George Gandy

George Shepard "Dad" Gandy (October 20, 1851 – November 25, 1946) was an American business executive and developer, best known for constructing the original Gandy Bridge, the first bridge to span the Tampa Bay in Florida. He is also known for developing numerous buildings and transportation lines in Philadelphia and St. Petersburg, Florida.

Gandy was born in the Tuckahoe section of Upper Township, New Jersey. His father was a ship captain. Gandy dropped out of grammar school and made money writing wedding invitations. The family moved to Philadelphia and, at age 16, Gandy earned $4 per week working as an office boy at Henry Disston & Sons.

After 11 years, Gandy climbed to a top position with Disston launching his impressive career. In 1882, he became secretary and treasurer of Frankford and Southwark Railway Company. At age 35, Gandy began suffering from a heart condition which lasted the rest of his life and was occasionally aggravated by his business dealings. He worked as an executive for several companies in Philadelphia, building more than 200 residences and the People's Theatre. Gandy's passion however was transportation and, by the end of the 19th century, he had built 125 miles (201 km) of trolley lines in Philadelphia. In the 1890s, he spearheaded efforts to connect Willow Grove Park to Philadelphia, making the park a popular attraction.

In 1903, Gandy followed fellow Philadelphian trolley entrepreneur, F. A. Davis, to St. Petersburg, Florida, leading several of Davis's companies including St. Petersburg's trolley system. Gandy and Davis eventually parted ways and Gandy settled permanently in St. Petersburg with his wife and five children in 1912. That year, he purchased land downtown and built La Plaza Theatre and office buildings. The plaza was criticized by many as "Gandy's White Elephant" but it soon made hefty profits and silenced the critics. The $150,000 theatre drew such attractions as John Philip Sousa's band and the controversial landmark film The Birth of a Nation.

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