Tony Hulman
| Anton "Tony" "Big Tone" Hulman, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born |
February 11, 1901 Terre Haute, Indiana |
| Died | October 27, 1977 (aged 76) Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery, Terre Haute 39°28′13″N 87°21′07″W / 39.4702988°N 87.3518982°WCoordinates: 39°28′13″N 87°21′07″W / 39.4702988°N 87.3518982°W |
| Alma mater | Lawrenceville School, Worcester Academy, Sheffield Scientific School |
| Occupation | businessman |
| Employer | Hulman & Company |
| Known for |
Clabber Girl Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| Home town | Terre Haute, Indiana |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Fendrich Hulman |
| Children |
Mary Antonia Hulman George (Mari) grandchildren Nancy, Josie, Kathi and Tony George |
| Parent(s) | Anton Hulman Sr. and Grace Smith Hulman |
| Notes | |
Anton "Tony" "Big Tone" Hulman, Jr. (February 11, 1901 – October 27, 1977) was a businessman from Terre Haute, Indiana who bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945 and brought racing back to the famous race course after a four-year hiatus following World War II.
Hulman was born in 1901 in Terre Haute. He was educated at St. Benedict's School at Terre Haute, Lawrenceville School in New Jersey and Worcester Academy in Massachusetts. Hulman participated in the high hurdles and the pole vault at Worcester.
He served with the American Red Cross Ambulance Corps during World War I at the age of 17.
Upon graduation from Yale's Sheffield Scientific School in 1924, Hulman returned to Terre Haute to work in the family business. His father, Anton Hulman, Sr., instructed the people of Hulman & Co., "Don't give Tony a place in the business. Let him work for it."
By 1926, Hulman was the company's sales manager, and by 1931, at the age of 30, management of the whole company passed from father to son.
Hulman's first project was the Clabber Girl ad campaign, which he instigated as a ten-year plan to take the company's top product to national prominence. Salesmen crisscrossed the country, nailing signs to roadside posts and going to individual homes across the country, invariably inviting the lady of each house to try Clabber Girl. Hulman's efforts were successful in increasing the sales of Clabber Girl greatly.
One remnant of Hulman's original sales push, a well-known billboard, is still visible along U.S. Highway 40 east of Terre Haute. It reads, "Five Minutes to Terre Haute, Home Of Clabber Girl Baking Powder," and has a clock at the top. It is considered a landmark in the area.
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