Rodman Wanamaker
Rodman Wanamaker | |
|---|---|
Wanamaker in 1927 | |
| Born | Lewis Rodman Wanamaker February 13, 1863 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | March 9, 1928 (aged 65) |
| Education | Princeton University (AB) |
| Spouse(s) | Fernanda Antonia Henry (1863–1900) m. 1886 Violet Douglas Marie Cruger (1883–1944) m. 1909 div. 1923 |
| Children | Fernanda (1887–1958) John Nelson (1890–1934) Marie Louise (1895–1955) |
| Parent(s) | John Wanamaker Mary Erringer Brown |
| Relatives | Mary Brown Wanamaker (sister) Barclay Harding Warburton I (brother-in-law) |
Lewis Rodman Wanamaker (February 13, 1863 – March 9, 1928) was an American businessman and heir to the Wanamaker's department store fortune. In addition to operating stores in Philadelphia, New York City, and Paris, he was a patron of the arts, education, golf, athletics, a scholar of Native American life, and a student of early aviation.
In 1916, he served as a presidential elector for Pennsylvania, and was appointed Special Deputy Police Commissioner of New York City under Richard Enright in February 1918. In this capacity, he founded the world's first police aviation unit and oversaw reorganization of the New York City Reserve Police Force. In 1916, Wanamaker originated the proposal for the Professional Golfers' Association of America.