Robert L. Stone
Encyclopedia
Robert L. Stone was an American
business executive who served as chief executive officer of The Hertz Corporation
and ran the television division at Columbia Pictures
.
Born in New York City
on December 19, 1921, Stone served in the United States Army Air Forces
during World War II
, where he enlisted in 1942. As a bombardier
, he flew 40 combat missions in the Pacific and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
and the Air Medal
.
Stone was hired by a management consulting firm in 1946, after leaving his military service. In 1951, he was hired by the American Broadcasting Company
, where he ultimately was named as vice president and general manager of WABC-TV
, the network's flagship station in New York City. He was hired by the National Broadcasting Company
in 1959, where he became general manager of the television network and president of the NBC radio network
.
The RCA Corporation
named him to serve as chairman and chief executive of Hertz in 1972, moving him over NBC, which was also owned by RCA at the time. In his tenure at Hertz, he grew the company's revenues from $21 million to $200 million by the time he left the firm in 1978. Stone was behind the decision to make O. J. Simpson
the feature of the company's television and print advertising, in a series of well-known television commercials, including one in which he leapt over rows of seats in an airport, running through an airport terminal trying to get to his Hertz rental car, while a woman yelled, "Go O.J. Go!". Stone had been looking for a celebrity spokesman who would be a change from those who just talked at the camera. Many of the commercials in what started as a $12.6 million advertising campaign were run initially during telecasts of football games, with the slogan "The Superstar in Rent-A-Car".
Columbia Pictures
hired him in 1978 as its chief operating officer, overseeing the studio's television division until his retirement in 1983.
Stone died at age 87 on January 28, 2009 at his winter home in Boca Grande, Florida
due to heart failure. He married his second wife, the former Sheila Muldowny Bartle, in May 1968. In addition to his second wife, he was survived by his four children, two stepchildren and six grandchildren. Stone's first wife, Mary Elizabeth Lee, had died in 1966.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
business executive who served as chief executive officer of The Hertz Corporation
The Hertz Corporation
Hertz Global Holdings Inc is an American car rental company with international locations in 145 countries worldwide.-Early years:The company was founded by Walter L. Jacobs in 1918, who started a car rental operation in Chicago with a dozen Model T Ford cars. In 1923, Jacobs sold it to John D...
and ran the television division at Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
.
Born in 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...
on December 19, 1921, Stone served in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where he enlisted in 1942. As a bombardier
Bombardier (air force)
A bombardier , in the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force, or a bomb aimer, in the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces, was the crewman of a bomber responsible for assisting the navigator in guiding the plane to a bombing target and releasing the aircraft's bomb...
, he flew 40 combat missions in the Pacific and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
and the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
.
Stone was hired by a management consulting firm in 1946, after leaving his military service. In 1951, he was hired by the American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, where he ultimately was named as vice president and general manager of WABC-TV
WABC-TV
WABC-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of the Disney-owned American Broadcasting Company located in New York City. The station's studios and offices are located on the Upper West Side section of Manhattan, adjacent to ABC's corporate headquarters, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State...
, the network's flagship station in New York City. He was hired by the National Broadcasting Company
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in 1959, where he became general manager of the television network and president of the NBC radio network
NBC Red Network
The NBC Red Network was one of the two original radio networks of the National Broadcasting Company. After NBC was required to divest itself of its Blue Network , the Red Network continued as the NBC Radio Network.It, along with the Blue Network, were the first two commercial radio networks in the...
.
The RCA Corporation
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
named him to serve as chairman and chief executive of Hertz in 1972, moving him over NBC, which was also owned by RCA at the time. In his tenure at Hertz, he grew the company's revenues from $21 million to $200 million by the time he left the firm in 1978. Stone was behind the decision to make O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
the feature of the company's television and print advertising, in a series of well-known television commercials, including one in which he leapt over rows of seats in an airport, running through an airport terminal trying to get to his Hertz rental car, while a woman yelled, "Go O.J. Go!". Stone had been looking for a celebrity spokesman who would be a change from those who just talked at the camera. Many of the commercials in what started as a $12.6 million advertising campaign were run initially during telecasts of football games, with the slogan "The Superstar in Rent-A-Car".
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
hired him in 1978 as its chief operating officer, overseeing the studio's television division until his retirement in 1983.
Stone died at age 87 on January 28, 2009 at his winter home in Boca Grande, Florida
Boca Grande, Florida
Boca Grande is a small residential community on Gasparilla Island, in southwest Florida. Gasparilla Island is a part of both Charlotte and Lee Counties, while the actual village of Boca Grande, which is home to many seasonal and some year-round residents, is entirely in the Lee County portion of...
due to heart failure. He married his second wife, the former Sheila Muldowny Bartle, in May 1968. In addition to his second wife, he was survived by his four children, two stepchildren and six grandchildren. Stone's first wife, Mary Elizabeth Lee, had died in 1966.