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{{Short description|American businessman (1920–1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|birthname = John Francis Geisse
| birthname = John Francis Geisse
|image =
| name =
|width =
| image = John_F._Geisse,_American_businessman.jpg
|caption =
| caption = Geisse {{circa|1980s-90s}}
⚫
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|9|1|mf=yes}}
|small_image =
⚫
| birth_place = [[Madison, Wisconsin]], US
⚫
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|9|1|mf=yes}}
⚫
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1992|2|21|1920|9|1|mf=yes}}
⚫
|birth_place = [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], Wisconsin, US
⚫
| death_place = [[Indianapolis, Indiana]], U.S.
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|death_date = {{Death date and age|1992|2|21|1920|9|1|mf=yes}}
⚫
| resting_place = [[Crown Hill Cemetery]], Indianapolis, Indiana
⚫
|death_place = [[Indianapolis]], Indiana, U.S.
⚫
| party =
⚫
|resting_place = [[Crown Hill Cemetery]], Indianapolis, Indiana
|party =
| occupation = Businessman
⚫
| education = [[St. John's College High School|St. John's College HS]]<br>[[United States Naval Academy]]
|otherparty =
|residence =
| signature =
|occupation = Businessman
| website =
|religion =
⚫
|education = [[St. John's College High School|St. John's College HS]]<br>[[United States Naval Academy]]
⚫
|networth =
|signature =
|website =
}}
}}


'''John Francis Geisse''' (September 1, 1920 – February 21, 1992) was an American businessman, the founder of three successful [[retail chain]]s: [[Target Corporation#Target|Target Discount Stores]], [[Venture Stores]], and The Wholesale Club, which merged in 1991 with [[Sam's Club]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=John Francis Geisse (1920–1992)|url=http://www.geisse.org/JohnFrancisGeisse.html|website=Geisse.org|publisher=Geisse Family|accessdate=February 10, 2017}}</ref>
'''John Francis Geisse''' (September 1, 1920 – February 21, 1992) was an American businessman. He founded three successful [[retail chain]]s: [[Target Corporation#Target|Target Discount Stores]], [[Venture Stores]], and The Wholesale Club (which merged in 1991 with [[Sam's Club]]).<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=John Francis Geisse (1920–1992)|url=http://www.geisse.org/JohnFrancisGeisse.html|website=Geisse.org|publisher=Geisse Family|access-date=February 10, 2017}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Geisse was born on September 1, 1920<ref>{{cite journal|title=Geisse, John Harlin|journal=The American Catholic Who's Who|year=1961|volume=14|page=167|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=67MNAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=February 10, 2017}}</ref> in [[Madison, Wisconsin]], the son of aeronautical inventor John Harlin and Esther (née Wattawa) Geisse.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news|title=John Geisse, 71, Dies; Helped Start Target, Wholesale Stores |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30104501/john_geisse_19201992/ |newspaper=Star Tribune |date=February 23, 1992 |page=26 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate = March 31, 2019 }} {{Open access}}</ref> He grew up in the Washington, DC, area<ref name="Obit"/> and attended [[St. John's College High School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stjohnschs.org/page/alumni/call-to-remember|title=Call to Remember|accessdate=September 14, 2018}}</ref> He was set to graduate from the [[United States Naval Academy]] with the class of 1942,<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{cite news|title=John H. Geisse, 96, Aeronautical Inventor|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/08/obituaries/john-h-geisse-96-aeronautical-inventor.html|accessdate=February 10, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=December 8, 1988}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Lucky Bag|date=1942|publisher=United States Naval Academy|location=Annapolis, Maryland|page=[https://archive.org/details/luckybag1942unse/page/95 95]|url=https://archive.org/details/luckybag1942unse|accessdate=February 10, 2017}}</ref> until the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] prompted an early graduation in December 1941.<ref name="Obit"/> During [[World War II]], he served in the [[U.S. Navy]] in both the [[Pacific War|Pacific]] and [[Battle of the Atlantic|Atlantic theaters]]. He left the service in 1947 as a [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|lieutenant commander]].<ref name="Obit"/><ref name=NYTObit/>
Geisse was born on September 1, 1920,<ref>{{cite journal|title=Geisse, John Harlin|journal=The American Catholic Who's Who|year=1961|volume=14|page=167|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=67MNAQAAIAAJ|access-date=February 10, 2017|last1=Curtis|first1=Georgina Pell|last2=Elder|first2=Benedict}}</ref> in [[Madison, Wisconsin]], the son of aeronautical inventor John Harlin and Esther (née Wattawa) Geisse.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news|title=John Geisse, 71, Dies; Helped Start Target, Wholesale Stores |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30104501/john_geisse_19201992/ |newspaper=Star Tribune |date=February 23, 1992 |page=26 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] |access-date = March 31, 2019 }} {{Open access}}</ref> He grew up in the Washington, D.C., area<ref name="Obit"/> and attended [[St. John's College High School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stjohnschs.org/page/alumni/call-to-remember|title=Call to Remember|access-date=September 14, 2018}}</ref> He was set to graduate from the [[United States Naval Academy]] with the class of 1942,<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{cite news|title=John H. Geisse, 96, Aeronautical Inventor|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/08/obituaries/john-h-geisse-96-aeronautical-inventor.html|access-date=February 10, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=December 8, 1988}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Lucky Bag|date=1942|publisher=United States Naval Academy|location=Annapolis, Maryland|page=[https://archive.org/details/luckybag1942unse/page/95 95]|url=https://archive.org/details/luckybag1942unse|access-date=February 10, 2017}}</ref> until the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] prompted an early graduation in December 1941.<ref name="Obit"/> During [[World War II]], he served in the [[U.S. Navy]] in both the [[Pacific War|Pacific]] and [[Battle of the Atlantic|Atlantic theaters]]. He left the service in 1947 as a [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|lieutenant commander]].<ref name="Obit"/><ref name=NYTObit/>


==Retail industry career==
==Retail industry career==
After leaving the military, he moved to [[Minneapolis]], where he began his retail career working for [[Dayton's]].<ref name=":0"/><ref name="Obit"/><ref name=NYTObit/> In 1962, along with [[Douglas Dayton]], he founded and launched the Target Stores for the Dayton Company,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Yardley|first1=William|title=Douglas J. Dayton, First President of Target, Dies at 88|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/business/douglas-j-dayton-first-president-of-target-dies-at-88.html|accessdate=February 10, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=July 10, 2013}}</ref> now known as [[Target Corporation]]. In 1968, he left Target Stores and was subsequently hired by [[The May Department Stores Company|May Department Stores]], where he founded the [[Venture Stores|Venture]] chain.<ref name="Obit"/> In 1975, he "retired" from Mays and Venture, and became chairman of the struggling [[Ayr-Way]] Stores in Indianapolis. After he turned around Ayr-Way Stores, he became a long-time consultant to his friend [[Sam Walton]] and [[Wal-Mart Stores]], [[Ames Department Stores]], and others. In 1982, he founded his third chain, a [[warehouse club]] named The Wholesale Club,<ref name="Obit"/> which inspired [[Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.]] to create its [[Sam's Club]] division in 1983.<ref name=":0" /> In 1991, he sold The Wholesale Club store chain to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., where it was merged with Sam's Club.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Marianne|title=Wal-mart Acquiring Club Rival|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-11-07/business/9004030003_1_wal-mart-stores-newest-store-division-of-dayton-hudson-corp|accessdate=February 10, 2017|work=Chicago Tribune|date=November 7, 1990}}</ref>
After leaving the military, he moved to [[Minneapolis]], where he began his retail career working for [[Dayton's]].<ref name=":0"/><ref name="Obit"/><ref name=NYTObit/> In 1962, he and [[Douglas Dayton]] founded and launched the Target Stores for the Dayton Company,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Yardley|first1=William|title=Douglas J. Dayton, First President of Target, Dies at 88|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/business/douglas-j-dayton-first-president-of-target-dies-at-88.html|access-date=February 10, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=July 10, 2013}}</ref> now known as [[Target Corporation]]. In 1968, he left Target Stores and was subsequently hired by [[The May Department Stores Company|May Department Stores]], where he founded the [[Venture Stores|Venture]] chain.<ref name="Obit"/> In 1975, he "retired" from Mays and Venture, and became chairman of the struggling [[Ayr-Way]] Stores in Indianapolis. After he turned Ayr-Way Stores around, he became a long-time consultant to his friend [[Sam Walton]] and [[Wal-Mart Stores]] and to [[Ames Department Stores]] and others. In 1982, he founded his third chain, a [[warehouse club]] named The Wholesale Club,<ref name="Obit"/> that inspired [[Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.]] to create its [[Sam's Club]] division in 1983.<ref name=":0" /> In 1991, he sold The Wholesale Club store chain to Wal-Mart Stores and it was merged with Sam's Club.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Marianne|title=Wal-mart Acquiring Club Rival|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/11/07/wal-mart-acquiring-club-rival/|access-date=February 10, 2017|work=Chicago Tribune|date=November 7, 1990}}</ref>


==Honors==
==Honors==
He authored the ''Better Quality Upscale Discount Store Concept in America'', and was inducted into the ''Discount Store News'' Discount Hall of Fame in 1984.<ref name=":0"/> Sam Walton, who often consulted Geisse, called him "a pioneer in innovative retailing concepts."<ref name="NYTObit" />
He authored the ''Better Quality Upscale Discount Store Concept in America'', and was inducted into the ''Discount Store News'' Discount Hall of Fame in 1984.<ref name=":0"/> Sam Walton, who often consulted Geisse, called him "a pioneer in innovative retailing concepts".<ref name="NYTObit" />


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Geisse was married to the former Mary Ann Wakeen. Together, they had 10 children.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=NYTObit/> Geisse died of a heart attack in [[Indianapolis]] in 1992.<ref name="Obit"/><ref name="NYTObit">{{cite news|title=J. F. Geisse, 71, Who Founded Discount Stores|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/27/us/j-f-geisse-71-who-founded-discount-stores.html|accessdate=February 10, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=February 27, 1992}}</ref> He was laid to rest in [[Crown Hill Cemetery]], Indianapolis, near his parents.<ref>{{findagrave|45906920}}</ref>
Geisse was married to the former Mary Ann Wakeen. Together, they had 10 children.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=NYTObit/> Geisse died of a heart attack in [[Indianapolis]] in 1992.<ref name="Obit"/><ref name="NYTObit">{{cite news|title=J. F. Geisse, 71, Who Founded Discount Stores|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/27/us/j-f-geisse-71-who-founded-discount-stores.html|access-date=February 10, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=February 27, 1992}}</ref> He was buried near his parents in [[Crown Hill Cemetery]], Indianapolis.


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:American business writers]]
[[Category:American business writers]]
[[Category:American consultants]]
[[Category:American consultants]]
[[Category:American consulting businesspeople]]
[[Category:American retail chief executives]]
[[Category:American retail chief executives]]
[[Category:Target Corporation people]]
[[Category:Target Corporation people]]
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[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:Burials at Crown Hill Cemetery]]
[[Category:Burials at Crown Hill Cemetery]]
[[Category:St. John's College High School alumni]]

Latest revision as of 04:36, 5 November 2024

John Geisse
Geisse c. 1980s-90s
Born
John Francis Geisse

(1920-09-01)September 1, 1920
Madison, Wisconsin, US
DiedFebruary 21, 1992(1992-02-21) (aged 71)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Resting placeCrown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana
EducationSt. John's College HS
United States Naval Academy
OccupationBusinessman

John Francis Geisse (September 1, 1920 – February 21, 1992) was an American businessman. He founded three successful retail chains: Target Discount Stores, Venture Stores, and The Wholesale Club (which merged in 1991 with Sam's Club).[1]

Early life and education

[edit]

Geisse was born on September 1, 1920,[2] in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of aeronautical inventor John Harlin and Esther (née Wattawa) Geisse.[3] He grew up in the Washington, D.C., area[3] and attended St. John's College High School.[4] He was set to graduate from the United States Naval Academy with the class of 1942,[1][5][6] until the attack on Pearl Harbor prompted an early graduation in December 1941.[3] During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. He left the service in 1947 as a lieutenant commander.[3][7]

Retail industry career

[edit]

After leaving the military, he moved to Minneapolis, where he began his retail career working for Dayton's.[1][3][7] In 1962, he and Douglas Dayton founded and launched the Target Stores for the Dayton Company,[8] now known as Target Corporation. In 1968, he left Target Stores and was subsequently hired by May Department Stores, where he founded the Venture chain.[3] In 1975, he "retired" from Mays and Venture, and became chairman of the struggling Ayr-Way Stores in Indianapolis. After he turned Ayr-Way Stores around, he became a long-time consultant to his friend Sam Walton and Wal-Mart Stores and to Ames Department Stores and others. In 1982, he founded his third chain, a warehouse club named The Wholesale Club,[3] that inspired Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. to create its Sam's Club division in 1983.[1] In 1991, he sold The Wholesale Club store chain to Wal-Mart Stores and it was merged with Sam's Club.[9]

Honors

[edit]

He authored the Better Quality Upscale Discount Store Concept in America, and was inducted into the Discount Store News Discount Hall of Fame in 1984.[1] Sam Walton, who often consulted Geisse, called him "a pioneer in innovative retailing concepts".[7]

Personal life

[edit]

Geisse was married to the former Mary Ann Wakeen. Together, they had 10 children.[1][7] Geisse died of a heart attack in Indianapolis in 1992.[3][7] He was buried near his parents in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "John Francis Geisse (1920–1992)". Geisse.org. Geisse Family. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  2. ^ Curtis, Georgina Pell; Elder, Benedict (1961). "Geisse, John Harlin". The American Catholic Who's Who. 14: 167. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "John Geisse, 71, Dies; Helped Start Target, Wholesale Stores". Star Tribune. February 23, 1992. p. 26. Retrieved March 31, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "Call to Remember". Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  5. ^ "John H. Geisse, 96, Aeronautical Inventor". The New York Times. December 8, 1988. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  6. ^ The Lucky Bag. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Academy. 1942. p. 95. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d e "J. F. Geisse, 71, Who Founded Discount Stores". The New York Times. February 27, 1992. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  8. ^ Yardley, William (July 10, 2013). "Douglas J. Dayton, First President of Target, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  9. ^ Taylor, Marianne (November 7, 1990). "Wal-mart Acquiring Club Rival". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
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