in a New York hospital at the age of 88.
External links
- "The World of Roy Chalk", TIME, June 8, 1962
- "More Than Chalk Talk", TIME, April 27, 1959
- "Mating Season", TIME, February 2, 1970
- O. Roy Chalk New York Times Obituary
- "Chalk Emerald owner dies at 95", obituary of Mrs. O. Roy Chalk in the Palm Beach Daily NewsPalm Beach Daily NewsThe Palm Beach Daily News is a daily newspaper in Florida, serving the town of Palm Beach in Palm Beach County in South Florida. It is also known as "The Shiny Sheet" because of its heavy, slick newsprint stock. It was founded in 1897 as the Lake Worth Daily News, and it covers the social affairs...
- http://americanhistory.si.edu/ONTHEMOVE/collection/object_2.html