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{{short description|Nuyorican businessman}}
{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name=Joseph A. Unanue
|name=Joseph A. Unanue
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|death_place=[[Alpine, New Jersey]]
|death_place=[[Alpine, New Jersey]]
|placeofburial=
|placeofburial=
|image=Joseph Unanue, President, Goya.jpg
|image=
|caption=
|caption=Joseph A. Unanue in 1982
|nickname=
|nickname=
|allegiance= [[United States|United States of America]]
|allegiance= [[United States|United States of America]]
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|battles=[[World War II]]<br>* [[Battle of the Bulge]]
|battles=[[World War II]]<br>* [[Battle of the Bulge]]
|awards=[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]]<br>[[World War II Victory Medal]]
|awards=[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]]<br>[[World War II Victory Medal]]
|relations=Don Prudencio Unanue Ortiz, Doña Carolina Casal Unanue - parents<br/>Carmen Ana Casal de Unanue- Spouse
|relations=Prudencio Unanue {{small|(father)}} <br/> Carolina Casal {{small|(mother)}}
|spouse=Carmen Ana Casal
|children=6, including [[Andy Unanue]]
|laterwork=Former president of [[Goya Foods]]
|laterwork=Former president of [[Goya Foods]]
}}
}}


'''Joseph Andrew Unanue''' (March 14, 1925 – June 12, 2013) is a [[Nuyorican]] (a New York-born Puerto Rican) who was the president of [[Goya Foods]], which is the largest [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]–owned food company in the [[United States]], and is owned by the [[Unanue family]].
'''Joseph Andrew Unanue''' (March 14, 1925 – June 12, 2013) was an American-born son of Spanish parents who was the president of [[Goya Foods]], the largest [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]–owned food company in the [[United States]].

After a Catholic upbringing and education in New York, Unanue served in the [[United States Army]] during World War II, and was awarded the [[Bronze star]] for bravery. He subsequently returned to New York and joined the company his father had founded, [[Goya Foods]]. He rose to become president in 1978, a position he held until 2004.

Unanue was made a knight of the [[Order of Malta]] and awarded several honorary doctorates.


==Early years==
==Early years==
Unanue's father, '''[[Prudencio Unanue Ortiz]]''', was born in [[Burgos]], [[Spain]]. He emigrated to [[Puerto Rico]], where he met a young Spanish girl by the name of Carolina Casal, whose parents also had immigrated to Puerto Rico. They were married in the island in 1921 and soon after moved to [[New York City]] and settled in [[Brooklyn]] where Joseph Unanue was born.<ref name="EI">[http://www.neco.org/awards/recipients/josephaunanue.html Ellis Island Medal of Honor] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927191158/http://www.neco.org/awards/recipients/josephaunanue.html |date=2007-09-27 }}</ref><ref name="GF">[http://www.cchcc.net/article053.html Goya Foods President Is Ousted; Son Also Removed in Family Coup] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830184259/http://cchcc.net/article053.html |date=2006-08-30 }}</ref><ref name="LI">[http://academic.shu.edu/latinoinstitute/ Jopeph A. Unanue Latino Institute]</ref><ref name="BBW">[http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=164057&privcapId=164053&previousCapId=164053&previousTitle=Goya%20Foods,%20Inc Bloomburg BusinessWeek]</ref>
Unanue's father, '''[[Prudencio Unanue Ortiz]]''', was born in [[Valle de Mena|Villasana de Mena]],<ref name=":0">{{cite web|author=Unanue, Prudencio |url=http://www.anb.org/articles/10/10-02298-print.html |title=Unanue, Prudencio (1886-1976), founder of Goya Foods, Inc. &#124; American National Biography |publisher=Anb.org |date=1976-03-17 |accessdate=2019-11-10}}</ref> in the [[province of Burgos]], in northern Spain. He emigrated to [[Puerto Rico]], where he met a young Spanish girl by the name of Carolina Casal, whose parents also had immigrated to Puerto Rico from [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]]. They were married in the island in 1921 and soon after moved to [[New York City]] and settled in [[Brooklyn]] where Joseph was born.<ref name="EI">{{cite web |title=Joseph A. Unanue |url=http://www.neco.org/awards/recipients/josephaunanue.html |website=[[Ellis Island Medals of Honor]] |publisher=Ellis Island Honors Society |accessdate=10 July 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927191158/http://www.neco.org/awards/recipients/josephaunanue.html |archivedate=2007-09-27 |date=2003}}</ref><ref name="GF">{{cite news |last1=Morley |first1=Hugh R. |title=Goya Foods President Is Ousted; Son Also Removed in Family Coup |url=http://cchcc.net/article053.html |accessdate=10 July 2020 |work=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]] |agency=via Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce |date=February 12, 2004 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830184259/http://cchcc.net/article053.html |archivedate=August 30, 2006 |location=Bergen County, NJ}}</ref><ref name="LI">{{cite web |title=Our Benefactors |url=https://www.shu.edu/latino-institute/our-benefactors.cfm |website=The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute |publisher=Seton Hall University |accessdate=10 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBW">{{cite web |title=Joseph A Unanue, Chairman, Goya Foods Inc |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/3517516 |website=Profile and Biography |publisher=[[Bloomberg Markets]] |accessdate=10 July 2020}}</ref>


Prudencio Unanue worked as a broker for [[Spain|Spanish]] companies doing business in the [[United States|U.S.]] He soon realized that there was a need for Hispanic products in New York City, and in 1936 he founded [[Goya Foods]], a food distributing company, in [[Manhattan]].<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>
Prudencio Unanue worked as a broker for [[Spain|Spanish]] companies doing business in the [[United States|U.S.]] He soon realized that there was a need for Hispanic products in New York City, and in 1936 he founded [[Goya Foods]], a food distributing company, in [[Manhattan]].<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>


Prudencio Unanue was very serious about his children's education and enrolled them in [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] schools. Joseph attended St. Joseph's Grammar School and later St. Cecilia's High School. Since childhood and when not in school, Unanue and his brothers had to work in the family business. His special job was bottling [[olives]]. In 1943, he graduated from high school but, since [[World War II]] was in full swing, he was drafted into the [[United States Army]].<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>
Prudencio Unanue was very serious about his children's education and enrolled them in [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] schools. Joseph attended St. Joseph's Grammar School and later St. Cecilia's High School. Since childhood and when not in school, Unanue and his brothers had to work in the family business. His special job was bottling all over [[olives]]. In 1943, he graduated from high school but, since [[World War II]] was in full swing, he was drafted into the [[United States Army]].<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>


==World War II==
==World War II==
After basic training, Unanue attended the [[University of Puget Sound]] in [[Tacoma, Washington]]. However, due to the intensity of the war, he was soon sent to the battlefield. In 1944, his [[Company (military unit)|Army company]] landed in [[France]] and soon joined [[General officer|General]] [[George S. Patton]]'s 3rd Army at the [[Battle of the Bulge]]. Unanue was only 19 years old and a [[Private First Class]] when his [[Sergeant#United States|sergeant]] died in action. He was then named sergeant in the field and made [[platoon]] leader. Unanue pulled his men to safety and was awarded the [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] for bravery.<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/ww2latinos/template-stories-indiv.html?work_urn=urn%3Autlol%3Awwlatin.226&work_title=Unanue%2C+Joseph |title=Joseph Unanue U.S Latino and Latina World War II |access-date=2008-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802214327/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/ww2latinos/template-stories-indiv.html?work_urn=urn%3Autlol%3Awwlatin.226&work_title=Unanue%2C+Joseph |archive-date=2008-08-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
After basic training, Unanue attended the [[University of Puget Sound]] in [[Tacoma, Washington]]. Due to the intensity of the war, he was soon sent to the battlefield. In 1944, his [[Company (military unit)|Army company]] landed in [[France]] and soon joined [[General officer|General]] [[George S. Patton]]'s 3rd Army at the [[Battle of the Bulge]]. Unanue was only 19 years old and a [[Private First Class]] when his [[Sergeant#United States|sergeant]] died in action. He was then named sergeant in the field and made [[platoon]] leader. Unanue pulled his men to safety and was awarded the [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] for bravery.<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nay |first1=Chris |title=Born leader: PFC Joseph Unanue, at 19, led His men to safety; that leadership quality served him well in business |url=http://utopia.utexas.edu/explore/latino/narratives/06Unanue_joseph.html |website=U.S. Latinos and Latinas & WWII Oral History Project |publisher=[[The University of Texas at Austin]] |accessdate=10 July 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060911233245/http://utopia.utexas.edu/explore/latino/narratives/06Unanue_joseph.html |archivedate=2006-09-11 |date=2000}}</ref>


==Goya Foods==
==Goya Foods==
In 1946, after Unanue returned home, he enrolled in [[The Catholic University of America]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], where he graduated with a degree in [[Mechanical Engineering]]. He joined the family business, together with his brothers Tony and Frank Unanue. He learned every facet of the food industry. At first, the major supermarkets, such as [[The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company|A&P]] and [[Safeway Inc.|Safeways]] weren't interested in selling anything with the Hispanic demography in mind. Eventually, with the wave of Hispanic immigrants landing in the United States, the supermarket industry started to take notice. Goya Foods started to supply Safeway's Supermarket in [[Harlem]] and the rest soon followed.<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>
In 1946, after Unanue returned home, he enrolled in [[The Catholic University of America]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], where he graduated with a degree in [[mechanical engineering]]. He joined the family business, together with his brothers Tony and Frank Unanue. He learned every facet of the food industry. At first, the major supermarkets, such as [[The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company|A&P]] and [[Safeway Inc.|Safeways]] weren't interested in selling anything with the Hispanic demography in mind. Eventually, with the wave of Hispanic immigrants landing in the United States, the supermarket industry started to take notice. Goya Foods started to supply Safeway's Supermarket in [[Harlem]] and the rest soon followed.<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>


Unanue married Carmen Ana Casal (1934–2021), his maternal first cousin,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://es.geneastar.org/genealogia/unanueandre/andy-Unanue |title=Genealogía de Andy Unanue |language=es
In 1956, Unanue married Carmen Ana de Casal, a [[Puerto Rican American|Puerto Rican]] art collector and philanthropist with whom he had six children and 16 grandchildren.<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>
|website= Geneastar}}</ref> in 1956. Casal was an art collector and philanthropist. They had six children and 16 grandchildren.<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>


In 1976, Unanue was named president of the company, whose principal base of operations was by then in [[New Jersey]]. His brother Frank ran Goya de Puerto Rico, Inc., located in [[Bayamon, Puerto Rico]]. Under Joseph's leadership, the company became the largest Hispanic–owned food distributor in the United States, with sales of over $800 million a year and with over 2,000 employees. Goya Foods grew to have more than a dozen facilities in the continental United States, while affiliated companies operate in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Spain.<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>
In 1976, Unanue was named president of the company, whose principal base of operations was by then in [[New Jersey]]. His brother Frank ran [[Goya Foods|Goya de Puerto Rico, Inc.]], located in [[Bayamon, Puerto Rico]]. Under Joseph's leadership, the company became the largest Hispanic–owned food distributor in the United States, with sales of over $800 million a year and with over 2,000 employees. Goya Foods grew to have more than a dozen facilities in the continental United States, while affiliated companies operate in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Spain.<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>

Goya Foods supports many organizations, among them the [[Puerto Rican Traveling Theater]], [[Repertorio Español]], [[Ballet Hispanico]], and the [[Puerto Rican Day Parade]]. It also supports "The New Jersey Council for the Arts", [[El Museo del Barrio]], and the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]].


In 1985, Unanue's son Joseph F. Unanue was named Vice President of Operations, a position he held until 1998 when he died of cancer. His younger son, [[Andy Unanue]], was named to replace Joseph F. Unanue.
In 1985, Unanue's son Joseph F. Unanue was named Vice President of Operations, a position he held until 1998 when he died of cancer. His younger son, [[Andy Unanue]], was named to replace Joseph F. Unanue.


==Later years==
==Later years==
In February 2004, after 27 years as president of Goya Foods, 78-year-old Joseph and his son Andy were ousted from the company by Joseph's two nephews. Joseph Unanue resided in [[Alpine, New Jersey]] with his wife Carmen Ana and continued to participate in civic and cultural activities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/njpolitics/17121111.html |title=GOP rival urges probe of Senate hopeful |accessdate=2008-07-03 |last=Jackson |first=Herb |publisher=[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]] |date=2008-03-29}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
In February 2004, after 27 years as president of Goya Foods, 78-year-old Joseph and his son Andy were ousted from the company by Joseph's two nephews.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schwaneberg |first1=Robert |title=NJ Senate candidate Andy Unanue fell from grace at family's company |url=https://www.nj.com/news/2008/03/gop_senate_hopeful_fell_from_g.html |accessdate=10 July 2020 |date=26 March 2008 |work=[[The Star-Ledger]] |publisher=[[NJ.com]] |location=Newark, NJ |language=en}}</ref> Joseph resided in [[Alpine, New Jersey]] with his wife Carmen Ana and continued to participate in civic and cultural activities.


In 2008, his son [[Andy Unanue|Andy]] was briefly a candidate for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nomination for a [[United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2008|U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey]]. He announced his candidacy on March 23, 2008, and filed petitions for the race on April 7, 2008. However, he dropped out of the race four days later, and his committee on vacancies designated former [[United States House of Representatives|Congressman]] [[Dick Zimmer (New Jersey politician)|Dick Zimmer]] to enter the race under the Unanue petitions.<ref>[http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/04/former_congressman_dick_zimmer.html "Former Congressman Dick Zimmer to run for U.S. Senate"]. ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', April 11, 2008. Accessed April 11, 2008.</ref>
In 2008, his son [[Andy Unanue|Andy]] was briefly a candidate for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nomination for a [[United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2008|U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey]]. He announced his candidacy on March 23, 2008, and filed petitions for the race on April 7, 2008. He dropped out of the race four days later and his committee on vacancies designated former [[United States House of Representatives|Congressman]] [[Dick Zimmer (New Jersey politician)|Dick Zimmer]] to enter the race under the Unanue petitions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/njpolitics/17121111.html |title=GOP rival urges probe of Senate hopeful |accessdate=2008-07-03 |last=Jackson |first=Herb |work=[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]] |date=2008-03-29 |location=Bergen County, NJ}}{{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Schwaneberg |first1=Robert |title=Former Congressman Dick Zimmer seeks GOP nod for U.S. Senate |url=https://www.nj.com/news/2008/04/former_congressman_dick_zimmer.html |accessdate=10 July 2020 |work=[[The Star-Ledger]] |publisher=[[NJ.com]] |date=12 April 2008 |location=Newark, NJ |language=en}}</ref>


He died of complications of [[pulmonary fibrosis]] in 2013.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/business/joseph-a-unanue-former-chief-executive-of-goya-foods-dies-at-88.html?_r=0</ref>
He died of complications of [[pulmonary fibrosis]] in 2013.<ref name="obit">{{cite news |last1=Craig |first1=Susanne |title=Joseph A. Unanue, Former Chief Executive of Goya Foods, Dies at 88 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/business/joseph-a-unanue-former-chief-executive-of-goya-foods-dies-at-88.html |accessdate=10 July 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=15 June 2013}}</ref>


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
Among the many distinctions that Joseph Unanue received was being knighted by the [[Order of Malta]]. He was presented with the key to the city of [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. In 1991 he was presented with the National Hispanic Achievement Award, and was twice named the "Man of the Year" by the [[National Conference for Community and Justice|National Conference of Christians and Jews]]. The National Suppliers Association presented him with the Leadership Award.<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>
One of Unahue's distinctions was a knighthood in the [[Order of Malta]]. He was presented with the key to the city of [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. In 1991 he was presented with the National Hispanic Achievement Award, and was twice named the "Man of the Year" by the [[National Conference for Community and Justice|National Conference of Christians and Jews]]. The National Suppliers Association presented him with the Leadership Award.<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>


Unanue received honorary doctorates from [[Mercy College (New York)|Mercy College]] and [[Long Island University]] in New York, and from [[Felician College]] in New Jersey. The Catholic University of America has named one of its campus houses "The Joseph Unanue House".<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>
Unanue received honorary doctorates from [[Mercy College (New York)|Mercy College]] and [[Long Island University]] in New York, and from [[Felician College]] in New Jersey. The Catholic University of America named one of its campus houses "The Joseph Unanue House".<ref name="EI"/><ref name="GF"/><ref name="LI"/><ref name="BBW"/>


==Military awards and decorations==
==Military awards and decorations==
Line 74: Line 79:


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927191158/http://www.neco.org/awards/recipients/josephaunanue.html Ellis Island Medal of Honor]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060830184259/http://cchcc.net/article053.html Goya Foods President Is Ousted; Son Also Removed in Family Coup]
*[http://www.shu.edu/academics/artsci/latino-institute/ Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute]
*[http://www.shu.edu/academics/artsci/latino-institute/ Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060911233245/http://utopia.utexas.edu/explore/latino/narratives/06Unanue_joseph.html US Latinos in WWII] (dead link)


{{DEFAULTSORT:Unanue, Joseph}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Unanue, Joseph}}
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[[Category:Catholic University of America alumni]]
[[Category:Catholic University of America alumni]]
[[Category:American chief executives of food industry companies]]
[[Category:American chief executives of food industry companies]]
[[Category:American people of Spanish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Basque descent]]
[[Category:American people of Basque descent]]
[[Category:American people of Puerto Rican descent]]
[[Category:American people of Puerto Rican descent]]
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[[Category:Puerto Rican Army personnel]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican Army personnel]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:Respiratory disease deaths in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Deaths from pulmonary fibrosis]]
[[Category:Deaths from pulmonary fibrosis]]
[[Category:Mercy College (New York) alumni]]
[[Category:Mercy College (New York) alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]

Revision as of 19:40, 30 October 2023

Joseph A. Unanue
Joseph A. Unanue in 1982
Born(1925-03-14)March 14, 1925
Brooklyn, New York
DiedJune 12, 2013(2013-06-12) (aged 88)
Alpine, New Jersey
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1943–1946
RankSergeant
Unit63rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division
Battles / warsWorld War II
* Battle of the Bulge
AwardsBronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Spouse(s)Carmen Ana Casal
Children6, including Andy Unanue
RelationsPrudencio Unanue (father)
Carolina Casal (mother)
Other workFormer president of Goya Foods

Joseph Andrew Unanue (March 14, 1925 – June 12, 2013) was an American-born son of Spanish parents who was the president of Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic–owned food company in the United States.

After a Catholic upbringing and education in New York, Unanue served in the United States Army during World War II, and was awarded the Bronze star for bravery. He subsequently returned to New York and joined the company his father had founded, Goya Foods. He rose to become president in 1978, a position he held until 2004.

Unanue was made a knight of the Order of Malta and awarded several honorary doctorates.

Early years

Unanue's father, Prudencio Unanue Ortiz, was born in Villasana de Mena,[1] in the province of Burgos, in northern Spain. He emigrated to Puerto Rico, where he met a young Spanish girl by the name of Carolina Casal, whose parents also had immigrated to Puerto Rico from Galicia. They were married in the island in 1921 and soon after moved to New York City and settled in Brooklyn where Joseph was born.[2][3][4][5]

Prudencio Unanue worked as a broker for Spanish companies doing business in the U.S. He soon realized that there was a need for Hispanic products in New York City, and in 1936 he founded Goya Foods, a food distributing company, in Manhattan.[2][3][4][5]

Prudencio Unanue was very serious about his children's education and enrolled them in Catholic schools. Joseph attended St. Joseph's Grammar School and later St. Cecilia's High School. Since childhood and when not in school, Unanue and his brothers had to work in the family business. His special job was bottling all over olives. In 1943, he graduated from high school but, since World War II was in full swing, he was drafted into the United States Army.[2][3][4][5]

World War II

After basic training, Unanue attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. Due to the intensity of the war, he was soon sent to the battlefield. In 1944, his Army company landed in France and soon joined General George S. Patton's 3rd Army at the Battle of the Bulge. Unanue was only 19 years old and a Private First Class when his sergeant died in action. He was then named sergeant in the field and made platoon leader. Unanue pulled his men to safety and was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery.[2][3][4][5][6]

Goya Foods

In 1946, after Unanue returned home, he enrolled in The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. He joined the family business, together with his brothers Tony and Frank Unanue. He learned every facet of the food industry. At first, the major supermarkets, such as A&P and Safeways weren't interested in selling anything with the Hispanic demography in mind. Eventually, with the wave of Hispanic immigrants landing in the United States, the supermarket industry started to take notice. Goya Foods started to supply Safeway's Supermarket in Harlem and the rest soon followed.[2][3][4][5]

Unanue married Carmen Ana Casal (1934–2021), his maternal first cousin,[7] in 1956. Casal was an art collector and philanthropist. They had six children and 16 grandchildren.[2][3][4][5]

In 1976, Unanue was named president of the company, whose principal base of operations was by then in New Jersey. His brother Frank ran Goya de Puerto Rico, Inc., located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Under Joseph's leadership, the company became the largest Hispanic–owned food distributor in the United States, with sales of over $800 million a year and with over 2,000 employees. Goya Foods grew to have more than a dozen facilities in the continental United States, while affiliated companies operate in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Spain.[2][3][4][5]

In 1985, Unanue's son Joseph F. Unanue was named Vice President of Operations, a position he held until 1998 when he died of cancer. His younger son, Andy Unanue, was named to replace Joseph F. Unanue.

Later years

In February 2004, after 27 years as president of Goya Foods, 78-year-old Joseph and his son Andy were ousted from the company by Joseph's two nephews.[8] Joseph resided in Alpine, New Jersey with his wife Carmen Ana and continued to participate in civic and cultural activities.

In 2008, his son Andy was briefly a candidate for the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey. He announced his candidacy on March 23, 2008, and filed petitions for the race on April 7, 2008. He dropped out of the race four days later and his committee on vacancies designated former Congressman Dick Zimmer to enter the race under the Unanue petitions.[9][10]

He died of complications of pulmonary fibrosis in 2013.[11]

Legacy

One of Unahue's distinctions was a knighthood in the Order of Malta. He was presented with the key to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. In 1991 he was presented with the National Hispanic Achievement Award, and was twice named the "Man of the Year" by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. The National Suppliers Association presented him with the Leadership Award.[2][3][4][5]

Unanue received honorary doctorates from Mercy College and Long Island University in New York, and from Felician College in New Jersey. The Catholic University of America named one of its campus houses "The Joseph Unanue House".[2][3][4][5]

Military awards and decorations

Among Unanue's decorations are the following:

See also

References

  1. ^ Unanue, Prudencio (1976-03-17). "Unanue, Prudencio (1886-1976), founder of Goya Foods, Inc. | American National Biography". Anb.org. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Joseph A. Unanue". Ellis Island Medals of Honor. Ellis Island Honors Society. 2003. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Morley, Hugh R. (February 12, 2004). "Goya Foods President Is Ousted; Son Also Removed in Family Coup". The Record. Bergen County, NJ. via Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on August 30, 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Our Benefactors". The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute. Seton Hall University. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Joseph A Unanue, Chairman, Goya Foods Inc". Profile and Biography. Bloomberg Markets. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  6. ^ Nay, Chris (2000). "Born leader: PFC Joseph Unanue, at 19, led His men to safety; that leadership quality served him well in business". U.S. Latinos and Latinas & WWII Oral History Project. The University of Texas at Austin. Archived from the original on 2006-09-11. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Genealogía de Andy Unanue". Geneastar (in Spanish).
  8. ^ Schwaneberg, Robert (26 March 2008). "NJ Senate candidate Andy Unanue fell from grace at family's company". The Star-Ledger. Newark, NJ: NJ.com. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  9. ^ Jackson, Herb (2008-03-29). "GOP rival urges probe of Senate hopeful". The Record. Bergen County, NJ. Retrieved 2008-07-03.[dead link]
  10. ^ Schwaneberg, Robert (12 April 2008). "Former Congressman Dick Zimmer seeks GOP nod for U.S. Senate". The Star-Ledger. Newark, NJ: NJ.com. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  11. ^ Craig, Susanne (15 June 2013). "Joseph A. Unanue, Former Chief Executive of Goya Foods, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
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