Anniversaries - 2009

Guinness - 250th Anniversary: 1759 - Arthur Guinness signed 9000-year lease on disused brewery at St James's Gate in Dublin for initial £100, annual rent of £45; decided soon after to brew variation of porter stout popular in London); 1799 - concentrated solely on production of porter; 1803 - Arthur Guinness II took over ownership, management of Brewery; 1834 - Glass Tax repealed, GUINNESS® bottled in glass rather than stoneware; 1850 - Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness (grandson) took over Brewery; 1862 - introduced GUINNESS® beer label (buff oval label with harp and Arthur Guinness’s signature); 1868 - Edward Cecil (great grandson) took over; size of the Brewery doubled; 1876 - Harp registered as trademark; 1886 - first major brewery incorporated as public company on London Stock Exchange; largest brewery in world; 1906 - 3,240 employees (one in 30 Dubliners depend on GUINNESS® brewery for their livelihood); June 4, 1907 - Arthur Guinness Son & Co. Limited registered Guinness "Guinness's Extra Stout James's Gate Dublin Bottled By Arth Guinness Son & Co. Limited" trademark first used March 29, 1862 (stout); 1914 - produced almost 3 million barrels; 1931 - S.S. Guinness steamship launched, first custom-built to transport GUINNESS® beer; January 15, 1935 - registered "Guinness" trademark first used January 1, 1764 (beer); 1963 - last wooden keg racked at Brewery at St. James’s Gate; metal kegs used for storing, shipping; 1976 - over 7 million glasses of GUINNESS® drunk daily; 2001 - almost 2 billion pints of GUINNESS® a year sold worldwide, over 1 million pints of GUINNESS® a day sold in Great Britain alone.

Arthur Guinness (http://billcurtsingerphoto.com/ *Resources/*homeimages/Guinness Page/guinness014.jpg)

Presbyterian Ministers' Fund - 250th Anniversary: January 11, 1759 - Governors Thomas and Richard Penn granted charter to Presbyterian Synod of Philadelphia, PA (founded 1716) for The Corporation for Relief of Poor and Distressed Presbyterian Ministers and of the Poor and Distressed Widows and Children of Presbyterian Ministers (successor to charitable organization to assist local Presbyterian ministers called "Fund for Pious Uses" which made first charitable grant to widow of deceased reverend, in 1719); evolved into Presbyterian Ministers and of the Poor and Distressed Widows and Children; America's first life insurance company; separate from but cooperated with Synodical Company; 1760s - had 43 contributors, had issued 21 policies to ministers; May 22, 1761 - wrote first life insurance policy in United States; May 1777 - board of company voted to loan 5000 pounds to Continental Congress to help finance states’ efforts against British; 1850s - encouraged subscriptions from ministers from any church under Presbyterian umbrella (reformed churches); name changed to Presbyterian Annuity Corporation; 1870 - corporation insured 126 of over 4,000 ministers; 1875 - name changed to Presbyterian Annuity and Life Insurance Corporation to offer insurance to all; 1880 - insurance restricted to ministers; 1888 - name changed to Presbyterian Ministers' Fund)corporation had returned to practice of insuring only Presbyterian ministers); 1941 - acquired Ministers Mutual Life Insurance Company; 1990 - renamed Covenant Life Insurance Company; 1994 - acquired by Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company; 2002 - acquired by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Hartford Financial Services Group - 200th Anniversary: May 10, 1810 - Connecticut General Assembly passed act to incorporate Hartford Fire Insurance Company; Nathanial Terry first president; 1822 - reinsured New Haven Fire Insurance Company (one of first reinsurances in U.S.); 1825 - wrote fire insurance policy for Yale University (first for institution of higher learning); 1859 - sold insurance policy to Robert E. Lee to cover his home ("Arlington"); 1861 - sold fire insurance policy to Abraham Lincoln to protect his home, property in Springfield, IL; 1870 - operated coast-to-coast; 1875 - stag logo adopted (from Sir Edwin Landseer's painting, "Monarch of the Glen"); 1906 - paid $11.6 million in damage claims after San Francisco earthquake (most of any insurance company involved); 1913 - formed Hartford Accident & Indemnity Company; 1920 - sold "sickness policy" to babe Ruth to protect his earnings in event of his being unable to play; 1959 - expanded into life insurance, acquired The Columbian National Life Insurance Company; 1970 - acquired by ITT Corporation for $1.4 billion (largest acquisition in corporate history at time); renamed ITT-Hartford Group, Inc.; 1985 - introduced first single premium variable life product; 1993 - introduced first variable universal life product (leading seller of individual annuities in U. S.); December 20, 1995 - spun off from ITT; 1997 - name changed to The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.; 2000 - fastest growing retail-oriented mutual fund family to reach $10 billion in assets; 2005 - Fortune 100 company.

Harrod's - 175th Anniversary: 1834 - Charles Henry Harrod set up wholesale grocer in Stepney, in London’s East End, special interest in tea; 1849 - took over small shop in new district of Knightsbridge (on site of current store) to escape filth of inner city, to capitalize on trade to Great Exhibition of 1851 in nearby Hyde Park;   single room, two assistants, messenger boy; Charles Digby Harrod (son) built business into thriving store, sold medicines, perfumes, stationery, fruit and vegetables; 1880 - expanded into adjoining buildings, employed 100 staff; December 1883 - burnt to ground; fulfilled all Christmas orders, made  record profit; rebuilt; 1889 - went public; 1894 - first sale or "Winter Clearance"; 1898 - introduced world’s first escalator (brandy at top to revive nervous customers), shortened working hours for 200 staff, devised plan to build world’s most luxurious department store; 1901 - building construction began, designed by architect of Claridge’s Hotel C.W. Stephens; 1959 - acquired by House of Fraser; 1967 - 'Way In' boutique opened, brought Carnaby Street to Harrods; 1971 - black marble Perfumery Hall opened; 1972 - white marble Cosmetics Hall counterpart opened; March 11, 1985 - Mohamed Al Fayed acquired House of Fraser Group for £615 million.

Charles Digby Harrod  (http://www.spartacus.schoolnet. co.uk/Bharrod.jpg)

Phelps Dodge - 175th Anniversary: 1834 - Anson Phelps, a one-time saddle maker, William Dodge (son-in-law), a merchant in dry goods, founded Phelps Dodge as New York City-based mercantile company; traded American products to England in exchange for copper, iron, tin, other metals needed in United States; 1881 - entered mining industry when it invested in share of Detroit Copper Mining Co. in Morenci, AZ; 1906 - exited import-export business; early 1900s - among the first in industry converted to open-pit mining from underground method; 1930s - entered copper refining, manufacturing business; January 17, 1933 - registered "PD-Phelps Dodge-Copper Mining Products Corporation Mine to Market" trademark first used Kuly 20, 1932 (seamless brass and copper tubing); 1970s - converted from trains to wheeled and tracked vehicles to haul equipment and ore within open-pit mines; mid-1980s - first to use solution extraction and electrowinning to process ore on commercial scale; March 19, 2007 - acquired by Freeport-McMoRan $25.9 billion in cash, stock; created world's largest publicly traded copper mining company; operates under name Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

Anson Greene Phelps  (http://www.phelpsinc.com/family/resources/history/anson_g_phelps.jpg)

William Earl Dodge  (http://www.barnard.edu/archives/Memorial%20Scroll%20Website/1883Memorial_images/Dodge.jpg)

Equitable Life Insurance - 150th Anniversary: July 26, 1859 - Henry B. Hyde (25), former cashier at Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, rented space in building located at 98 Broadway in Manhattan; hanged 30-foot banner from window, incorporated The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States; 1868 - introduced tontines (annuity products that pay deferred dividends); dominated industry for 35 years (1867-1905); 1870 - first American business to build its own corporate headquarters, put its name on it (120 Broadway in Manhattan),   first to use steam elevators (office building as promotional tool, workplace); 1880 - pioneered practice of paying death claims immediately; 1890 - largest insurance company in world (measured in surplus); 1902 - introduced training classes for new insurance agents; 1909 - developed first modern Home Purchase plan (major industry product for five decades); 1911 - sold first modern Group Life policy to Pantasote Leather Company (to Montgomery Ward in 1912); 1951 - developed Individual In-Hospital Major Medical Expense insurance; 1961 - opened 42-story home office building, largest building in country occupied by single company; 1968 - introduced first line of individual variable annuity products; 1985 - acquired Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, its money management arm, Alliance Capital Management, L.P.; 1991 - New York State Insurance Department certified policyholder approval of demutualization; AXA Group, second largest French insurance company, invested $1 billion; 1992 - completed New York's largest Initial Public Offering for insurance company (AXA Group single largest shareholder); assets under management exceeded $150 billion; 1995 - $230 billion in assets under management; statutory capital/general accounts liabilities ratio reached 11.86%, highest among America's top 10 life insurers; 1997 -AXA Group assets exceeded $450 billion; merged with rival UAP, became second largest insurer in world; 2000 - AXA acquired control of Equitable Life Insurance Company; 2003 - AXA Group leading insurer in world, 50 million clients in 50 countries, $979 billion in client assets under management; 2004 - acquired Mutual of New York (MONY), former employer of Equitable founder Henry Hyde; 2008 - 15th largest organization in world on 2008 Fortune Global 500 list (based on revenues); 2008 - 15th largest organization in world on 2008 Fortune Global 500 list (based on revenues). Hyde May 3, 1899 Obituary: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9B01E3D71030E333A25750C0A9639C94689ED7CF

Gardner Denver - 150th Anniversary: 1859 - Robert Gardner provided first effective speed controls for steam engines; Gardner Governor Company manufactured flyball governors, led to production of steam pumps, high speed vertical air compressors; 1900 - steam pump technology adapted for use in mud pumps (became part of oil, natural gas well drilling process); 1927 - merged with Denver Rock Drill Company, renamed Gardner-Denver; 1959 - acquired CycloBlower Company (manufacturer of helical screw blowers); 1979 - acquired by Cooper Industries; became Gardner Denver Industrial Machinery Division; 1985-1988 - acquired Sutorbilt, DuroFlow blowers, OPI well servicing pumps, Joy compressors; 1994 - spun off as independent company; 2004 - acquired Drum blowers, Emco Wheaton bulk storage and fluid transfer equipment; 2005 - acquired Thomas Industries (Rietschle, Thomas brands, latest line of precision-engineered blowers, pumps, compressors); 2009 - provides compressed air and gas, vacuum and fluid transfer technologies to industries throughout world.

Robert Gardner - Gardner Denver (http://www.gardnerdenver.com/uploadedImages/GardnerDenver/Images/History-graphics(2).jpg)

Oil - 150th Anniversary: August 27, 1859 - Edwin Drake (Seneca Oil Co.), William A. "Uncle Billy" Smith, blacksmith and driller, using old steam engine to power the drill, struck oil on leased land at 69 feet, 6 inches in Venango Oil Field near Titusville, PA; noticed dark film floating on water below derrick floor; started producing about 40 barrels of oil/day; world's first successful oil well; beginning of American oil industry. "Oil 150" is the official website of the 150th anniversary celebration of the oil industry - http://www.oil150.com/.

Edwin Drake - discovered first oil in US (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamerica/whomade/images/who_drake_image.jpg)

Bonbons Barnier - 125th Anniversary: 1885 - Brothers Pierre and Marius Barnier established artisan confectionary company in Rouen, France; produced bonbons under name of Bonbons Suisse; 1900 - acquired by Eugène Callet, wholesaler in confectioner in Nantes, renamed Bonbons Barnier; 1930 - first machines to wrap bonbons; introduced filled candies; 1969 - 'mini bonbon' created; 2007 - managed by fourth Callet generation.

California Western Fish Company - 125th Anniversary: 1885 - John Baptist Caito and family started Western Fish Company in Pittsburg, CA; processed salmon caught in in Sacramento River; 1906 - earthquake destroyed production facility; formed California Western Fish Company; 1975 - fourth-generation Caito Brothers (Joe, Jim & John) took over operation; process millions of pounds of crab, cod, snapper, salmon at five locations along West Coast.

HLW International - 125th Anniversary: 1885 - Cyrus Lazelle Warner Eidlitz (son of noted architect, founder of American Institute of Architects) opened architectural office with commission, from Alexander Graham Bell, to design Metropolitan Telephone Building on Cortlandt Street (New York City), first telephone building in Manhattan; 1900 - formed partnership with Andrew C. McKenzie (structural engineer), established Eidlitz & McKenzie to pioneer new building design; 1905 - designed The New York Times Building; 1910 - Eidlitz left firm, Stephen F. Voorhees, Paul Gmelin made partners, firm reorganized, renamed as McKenzie, Voorhees & Gmelin; 1926 - Ralph T. Walker made  partner, name changed to Voorhees, Gmelin and Walker; 1939 - received ten commissions for World's Fair; 1940 - Max H. Foley, Perry Coke Smith made partners, formed Voorhees, Walker, Foley & Smith; 1955 - Foley left, renamed Voorhees, Walker, Smith & Smith (Benjamin Lane Smith made partner earlier); 1959 - Charles Haines, principal contributor to  firm's design work for research facilities, made partner; name changed to Voorhees, Walker, Smith, Smith & Haines; 1964 - Robert Lundberg, Frank J. Waehler made partners, renamed Smith, Smith Lundberg & Waehler; 1968 - renamed HLW (Haines, Lundberg Waehler; Smiths retired). 

Wilkin & Sons - 125th Anniversary: 1885 - Farmer Arthur Charles Wilkin, two friends formed Britannia Fruit Preserving Company; made first batch of strawberry jam in Tiptree, Essex, UK; 1901 - 8,000 customers; 1905 - renamed ‘Wilkin & Sons Limited’; 1911 - King George V awarded Royal Warrant; 1913 - Charles J. Wilkin (son) became Chairman; 1920 -  sales exceeded £100,000, over 200,000 customers; 1942 - T.G. Wilkin appointed director, A. F. Wilkin appointed chairman;  September 30, 1952 - Wilkin & Sons Limited registered "Tiptree" trademark first used 1904 (fruit conserves, Jams, Marmalades, preserved fruits, fruit preserves, and vegetable preserves and honey and chutney); 1954 - HM the Queen awarded Royal Warrant for supply of Jam & Marmalade; 1971 - Peter Wilkin (great-grandson) appointed director; 1980 - sales exceeded £5million, exports to over 50 countries;  2009 - more than 200 full-time staff.

Charles Wilkin - Wilkin & Son  (http://tiptreegardenclub.com/images/wilkin.jpg)

Marks & Spencer - 125th Anniversary: 1884 - Michael Marks opened stall at Leeds Kirkgate Market; 1894 - 12 locations; formed partnership with Thomas Spencer, former cashier from wholesale company Isaac J. Dewhirst; invested £300; 1903 - Marks and Spencer Ltd registered as firm with capital of 30,000 £1 shares (split equally between two founders); July 1905 - Spencer died; October 1907 - Simon Marks (son) joined company; William Chapman, executor of Spencer estate, named Chairman; February 1914 - bought London Penny Bazaar Company; 1915 - Israel Sieff, very close friend of Simon Marks, elected to Board of Directors; 1916 - Simon Marks (28) became Chairman; 1926 - started buying goods directly from manufacturers; November 1930 - flagship store opened at Marble Arch, London (located in basement, ground floor of newly erected office block); 1931 - introduced food department, sold produce and canned goods; 1934 - established Scientific Research Lab to pre-test garments, research innovative new fabrics; first research lab of any British retailer; 1935 - opened first Cafe Bar in Leeds (82 café bars by 1942; gradually phased out in 1950s); Marcus Sieff (son) joined company; 1939 - 234 stores; 1948 - established Food Technology department; 1956 - all goods sold under St Michael label; 1959 - first retailer to introduce No Smoking rules in stores; 1964 - Israel Sieff became Chairman; 1970 - ‘Sell By Dates’ introduced; 1972 - Marcus Sieff became Chairman; 1975 - opened store on Boulevard Haussman in Paris, first in Europe (closed in 2001); 1985 - Christmas Hampers tested for first time in 30 stores; 1988 - acquired Brook Brothers, American clothing company (sold in 2002), Kings Supermarkets, American food chain (sold in 2006); May 17, 2004 - Phillip Green (Revival Acquisitions Limited) launched takeover attempt; May 31, 2004 - Stuart Rose appointed Chief Executive; pushed business forward with focus on quality, value, service, innovation, trust (named Chairman in June 2008).

Michael Marks, Thomas Spencer - Marks & Spencer (http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/business/gallery/2008/jul/09/marksandspencer.history/marks-8229.jpg)

McGraw-Hill - 125th Anniversary: 1884 - James H. McGraw, a teacher in upstate New York, began working in publishing; 1888 - purchased the American Journal of Railway Appliances; John A. Hill worked as an editor at Locomotive Engineer; 1899 - McGraw incorporated publications under "The McGraw Publishing Company"; 1902 - John Hill incorporated publications under "The Hill Publishing Company"; 1909 - book departments of the two publishing companies merged; formed McGraw-Hill Book Company; John Hill took office of President (died in 1916); James McGraw became company's Vice-President.

James H. McGraw (http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/aboutus/images/history_jmcgraw.jpg)

John A. Hill (http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/aboutus/images/history_jhill.jpg)

Oxford English Dictionary - 125th Anniversary: February 1, 1884 - The first volume (A-Ant) of the Oxford English Dictionary was published (conceived in 1858 as project of Philological Society of England); April 1928 - 125th, final fascicle published; 400,000 words and phrases in 10 volumes, published under title A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles; verb "set" is OED's longest entry (approximately 60,000 words, over 430 uses); 1933 - supplement, containing new entries and revisions, published; original dictionary reprinted in 12 volumes, officially renamed the Oxford English Dictionary.

Sir James A. H. Murray - Primary Editor, Oxford English Dictionary (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/record/archives/vol22/vol22_iss2/murray2.gif)

(http://www.blackanddecker.de/ images/decker.jpg)

Champion Spark Plug - 100th Anniversary: July 2, 1910 - Robert A. Stranahan (former manager of Albert Champion Company in Boston, MA in 1909) - spark plug production less than 50,000; [Albert Champion left company in late 1908, moved to Flint, MI, started Champion Ignition Company, later renamed A-C Spark Plugs]), Frank D. Stranahan (former treasurer of Albert Champion Company) incorporated Champion Spark Plug Company ($22,000 in debt) in Toledo, OH (in accordance with manufacturing contract with Willys-Overland Company - second largest producer of automobiles in United States, behind Ford Motor Company, from 1912-1918); July 18, 1911 - James D. Robertson, of Toledo, OH, received a patent  for a "Terminal Clamp"; assigned to Champion Spark Plug Company; company's first patent; 1912 - supplied reliable spark plugs for 75% of American cars;  August 12, 1913 - registered "Champion" trademark first used in April 1907 (spark plugs); 1964 - sales of $124 million; 1989 -  acquired for $600 million by Dana Corporation.

Robert A. Stranahan - Champion Spark Plug (http://automotivehalloffame.org/honors/show_image.php?img=1&id=188)

Cities Service - 100th Anniversary: 1910 - Henry L. Dougherty created Cities Service Company to supply gas, electricity to small public utilities; 1931 - billion dollar corporation with 25,000 employees; 1940 - Cities Service erected landmark sign in Kenmore Square in Boston (replaced with CITGO sign in 1965); September 4, 1956 - Cities Service Oil Company registered "Cities Service" trademark first used in May 1921; May 16, 1965 - introduced name CITGO; October 26, 1965 - registered "Citgo" trademark first used February 4, 1965 (gasoline); 1982 - acquired by Occidental Petroleum; August 1983 - acquired by The Southland Corporation to assure supply of gasoline to Southland's 7-Eleven convenience store chain; September 1986 - 50 percent interest acquired by Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), national oil company of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; January 1990 - remaining half acquired (total purchase price of $951 million). 

Macy's Trademark - 100th Anniversary: June 7, 1910 - R. H. Macy & Co. registered "Macy's trademark first used in 1858 (men's [youths' and boys'] coats, vests, trousers and overcoats,  ladies' [misses' and children's] coats, cloaks, raincoats, inner and outer suits, outer skirts and trimmed hats, etc.);

H. L. Gross & Bro. Jewelers - 100th Anniversary: 1910 - H. L. Gross, two sons (15, 19) opened H.L .Gross & Bro. Jewelers in Brooklyn, New York (six blocks from jewelry store owned by their uncle); 1914 - sons took over; displayed jewelry on board supported by two sugar barrels; mid-1920s - opened store in Jamaica, Queens; shortly thereafter moved to Hempstead, Long Island; 1969 - Howard Gross (grandson), wife Helene opened store in Garden City; 1971 - Michael Gross (great grandson ) joined business, fourth generation; 2001 - Brad Gross (great great grandson) entered; fifth generation.

Conde Nast Publications - 100th Anniversary: 1909 - Conde Montrose Nast, successful advertising executive for Collier's, acquired society-focused bi-weekly, Vogue (founded1892, circulation of 14,000, advertising revenues of $100,000); formed Vogue Company; 1913 - acquired House and Garden; 1914 - introduced Vanity Fair; introduced concept of "class publications", targeted groups of readers by income level or common interest vs. focusing on circulation numbers; 1920s - established Conde Nast Publications; July 1932 - became one of first magazines to publish cover with color photograph; 1959 - controlling interest acquired by S.I. Newhouse; part of holding company Advance Publications; 1974 - first cover featuring African-American model.

Drake Relays - 100th Anniversary: April 13, 1910 - 82 athletes (from four local colleges, three high schools), 100 spectators attended first "Drake Relay Carnival" at Drake University  (Iowa's largest private university) in blizzard on dirt track on outskirts of fledgling Des Moines (proposed by John L. Griffith, Director of Athletics at Drake University); 1911 - hosted dinner for visiting coaches, officials to build relationships, exchange ideas; 500 spectators watched more than 250 athletes compete in second Relay; 1915 - recognized as third-largest track and field event in world; 1922 - expanded to 2-day meet (700 athletes, 10,000 spectators); first track and field meet to be broadcast live on radio; 1923 - moved to last week in April to compete with Penn Relays; 1936 - attendance reached 20,000; 1961 - women's competition introduced; 1969 - Tartan track installed; 1976 - oval converted to 400 meters (from 440 meters), all timing became electronic; one of largest, most important track meets in United States (more than 600,000 athletes have competed over 99 years; every Saturday session sold out since 1966; estimated 2.3 million spectators since 1910)

Fletcher Construction - 100th Anniversary: June 1, 1909 - James Fletcher, Scotsman, Albert Morris, Englishman, who had formed Fletcher and Morris, small housing-building and jobbing partnership in Dunedin, New Zealand, awarded first contract to build villa for J. M. Cameron; 1912 - Morris left; William Fletcher (brother) joined business (followed by Andrew, John), renamed Fletcher Brothers; November 4, 1919 - registered The Fletcher Construction Company Limited as limited liability company with capital of £50,000; 1937 - James (J. C.) Fletcher (son) joined company (named Managing Director in 1942); 1940 - formed Fletcher Holdings as public company; 1945 - third of company acquired by Colonial Sugar Refining Co Ltd (Australia) for £250,000; 1951 - joint venture with two American companies, first of its kind in New Zealand;  1952 - with Government, formed the Tasman Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd. to use pulp from radiata pine for kraft papermaking in the central North Island; 1953 - largest construction project undertaken at time in New Zealand (houses of Kawerau township); 1954 - formed seven subsidiaries (timber, construction, steel, sales and service, trust company, industry, plant hire); 1955 - acquired Kauri Timber Co Ltd., became New Zealand's biggest timber processor; annual sales  exceeded £13.2 million; 1965 - generated £1,000,000 profit; late 1970s - shopping mall development, construction and property sector; increasing focus on construction management, design and build; company acted as a developer in its own right; 1981 - formed Fletcher Challenge Ltd (merger of Fletcher Challenge, Tasman Pulp and Paper Co. Ltd, Challenge Corporation), New Zealand's largest public company; December 1999 - reorganized, broken into three companies: Fletcher Building (Fletcher Construction; operating revenue of $2.38 billion in 2000), Fletcher Challenge Forests (now named Tenon), Rubicon (New Zealand) to commercialize emerging technologies; 2002 - building backlog of $400 million; one New Zealand's best-performing listed companies, 12,000 employees worldwide, dominated domestic building industry; pre-eminent general contractor in New Zealand, South Pacific.

James Fletcher (sitting, 3rd from left) - Fletcher Construction (http://www.fletchersince1909.com/timeline/images/1910_image_03.jpg)

Ford Trademark - 100th Anniversary: July 20, 1909 - Ford Motor Company registered "Ford" trademark first used February 15, 1895 (automobiles and their parts).

Goodyear Aviation - 100th Anniversary: 1909 - Goodyear Aviation introduced Goodyear Wing Aeroplane Tire, first tire built for aviation use (lightweight, puncture resistant, easy to remove); 1927 - introduced first re-treadable aircraft tire; opened era of lower cost operation (still vital part of aviation industry); 1928 - introduced Goodyear Airwheel, first low pressure aviation tire, virtually eliminated need for wheel (mounted directly to hub); 1939 - The Goodyear Aircraft Company incorporated; entered other areas of aeronautics (wheels, brakes, fuselages, other critical components for military aircraft); developed first successful autopilot for helicopters (Korean War); produced successful Corsair aircraft; 2009 - world's largest supplier of aviation tires for commercial, military, general aviation aircraft.

Howard Theater - 100th Anniversary: August 22, 1910 - National Amusement Company opened Howard Theatre in primarily African-American area of Washington, near Howard University (sat 1,200); mid-1920s - acquired by Abe Lichtman, white owner of theaters that catered to African-Americans; billed as "largest colored theater in the World"; featured vaudeville, live theater, musicals, local talent shows; 1929 - closed during Depression; 1931 - reopened by Shep Allen, theater manager from Atlantic City, as movie house, live entertainment venue (Duke Ellington played on reopening night); 1941 - underwent massive remodeling, in Streamline style; 1970 - closed, shuttered; 1973 - Howard Theater Foundation formed, raised funds were to refurbish aging theater; April 1975 - reopened (Red Foxx, Melba Moore); 1970s-early 1980 - used sporadically as venue for live entertainment; 2007 - Ellis Development Group, Four Points, LLC. formed Howard Theatre Restoration, Inc. to raise $10-14 million (of $25 million project) to restore Theatre for 100th Anniversary (after $8 million D.C. grants, $6 million of tax credits).

Lonrho plc - 100th Anniversary: May 13, 1909/strong> - London and Rhodesian Mining Company Limited incorporated (Lonrho plc); 1961 - Roland "Tiny" Rowland joined company; sales (over 34 years) increased 787-fold, profits rose 1,365 times; January 1993 - Dieter Bock, German financier, became largest shareholder; shared chief executive's position with Rowland; October 1993 - forced to step down as Chairman; November 3, 1994 - Rowland ousted from chief executive position; January 1997 - Anglo American Corporation of South Africa Ltd., South Africa's largest company, acquired 26% controlling interest in Lonrho; changed focus to mining (platinum, gold, coal) in Africa; 1997 - Bock gone; 1999 - renamed Lonmin plc to symbolize return to mining roots.