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'''Norman Braman''' (born August 23, 1932) is an American [[billionaire]] auto dealer, and former owner of the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] |
'''Norman Braman''' (born August 23, 1932) is an American [[billionaire]] auto dealer, and former owner of the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. |
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==Early life and education== |
==Early life and education== |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Braman began his career in sales and marketing at Seagram's Distributors in 1955. A few years later he took an executive position at Bargaintown U.S.A. which he eventually acquired and turned into Keystone Stores, a chain of self-service variety stores in the Philadelphia area. In the mid-1960s he spearheaded the merger between his Keystone Stores business and Philadelphia Laboratories to create Philadelphia Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics. Braman was appointed president and CEO of the new company. Acquisitions under his tenure at the company included Vitamix Pharmaceuticals, F.A. Martin and Company, and U.S. Cocoa Corporation. Braman stepped down from his position at Philadelphia Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics in 1969 to pursue other interests.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitaldealer.com/interview-with-norman-braman-owner-of-braman-enterprises |title=Interview with Norman Braman – Owner of Braman Enterprises|publisher=Emerald Expositions|date=April 3, 2014|accessdate=May 31, 2018}}</ref> |
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{{copypaste|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yV7lvstPuqgC&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=Philadelphia+Pharmaceuticals+and+Cosmetics&source=bl&ots=AZdjPV2iPL&sig=OJDEsi5LMfVXfgdohRZJFDXarNo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwisu4WwqaPYAhXG5yYKHRGCCNYQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=Philadelphia%20Pharmaceuticals%20and%20Cosmetics&f=false|date=December 2017}} |
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He began his career in 1955 in the marketing and sales department for Seagram's Distributors.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} In 1957, he founded Keystone Stores, a chain of self-service department stores, in Philadelphia.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} In 1964, he organized Philadelphia Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, a manufacturer of pharmaceuticals and was President and Chief Executive Officer.<ref name="tee05">{{cite book|last1=Didinger|first1=Ray|title=The Eagles Encyclopedia|date=2005|publisher=Temple University Press|isbn=9781592134540|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yV7lvstPuqgC&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=Philadelphia+Pharmaceuticals+and+Cosmetics&source=bl&ots=AZdjPV2iPL&sig=OJDEsi5LMfVXfgdohRZJFDXarNo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwisu4WwqaPYAhXG5yYKHRGCCNYQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=Philadelphia%20Pharmaceuticals%20and%20Cosmetics&f=false|accessdate=24 December 2017}}</ref> |
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===Automotive=== |
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In 1972, |
In 1972, Braman acquired controlling interest of Sharpe-Taylor Cadillac in [[Tampa, Florida]]. In 1975, Braman acquired his next dealership, the former Nolan Brown Cadillac in [[Miami, Florida]]. The following year, Braman took on his first import brands with the acquisition of BMW and Rolls-Royce dealership C.R. Berry, Inc. He moved both franchises next to his Miami Cadillac dealership and renamed the business Braman Motors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitaldealer.com/interview-with-norman-braman-owner-of-braman-enterprises |title=Interview with Norman Braman – Owner of Braman Enterprises|publisher=Emerald Expositions|date=April 3, 2014|accessdate=May 31, 2018}}</ref> Braman's automotive empire continued to grow from there and today he is CEO of Braman Enterprises, an umbrella company for his automotive businesses that include more than 20 car dealerships in [[Florida]] and [[Colorado]] selling [[Acura]], [[Audi]], [[Bentley]], [[BMW]], [[Bugatti]], [[Cadillac]], [[Genesis Motors|Genesis]], [[Honda]], [[Hyundai]], [[Kia Motors|Kia]], [[Mercedes-Benz]], [[Mini (marque)|MINI]], [[Porsche]] and [[Rolls-Royce Motor Cars|Rolls-Royce]].<ref name="bizjournals">{{cite news|author=Kevin Gale|title=JM Family Enterprises, Southern Wine & Spirits lead the list|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2004/08/02/focus1.html|work=South Florida Business Journal|date=August 2, 2004|accessdate=March 10, 2008}}</ref> |
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In addition to his retail automotive businesses, Braman had majority ownership of Austin Rover Cars of North America (ARCONA), the distributorship for [[Sterling (marque)|Sterling]] automobiles imported to the United States starting in 1987. The company's name was changed to Sterling Motor Cars in 1989 and closed in 1991 after sales of the [[Rover 800 Series|Rover 800]]-based Sterling 825/827 models failed to meet expectations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2014/03/17/lost-cars-of-the-1980s-sterling-825-and-827/|title=Lost Cars of the 1980s – Sterling 825 and 827|publisher=American City Business Journals|date=March 17, 2014|accessdate=May 31, 2018}}</ref> |
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In 1982, he led a successful campaign against a city sales tax that would have renovated the [[Miami Orange Bowl]] for [[Miami Dolphins|Dolphins]] owner [[Joe Robbie]]. From 1985 to 1994, he owned the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] football team, having purchased it from [[Leonard Tose]].{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} During Braman's time as owner, the Eagles were [[National Football League|NFL]] [[NFC East|NFC Eastern Division]] champion in 1988 and won at least 10 games for five straight years through 1993.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} |
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===Sports=== |
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Braman served on the Board of Governors of various institutions.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} In 1999, he helped defeat then-County Mayor [[Alex Penelas]] campaign for a one-cent sales tax that could have generated billions of dollars to spend on mass transit, while potentially hurting automobile sales.<ref>http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/391275.html</ref> |
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Braman and his brother-in-law, Ed Leibowitz, became owners of the Philadelphia Eagles in April 1985 having acquired them from [[Leonard Tose]] for a reported $65 million. Initially, Braman owned 65% of the team while Leibowitz owned 35%. In July 1986, Braman bought out Leibowitz’s interest. In 1994, Braman agreed to sell the team to a group lead by movie producer [[Jeffrey Lurie]]. The reported selling price was $185 million, a record for a sports team franchise at that time. |
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He recently filed a lawsuit against the [[Florida Marlins]] and others over their plans to build a [[Marlins Park|new ballpark]]{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}. In all seven arguments however, Circuit Judge Jeri Beth Cohen ruled in favor of the Marlins and [[Miami-Dade County]], allowing construction to proceed.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} Braman however says that he is ready to fight his case as far as the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]].{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} |
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==Politics== |
==Politics== |
Revision as of 23:39, 30 May 2018
Norman Braman | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | United States |
Known for | Owner of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1985–1994 |
Spouse | Irma Miller |
Children | Debra Wechsler Suzi Lustgarten |
Norman Braman (born August 23, 1932) is an American billionaire auto dealer, and former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Early life and education
Braman was born in 1932 in West Chester, Pennsylvania,[2] and grew up in the Cobbs Creek section of Philadelphia, where his father owned a barbershop. Braman's parents were both Jews who emigrated from Europe. His Romanian-born mother was a seamstress and his Polish father a barber.[3] Braman was a water boy in his teenage years at the Eagles training camp, which was then in West Chester.[citation needed] During the season, he would sneak into Shibe Park to watch the team play.[4][5] Braman attended West Philadelphia High School and graduated from Temple University in 1955 with a degree in business administration.[6]
Career
Braman began his career in sales and marketing at Seagram's Distributors in 1955. A few years later he took an executive position at Bargaintown U.S.A. which he eventually acquired and turned into Keystone Stores, a chain of self-service variety stores in the Philadelphia area. In the mid-1960s he spearheaded the merger between his Keystone Stores business and Philadelphia Laboratories to create Philadelphia Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics. Braman was appointed president and CEO of the new company. Acquisitions under his tenure at the company included Vitamix Pharmaceuticals, F.A. Martin and Company, and U.S. Cocoa Corporation. Braman stepped down from his position at Philadelphia Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics in 1969 to pursue other interests.[7]
Automotive
In 1972, Braman acquired controlling interest of Sharpe-Taylor Cadillac in Tampa, Florida. In 1975, Braman acquired his next dealership, the former Nolan Brown Cadillac in Miami, Florida. The following year, Braman took on his first import brands with the acquisition of BMW and Rolls-Royce dealership C.R. Berry, Inc. He moved both franchises next to his Miami Cadillac dealership and renamed the business Braman Motors.[8] Braman's automotive empire continued to grow from there and today he is CEO of Braman Enterprises, an umbrella company for his automotive businesses that include more than 20 car dealerships in Florida and Colorado selling Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Cadillac, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Porsche and Rolls-Royce.[9]
In addition to his retail automotive businesses, Braman had majority ownership of Austin Rover Cars of North America (ARCONA), the distributorship for Sterling automobiles imported to the United States starting in 1987. The company's name was changed to Sterling Motor Cars in 1989 and closed in 1991 after sales of the Rover 800-based Sterling 825/827 models failed to meet expectations.[10]
Sports
Braman and his brother-in-law, Ed Leibowitz, became owners of the Philadelphia Eagles in April 1985 having acquired them from Leonard Tose for a reported $65 million. Initially, Braman owned 65% of the team while Leibowitz owned 35%. In July 1986, Braman bought out Leibowitz’s interest. In 1994, Braman agreed to sell the team to a group lead by movie producer Jeffrey Lurie. The reported selling price was $185 million, a record for a sports team franchise at that time.
Politics
He financially supported a recall election against Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez because of a huge property tax increase and pay hikes to Alvarez's top staffers.[citation needed] On March 15, 2011 close to 90% of those that turned out to vote that day in Miami-Dade County, voted to recall the mayor. It is believed to be one of the most lopsided recall elections in the history of American elections.[11]
Braman is a supporter of Marco Rubio,[12] and was considering spending anywhere between US$10 million to US$25 million in support of his 2016 presidential campaign.[13] According to the acknowledgements in his autobiography, Rubio has thanked Braman for being a supporter, and Braman has employed at one time or another Marco Rubio's wife,[14] Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio, at Braman Family Charitable Foundation.[15]
Personal life
Braman is married to Irma Miller.[16] They have two daughters:[17] Debra Wechsler and Suzi Lustgarten.[18]
References
- ^ "Forbes profile: Norman Braman". Forbes. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- ^ The American Presidency Project, Nomination of Norman Braman To Be Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization September 28, 1981
- ^ Gus Garcia Roberts (December 18, 2008). "Bet on Norman Braman". The Miami New Times. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- ^ Forbes, Gordan (September 15, 2006). Tales from the Eagles Sideline. Sports Publishing. p. 147. ISBN 9781596701533.
- ^ John Steinbreder (September 13, 1993). "The Owners". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
- ^ Peter Mucha (September 23, 2010). "'Richest Americans' list includes 4 from Philly". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
- ^ "Interview with Norman Braman – Owner of Braman Enterprises". Emerald Expositions. April 3, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
- ^ "Interview with Norman Braman – Owner of Braman Enterprises". Emerald Expositions. April 3, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
- ^ Kevin Gale (August 2, 2004). "JM Family Enterprises, Southern Wine & Spirits lead the list". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
- ^ "Lost Cars of the 1980s – Sterling 825 and 827". American City Business Journals. March 17, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
- ^ Haggman, Matthew (15 May 2011). "9 of 10 say 'yes' to ousting Alvare". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
{{cite news}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Michael Barbaro and Steve Eder (May 9, 2015). "Billionaire Lifts Marco Rubio, Politically and Personally". The New York Times. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
- ^ "Marco Rubio's secret weapon". Politico. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/meet-marco-rubios-wife-jeanette-dousdebes-shares-surprising/story?id=30306521
- ^ "Reading Of Marco Rubio's Biography". kenfields.net. Archived from the original on 2015-12-11.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Lebanon Daily News: "Sophie Miller Obituary" on December 6, 2009
- ^ The Florida House of Representatives House Resolution 9123 – A resolution honoring Norman Braman for his philanthropy on behalf of the people of the State of Florida | 2008
- ^ The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation: A New Center of Excellence – The Suzi and Scott Lustgarten Center for GI Motility retrieved March 24, 2013
External links
- Norman Braman: Eagles Owner Los Angeles Times