August Anheuser Busch Sr.
| August Anheuser Busch Sr. | |
|---|---|
 August A. Busch in 1925 | |
| Born |
December 29, 1865 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. |
| Died |
February 10, 1934 (aged 68) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. |
| Occupation | Brewing |
| Spouse(s) | Alice Edna Zisemann |
| Children |
Adolphus Busch III Marie Busch Alice Busch Clara Hazel Busch Orthwein August A. "Gussie" Busch Jr. |
| Parent(s) | Lily (Anheuser) and Adolphus Busch |
August Anheuser Busch Sr. (December 29, 1865 – February 10, 1934) was an American brewing magnate who served as the President and CEO of Anheuser-Busch, based in Saint Louis, Missouri, from 1913 to 1934. It became the world's largest brewery in 1957 under direction of his son August A. "Gussie" Busch Jr.[1]
Early life
August Anheuser Busch was born on December 29, 1865 in St. Louis, Missouri. His father, Adolphus Busch, was the German-born founder of Anheuser-Busch. His mother, Lilly Eberhard Anheuser, was the third daughter of brewer Eberhard Anheuser, who owned the Aneuser Brewery.[2] He had eight brothers and five sisters.[2]
Career
Busch became President of Anheuser-Busch in 1913, shortly after his father's death. Under his leadership, the company survived World War I, Prohibition and the Great Depression by innovating and diversifying. The company delved into the production of corn products, baker’s yeast, ice cream, soft drinks and commercial refrigeration units to stay afloat during Prohibition. After Prohibition ended in 1933, many of these operations were discontinued.
Personal life
Busch married Alice Ziesemann on May 8, 1890. Their children were Adolphus III, Marie, Clara, August Jr., and Alice Busch. The Busches were among prominent families who participated in the Veiled Prophet Ball, and in 1922 Alice Busch was selected as that year's Queen of Love and Beauty.[3]
Both sons joined the family business. The oldest son Adolphus Busch III became President and CEO of Anheuser-Busch. After his death in 1946, August Jr. became CEO, building the company as the largest brewery in the world.[1]
Death and legacy
In his later life Busch suffered from heart disease, dropsy, and gout. After being severely ill for several months, he committed suicide at the age of 68 with a gunshot to the abdomen on February 10, 1934 at the Busch Mansion at Grant's Farm.[4] He was buried in Sunset Memorial Park in St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1947, his widow Alice Busch donated $70,000 to help with the purchase of the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area, as a memorial to her husband.[5]
See also
- Adolph Coors, brewer in Colorado
References
- 1 2 Holian, Timothy J. "Adolphus Busch", In Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present, vol. 3, edited by Giles R. Hoyt. German Historical Institute. Last modified August 09, 2013
- 1 2 "Adolphus Busch Dies in Prussia" (pdf). New York Times. October 11, 1913. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
- ↑ Spencer, Thomas M. The St. Louis Veiled Prophet Celebration: Power on Parade, 1877–1995, U-MO Press, 2000
- ↑ Todd C. Frankel, "For Busch family, woman's death is latest in tragic history" , St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 26 December 2010, accessed 1 July 2015
- ↑ "August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
External links
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