William Modell

William D. Modell (May 13, 1921 - February 14, 2008) was an American businessman who served as the chairman of the Modell's Sporting Goods retail chain. cite news |first=Dennis|last=Hevesi|title=William D. Modell, Seller of Sporting Goods, Is Dead at 86
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/business/15modell.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |work= New York Times |publisher=|date=2008-02-15 |accessdate=2008-03-07]

Early life

Modell was born on May 13, 1921. He grew up in the Manhattan Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, before attending New York University. He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II.

Modell’s Sporting Goods

William Modell first became involved in Modell's Sporting Goods, a family business, after World War II. The store had been founded in 1889 by Modell's Hungarian immigrant grandfather, Morris Modell, who opened the first store on Cortlandt Street in Lower Manhattan. Modell's Sporting Goods grew rapidly after World War I by stocking up on leftover Army surplus and selling it at low prices.

William Modell became chairman of the company in 1985, but had effectively run the company with his father, Henry Modell, who was chairman of the Modell's, since 1963. His expansion strategy for the company involved buying locations from faltering rivals in the sporting goods business. For example, under Modell the company paid $2.5 million dollars for fifteen locations from bankrupt rival, Herman’s World of Sporting Goods in 1996. This acquisition expanded the number of Modell’s Sporting Goods stores from 52 to 67 stores and inccreased the company's presence in New Jersey and the Baltimore-Washington D.C. areas.

As of 2008, the company now has 136 retail locations in eight states, with a 2007 annual revenue of approximately $635 million dollars.

William Modell was also the founder of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. His son Michael, who suffered from Crohn's disease, died in 2001.

Death

William Modell died in Manhattan on February 14, 2008, of complications from prostate cancer at the age of 86. He was survived by his wife, Shelby Zaldin, a daighter, Leslie, and a son, Mitchell Modell, who is the current CEO of the Modell's Sporting Goods. He was a resident of Hewlett Harbor, New York.

References

External links

* [http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2008/02/22/william_modell_expanded_sporting_goods_chain/ Boston Globe: William Modell; expanded sporting goods chain]
* [http://www.modells.com Modell's Sporting Goods Official site]
* [http://www.ccfa.org/ Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America]