Robert Holding

Robert Holding
Born Robert Earl Holding
(1926-11-29)November 29, 1926
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Died April 19, 2013(2013-04-19) (aged 86)
Salt Lake City, Utah
Cause of death Cardiovascular disease
Nationality American
Alma mater University of Utah
Occupation Hotelier
Net worth $2.6 billion (2010)
Religion LDS Church
Spouse(s) Carol Orme Holding (married 1952–2013, his death)
Children

Three children, including:

Stephen Holding

Robert Earl Holding (November 29, 1926 – April 19, 2013)[1] was an American businessman who owned Sinclair Oil Corporation, the Little America Hotels, the Grand America Hotel, the Westgate Hotel in San Diego, California (directed by Georg Hochfilzer), and two ski resorts, Sun Valley in central Idaho since 1977,[2] and Snowbasin near Ogden, Utah, since 1984.[1][3]

Holding, affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), was born and reared in Salt Lake City, Utah, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Utah. His parents were apartment caretakers.[4]

In 1952, Holding began work on the first Little America west of Rock Springs, Wyoming. In 1965, Holding and his wife, the former Carol Orme, started the Little America in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and completed construction a year later. For a time they resided in a house on the grounds of this Little America. His son, Stephen, also lived there when he managed the travel plaza. In 2008, the Holdings added a large convention and conference center at Little America.[5]

Holding owned 400,000 acres (1,600 km2) of working cattle ranch land in northern Wyoming and southern Montana.

With an estimated current net worth of around $2.6 billion, the time of his death he was ranked on Forbes's Forbes 400 list as the 155th-richest person in America.

After suffering a severe stroke in 2002, Holding was partially paralyzed, but made sufficient recovery and to continue the management of his organization until his death in the spring of 2013.[6][7]

On his death Governor Matt Mead of Wyoming said:

The passing of Earl Holding is a sad day for Wyoming. He and his wife, Carol, have lived the story of the American dream. Their accomplishments growing up during the Depression, excelling in business, and giving back to the state and the country epitomize that story. Earl was not only an icon in business, he was an extraordinary philanthropist. His is a great American success story, because, for him, the two—business achievement and giving back—were inseparable.[5]

Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen said that he could not "imagine what Cheyenne might be like if we didn't have the Little America resort. The things that we don't see are the guidance that he provided as a human being, as a businessperson, [and] his relationships with many people in Cheyenne over the many decades. He treated people just like they were longtime friends. He leaves quite a legacy."[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Slough, Andrew (2000). "Earl Holding: The Complete Interview". SKI magazine. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ Johnson, William Oscar (November 14, 1977). "Earl Has Bought A Pearl". Sports Illustrated: 93.
  3. ↑ Slough, Andrew (November 2000). "Earl Holding Speaks". SKI magazine. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  4. ↑ Boulton, Guy (February 23, 2000). "Earl Holding: Maverick entrepreneur has made a fortune through hard work and patience". Idaho Mountain Express. (from Salt Lake Tribune). Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 Orr, Becky. "Little American founder contributed much to city". Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Utah businessman, Sinclair Oil owner, dies". ksl.com. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  7. ↑ "Robert Earl Holding, Wide-Ranging Entrepreneur, Dies at 86". The New York Times. April 22, 2013 (online). Retrieved April 23, 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)

Further reading

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