Alex Schoenbaum

Alex Schoenbam (August 8, 1915 — December 6, 1996) was an American collegiate football player and businessman in the hospitality industry, eventually operating a chain of motels and over 1,000 restaurants. He is best remembered for developing the Shoney's restaurant chain in the southeastern United States, many of which were franchised Big Boy locations.

Football career highlights

Alex Schoenbaum played tackle at Ohio State University from 1936-1938.

Schoenbaum became a regular after the first game of the 1936 season and was named AP All-Western Conference honorable mention. That year, Ohio State University had a record of 5-3-0 (4-1-0, tied for second in conference).

In 1937, Alex was named Grantland Rice All-America honorable mention, and AP All-Western Conference second team as the Buckeyes finished the season ranked No. 13. Their stingy defense allowed only two teams to score all year. Unfortunately, those two games were losses for the Buckeyes as they fell to Southern Cal, 13-12, and Indiana, 10-0. The Buckeyes had an overall record of 6-2-0 (5-1-0 in conference) and outscored their opponents 125-23 that year.

In 1938, Ohio State struggled to a record of 4-3-1 (3-2-1 in conference). Schoenbaum still excelled, and was named Grantland Rice All-America honorable mention, and AP All-Western Conference second team. Alex played in the 1939 College All-Star Game, and also played in All-Star games against the New York Giants and Cleveland Rams of the NFL.

Hospitality industry

After his sports career, Schoenbaum became the founder of the Shoney's Restaurant chain, a regional organization which was one of the largest businesses to originate in West Virginia. In 1947 Schoenbaum opened his first drive-in restaurant, Parkette, in Charleston. In 1952, it became the first restaurant in the Shoney's chain after Schoenbaum obtained the regional marketing rights to the Big Boy trademark. In 1971, Schoenbaum and restaurateur Ray Danner merged their companies to form Shoney's Big Boy Enterprises, Inc. In 1976, Big Boy was dropped from the name, as the company expanded outside its assigned territory for the Big Boy franchise, and also was embroiled in an "image issue" conflict with other franchise holders, which was settled in 1984 by dropping the franchise.

Under Alex Schoenbaum, the Shoney's organization also developed and operated the Captain D's fast food seafood chain, Lee's Fried Chicken fast-food chain , now part of Mrs. Winner's, and three casual dining chains, The Sailmaker, Pargo's and the Fifth Quarter Steakhouses. In 1976, the company started a lodging chain, with properties branded as "Shoney's Inn" motels. By the 1990s, the company operated over 1,000 restaurants.

Heritage

Alex Schoenbaum died in December 1996, almost 50 years and he began what became his hospitality empire. He was survived by wife Betty, who became an active in civic matters and philanthropy in West Virginia, and her winter home in Sarasota, Florida.

In Charleston, West Virginia, where the business began, the Schoenbaum Family Enrichment Center and the Schoenbaum Soccer Stadium were family contributions to the community.

References

*Jews in Sports [http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?sport=football&ID=230]
*Famous West Virginians (S) [http://members.aol.com/jeff560/famouss.html]