Curt Carlson Explained

Curtis Leroy Carlson (July 9, 1914 – February 19, 1999) was an American businessman and founder of Carlson and Radisson Hotel Group.[1] Carlson developed a popular trading stamp consumer loyalty program for grocery stores in the United States.

Early life and education

Carlson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of Charles and Leatha Carlson. Charles Carlson was a Swedish-American immigrant who arrived as a child in Minnesota; Leatha Carlson was born in Downing, Wisconsin of a Danish father and Swedish mother. Curt Carlson began a career with Procter and Gamble after earning a BA in Economics in 1937 from the University of Minnesota where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.[2] [3]

Career

Carlson began working for Procter & Gamble and then founded the Gold Bond Stamp Company in 1938.[4] Carlson used "Gold Bond Stamps", a consumer loyalty program based on trading stamps, to provide consumer incentive for grocery stores. Carlson was the first entrepreneur to develop a loyalty program for a grocery chain through the issuance of trading stamps.[5] [6]

Carlson expanded his offerings by purchasing the downtown Minneapolis Radisson Hotel in 1960 and building it into a national chain. He also acquired TGI Fridays, Carlson Leisure Group and hundreds of other hospitality businesses.[7]

The Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota is named for him, in recognition of his $25 million gift, the largest single donation to a public university at that time.[8] Curt Carlson created an estate in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin which was later converted to a business resort for corporations.[9]

Awards

External links

Notes and References

  1. Former Owner /CEO of Radisson Hotels, Carlson Travel (Murat Shrine.org http://www.muratshrine.org/bios/carlson.php
  2. Carlson, Curtis L. Minnesota entrepreneur.Founder of Carlson Companies (New York Times. February 23, 1999) https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/23/classified/paid-notice-deaths-carlson-curtis-l.html
  3. Web site: Sigma Phi Epsilon Journal. March 1, 2003. July 22, 2023. Internet Archive.
  4. Web site: Curt L. Carlson, President and Board Chairman, Carlson Companies. 2020-10-08. Minnesota Historical Society. en.
  5. Curtis Leroy Carlson (The University of Houston, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management)Web site: Archived copy . 4 September 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100614101956/http://www.hrm.uh.edu/cnhc/ShowContent.asp?c=8706 . June 14, 2010 .
  6. Web site: Business leader Curt Carlson(Star Tribune. March 26, 1999). https://web.archive.org/web/20110607065137/http://www.startribune.com/obituaries/11596536.html. dead. . June 7, 2011.
  7. Gold Bond Stamp Company / Carlson Companies 1938 – 1998 (Harvard Business School) http://www.hbs.edu/leadership/database/leaders/curtis_l_carlson.html
  8. Web site: Driven: The Campaign for the Carlson School. 2020-12-09. Carlson School of Management. en-US.
  9. Obituary of Curtis L. Carlson, Founder and Chairman (Hotel Online data base of News and Trends) http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PressReleases1999_1st/Feb99_CurtisLCarlson.html
  10. Web site: Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement . www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  11. Web site: SAHF Inductees. hostfest.com. Norsk Høstfest. January 11, 2016.
  12. Web site: Curtis L. Carlson DeMolay International Hall of Fame. DeMolay International.

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