George Albert Hormel (December 4, 1860 – June 5, 1946) was an American entrepreneur. In 1891, he founded Hormel Foods Corporation (then known as George A. Hormel & Co.). Hormel's ownership stake in the company made him one of the wealthiest Americans during his lifetime.
Early life Hormel was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1860 to German immigrant John George Hormel, a leather tanner, and Susannah "Susan" Hormel (née Decker), and later settled in Austin, Minnesota. "George Albert Hormel, the son of German immigrants, used the knowledge, skills, and values he learned from his family to succeed as an independent meatpacker in an industry dominated by corporate giants." At the age of twelve, he began working in a Chicago packinghouse. Hormel married Lilian Belle Gleason in 1892.Gaul, Anita. "George A. Hormel." In Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present, vol. 3, edited by Giles R. Hoyt. German Historical Institute. Last modified September 05, 2013.
Hormel Foods Corporation He established his meat packing company in 1891 and established a food company that continues to thrive today.
He remained head of the company until 1929, when he passed it to his son Jay Catherwood Hormel.
Death and legacy He died on June 5, 1946, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 85. He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Minnesota.
His great-grandson Smokey Hormel is a noted guitarist.Alex Cohen (2017). How Smokey Hormel Became The Quintessential Session Musician. NPR.org, accessed 20 July 2021
See also Hormel Historic Home
References
External links Hormel Historic Home in Austin, Minnesota