Edgar Prince
| Edgar Prince | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Edgar Dale Prince May 3, 1931 Holland, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | March 2, 1995 (aged 63) Holland, Michigan, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Michigan (BS) |
| Occupation | Engineer, businessman |
| Spouse(s) | Elsa Zwiep |
| Children | 4, including Erik Prince and Betsy DeVos |
Edgar Dale Prince (May 3, 1931 - March 2, 1995) was an American businessman, the founder of the Prince Corporation (now owned by Johnson Controls).
Edgar Dale Prince was born on May 3, 1931 in Holland, Michigan, the son of Edith (De Weert) and Peter Prince. His father was a local businessman who died of a stroke when Edgar was 11. His parents belonged to the Reformed Church in America and traced their ancestry back to the Netherlands. He graduated from the University of Michigan, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering.
Prince started his career at a company manufacturing die cast machines in Holland, Michigan. He quit in order to start his own manufacturing business with the help of two co-workers. The venture proved very successful and was a leading manufacturer of die-cast machines in Michigan by the 1970s. The Prince Corporation also operated a successful diversification into auto parts by developing sun visors and other interior systems for car manufacturers. After a long period of sustained growth, it employed thousands in the early 1990s at its many plants.
Ownership in the business made Prince one of the wealthiest men in Michigan. He was a major contributor to the Family Research Council, whose mission is to "advance faith, family and freedom in public policy and the culture from a Christian worldview". Critics argue that the organization advocates against LGBT rights, abortion, divorce, embryonic stem-cell research, and pornography. He also supported civic projects such as the renovation and development of downtown Holland, where a monument was dedicated to him.
Prince collapsed in an elevator and died in 1995. Throughout his career he had congenital heart disease. His company was sold the following year for $1.35 billion and is now a unit of Johnson Controls.
Prince was married to Elsa Zwiep and together they had four children, including former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince and the Trump administration's Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
...
Wikipedia