Elmer Nordstrom
| Elmer Nordstrom | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Elmer J. Nordstrom November 23, 1904 |
| Died |
April 4, 1993 Seattle, US |
| Residence | Seattle, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Occupation | Co-president of Nordstrom |
| Spouse(s) | Katharine (Kitty) Nordstrom |
| Children |
James Nordstrom John Nordstrom |
| Parent(s) |
John W. Nordstrom Hilda Carlson |
| Relatives |
Everett Nordstrom (brother) Bruce Nordstrom (nephew) Anne Gittinger (niece) |
Elmer J. Nordstrom (November 23, 1904 - April 4, 1993) was an American businessman, co-president of Nordstrom, the department store chain founded by his father, John W. Nordstrom.
Early life
He was born on November 23, 1904,[1] the son of John W. Nordstrom and Hilda Carlson. He graduated from Broadway High School in 1923, followed by the University of Washington in 1923.[2]
Career
In 1928, his father's partnership with Carl Wallin had become strained, so he sold his share in the two shoe stores they owned to his sons, Everett and Elmer. In 1929, Wallin retired 1929 and the sons bought him out, renaming the stores Nordstrom's. In 1933, the third son Lloyd joined.[3] They ran the business as co-presidents.[4]
The three brothers focused on good value and quality, coupled with customer service, and by the 1960s, had the largest independent shoe store chain in the US, and the largest store in the country in downtown Seattle.[3] In 1963, they bought Best Apparel, a Seattle-based women's clothing store, followed by a Portland, Oregon fashion retail store in 1966. They now offered shoes and clothing for all the family under the new name, Nordstrom Best.[3]
In 1968, all three brothers retired, and the next generation took over - Everett's son, Bruce Nordstrom; Elmer's sons, James and John; Lloyd's son-in-law, Jack McMillan, along with family friend Bob Bender.[3]
Personal life
He was married to Katharine "Kitty" Johanson, and they had two sons, James and John Nordstrom.[2]
His father-in-law, Dr. Nils Johanson, founded the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, and Nordstrom joined the hospital board in 1935, and remained on it for over 50 years. He served on the boards of nonprofit organizations including the Pacific Northwest Research Foundation, the Northwest Kidney Foundation and The Arthritis Foundation.[2]
References
- ↑ "ELMER NORDSTROM (1904-1993)". mocavo. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- 1 2 3 Lane, Polly (April 5, 1993). "Family Patriarch Elmer Nordstrom Dead At Age 88". Seattle Times. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 "Nordstrom Department Store". historylink. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ↑ Mulady, Kathy (June 24, 2001). "100 Years of Nordstrom". SeattlePI. Retrieved 12 October 2015.