William Horlick
Encyclopedia
William Horlick, Sr. was an English-born food manufacturer and the original patent holder of malted milk
. He emigrated to the U.S.
in 1869, settling in Racine
, Wisconsin
, where he started a food company with his brother, James. Horlick was a well-known philanthropist in the Racine area. He died September 25, 1936 at the age of ninety. He was also a major sponsor of the Racine Legion, who played in the National Football League
from 1922 until 1924.
to begin a food manufacturing business with his brother, James. This was the genesis of the Horlick Food Company
, which the two founded in 1875, and moved to Racine in 1876. At around the same time, William began working on creating a dried milk product. This work culminated with a U.S. patent in 1883 and a product that was originally called "Diastoid," but was later trademarked as "malted milk" in 1887.
The company continued to expand, with new branches opening in New York City
in 1889 and in England
in 1890. New manufacturing plants were also opened in Racine in 1902 and 1905. William served as the company's treasurer until his brother's death in 1921, at which time he became company president, holding that position until his death in 1936.
, a maternity wing at St. Luke’s Hospital (in memory of his daughter Alice), Island Park, Horlick Athletic Field, and the land for the high school named in his honor (William Horlick High School
).
Horlick also supported several polar expeditions, including one to the Antarctic by Richard Bird
and another to the North Pole
by Roald Amundsen
. Horlick not only supported the expeditions financially, but his malted milk product also provided a non-perishable source of nutrition to the explorers. Because of his contributions, Byrd named the Horlick Mountains
in Antarctica after William Horlick.
Holick covered the debts incurred for operating the Racine Legion. He also gave free use of his athletic field to both the Horlick-Racine Legion and Racine Tornadoes Football teams. He spent large sums of money to convert Horlick Athletic Field to be accommodate professional football. He also spent over $100,000 for these expenses covering three 1920's seasons.
Malted milk
Malted milk is a powdered food product made from a mixture of malted barley, wheat flour, and whole milk, which is evaporated until it forms a powder....
. He emigrated to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1869, settling in Racine
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, where he started a food company with his brother, James. Horlick was a well-known philanthropist in the Racine area. He died September 25, 1936 at the age of ninety. He was also a major sponsor of the Racine Legion, who played in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
from 1922 until 1924.
Malted milk
After immigrating to the U.S. in 1869, William settled in Racine. In 1872, he moved to ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to begin a food manufacturing business with his brother, James. This was the genesis of the Horlick Food Company
Horlicks
Horlicks is the name of a company and of a malted milk hot drink. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline in the United Kingdom, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Jamaica, and under licence in the Philippines and Malaysia....
, which the two founded in 1875, and moved to Racine in 1876. At around the same time, William began working on creating a dried milk product. This work culminated with a U.S. patent in 1883 and a product that was originally called "Diastoid," but was later trademarked as "malted milk" in 1887.
The company continued to expand, with new branches opening 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...
in 1889 and in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1890. New manufacturing plants were also opened in Racine in 1902 and 1905. William served as the company's treasurer until his brother's death in 1921, at which time he became company president, holding that position until his death in 1936.
Philanthropy
Horlick was a prominent philanthropist, especially in the Racine area. Gifts in Racine include Memorial HallMemorial Hall (Racine, Wisconsin)
Memorial Hall is a convention and meeting hall located in downtown Racine, Wisconsin. It is operated by the Racine Civic Center. It was given to the city as a gift by William Horlick, the original patent holder of malted milk. The hall has played host to Barack Obama, John McCain, and others....
, a maternity wing at St. Luke’s Hospital (in memory of his daughter Alice), Island Park, Horlick Athletic Field, and the land for the high school named in his honor (William Horlick High School
William Horlick High School
William Horlick High School is a comprehensive public four-year high school in Racine, Wisconsin with an enrollment of approximately 2,200 students. The school opened to students in 1928, after William Horlick, the original patent holder for malted milk, donated the land the school was built on...
).
Horlick also supported several polar expeditions, including one to the Antarctic by Richard Bird
Richard Evelyn Byrd
Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, Jr., USN was a naval officer who specialized in feats of exploration. He was a pioneering American aviator, polar explorer, and organizer of polar logistics...
and another to the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
by Roald Amundsen
Roald Amundsen
Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He led the first Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole between 1910 and 1912 and he was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. He is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage....
. Horlick not only supported the expeditions financially, but his malted milk product also provided a non-perishable source of nutrition to the explorers. Because of his contributions, Byrd named the Horlick Mountains
Horlick Mountains
The Horlick Mountains are a mountain range in the Transantarctic Mountains of Antarctica, lying eastward of Reedy Glacier and including the Wisconsin Range, Long Hills and Ohio Range....
in Antarctica after William Horlick.
Pro Football
In 1919, Holick sponsored the what was then called the "Horlick-Racine Legion". The team was sponsored by him and the American Legion Racine Post no. 76.American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
Holick covered the debts incurred for operating the Racine Legion. He also gave free use of his athletic field to both the Horlick-Racine Legion and Racine Tornadoes Football teams. He spent large sums of money to convert Horlick Athletic Field to be accommodate professional football. He also spent over $100,000 for these expenses covering three 1920's seasons.