Dave Longaberger
David Longaberger, famously known for founding the Longaberger Company, was born on December 7, 1934 and died on March 17, 1999.[1] He was the fifth of twelve children born to J.W. and Bonnie Longaberger. Despite growing up with a severe stutter and epilepsy, he grew up to be quite the entrepreneur.[2] Longaberger’s first job at around age seven was at Fred Shoemaker’s grocery store, and he went on to work at Kaiser Aluminum, at a bakery, and to serve in the U. S. Army.[3] Longaberger began owning his own businesses in the 1960s when he owned both a dairy bar and a grocery store. He later had two daughters, Rachel and Tami Longaberger.[4]
In 1896, Longaberger’s grandfather moved to Dresden, Ohio and worked at the Dresden Basket Factory. Fifty years later, in 1936, J.W. Longaberger bought that company and changed the name to the Ohio Ware Basket Company. It was after David’s father died that David took over the family business, J.W.’s Handwoven Baskets, in the 1970s.[5] One of his greatest successes was the Longaberger Basket Building, known as the largest basket in the world, which opened in December 1997.[6]
Local communities identified Longaberger as a great community leader and philanthropist.[7] At one point, he was a biddy league basketball coach and donated a considerable amount of money to many local schools, the senior population, and charities.[8]
In 1997, Longaberger was diagnosed with kidney cancer,[9] also known as renal cell cancer.[10] The next year, he retired and turned the Longaberger company over to his daughter Tami.[11] After a 22-month battle with cancer, David Longaberger died at age sixty-four.[12]
S.F.
References
- ↑ Mallett, Kent, “Vision, courage, humility: David W. Longaberger,” The Advocate, March 18, 1999.
- ↑ Thomson News Service, "Longaberger faces cancer," The Advocate, June 6, 1996.
- ↑ Mallett, Kent, “Vision, courage, humility: David W. Longaberger,” The Advocate, March 18, 1999.
- ↑ Lafferty, Mike, “Dave Longaberger, basketmaker, dies,” The Columbus Dispatch, March 18, 1999.
- ↑ Mallett, Kent, “Vision, courage, humility: David W. Longaberger,” The Advocate, March 18, 1999.
- ↑ Snavely, Brent, "With the philosophy of the founder in mind, the future is bright for the Longaberger Company," The Advocate, March 27, 1999.
- ↑ Snavely, Brent, "With the philosophy of the founder in mind, the future is bright for the Longaberger Company," The Advocate, March 27, 1999.
- ↑ Cope, Michelle, “A living legacy: Dave's commitment to the community will be remembered," Weaving the Dream: The Dave Longaberger Story, March 26, 1999.
- ↑ Jackson, Patrick, "Basket legend dies. Longaberger's vision created Fortune 500 company," The Times Recorder, March 18, 1999.
- ↑ Thomson News Service, "Longaberger faces cancer,” The Advocate, June 6, 1996.
- ↑ Mallett, Kent, “Vision, courage, humility: David W. Longaberger,” The Advocate, March 18, 1999.
- ↑ Pafford, Jeremy, "A community weeps: Dresden in mourning following death of favorite son," Times Recorder, March 19, 1999.
