George Haas Jr.
| |
|---|---|
| Born | September 10, 1920 |
| Died | June 12, 2006(2006-06-12) (aged 85) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, polo player |
George Haas Jr. (September 10, 1920 – June 12, 2006) was an American businessman and polo player.[1] He founded the Haas Financial Corporation.
George Haas Jr. was born on September 10, 1920, in New York City.[2] He attended Brooks School, a private school in North Andover, Massachusetts.[2] He graduated from Yale University, where he won his first polo trophy in 1938.[1]
He joined the United States Army in the Second World War and served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Armored Division.[2] He was captured by German soldiers and managed to escape six months later.[2] He later received the Silver Star, the Purple Heart and the Air Medal.[2]
In the 1950s, he worked in industrial sales for The Coca-Cola Company, followed by PepsiCo.[2] In 1960, he founded the Haas Financial Corporation headquartered in New York City.[2] It specialized in beverage industry mergers and acquisitions as well as commercial aviation leases.[2]
As a professional polo player, he won the East Coast Open three times, the Monty Waterbury Cup three times and the Arena Sherman Memorial.[1]
He served as President of the Gulfstream Polo ClubinLake Worth, Florida.[1] In 2003, he sold his property near the grounds of the Gulfstream Polo Club, in the midst of controversy about the possible relocation of the club.[3]
As chairman of the United States Polo Association's Safety and International Committees, he improved the safety of polo helmets.[1] He also served on the executive committee of the Federation of International Polo.[1] He served as chairman of the Polo Training Foundation.[1] He served on the board of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame and was inducted on February 16, 2002.[1]
He died on June 12, 2006.[2]
