Martha Rivers Ingram
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| Martha Rivers Ingram | |
 Ingram at the 2008 Vanderbilt Commencement
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| Born | Martha Robinson Rivers August 20, 1935 Charleston, South Carolina |
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Vassar College |
| Occupation | Chairman, Ingram Industries |
| Title | Chairman, Vanderbilt University Board of Trust |
| Net worth | $2.5 billion (2004)[1] |
| Known for | Entrepreneur, philanthropist, arts patron |
| Religious beliefs | Episcopalian |
| Spouse | E. Bronson Ingram (deceased) |
| Partner | Kenneth Schermerhorn (deceased) |
| Children | Orrin Henry Ingram III John Rivers Ingram David Bronson Ingram Robin Bigelow Ingram Patton |
Martha Robinson Rivers Ingram (born 20 August 1935) is the chairman of Ingram Industries, chairman of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust, and a noted philanthropist and patron of the arts. She was married to the late E. Bronson Ingram, who inherited his father's petroleum and barge empire in 1963. In 1995, Martha Ingram succeeded her late husband as chairman and chief executive officer of Ingram Industries, one of America's largest privately held companies.[2] At the time, she was better known for her commitment to the arts in Nashville, Tennessee, where she and Bronson made their home. She has since become a respected executive in her own right.[3]
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[edit] Early life
Martha Robinson Rivers was born in Charleston, South Carolina, the daughter of John Minott and Martha Elizabeth Robinson Rivers. She graduated from Ashley Hall School in Charleston and then enrolled at Vassar College, where she received a bachelor of arts in history in 1957 and where she developed what would become a lifelong interest in the performing arts.
Upon graduation, Ingram found employment at WCSC-AM/FM and WCSC-TV, a radio and television station, respectively, owned by her father. After a year and a half at the stations, her broadcasting career ended when she renewed her friendship with Bronson, whom she had dated during her time at Vassar. The two eventually married on October 4, 1958, at St. Philip's Church in Charleston.[3]
[edit] Nashville and the arts
The Ingrams first settled in New Orleans, Louisiana, before eventually moving to Nashville. While Bronson was engaged with his family's business interests in the city, Martha raised the couple's four children and devoted herself to the local arts scene. After her appointment to the advisory board of the Kennedy Center in 1972, Martha Ingram began to work to develop a local performing arts facility. While the idea initially met considerable resistance, her eight-year fight gave rise to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC), a three-theatre facility located in downtown Nashville.
Much later, Ingram would help develop the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, which opened in 2005 and houses the Nashville Symphony. The center is named for the late Kenneth Schermerhorn, with whom Ingram was romantically linked after her husband's death.[4]
[edit] Ingram Industries and later life
Soon after Martha's work with TPAC, Bronson invited her to join him at Ingram Industries. She accepted the invitation, becoming Director of Public Affairs at the company in 1979.[3] After her husband's death in 1995, she became chairman of the board. The family spun off Ingram Micro as a public company, and now operate the remainder of the corporation as a privately-owned business. What would become Ingram Entertainment, which distributes home videos and video games, was sold to David Ingram, Martha's youngest son. Ingram Industries now comprises Ingram Book Group, a leading book distributor; Ingram Marine Group; and Ingram Insurance Group. One son, Orrin, is president and CEO; another, John, is vice chairman. Martha's daughter, Robin Ingram Patton, is a member of the Ingram board of directors.[3]
Martha Ingram also serves on the boards of Ingram Micro, Regions Financial Corporation, and Weyerhaeuser. In 1995, she succeeded her husband as chairman of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust; her other philanthropic commitments include work on the boards of the Nashville Ballet, the Nashville Opera Association, and the Tennessee Repertory Theatre.[2] Ingram served on Vassar's board of trustees from 1993 to 2005, and is a former board member of Baxter International, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Harpeth Hall School, and Ashley Hall School.
She was the first living woman to be inducted into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame[3] and was named "Tennessean of the Year" in 2001 by The Tennessean for her charitable work in Nashville.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Forbes World's Richest People 2004: Martha Ingram and family. Forbes (2004-02-25). Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
- ^ a b c Vanderbilt University: Board of Trust: Martha R. Ingram. Vanderbilt University. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
- ^ a b c d e Martha Rivers Ingram. South Carolina Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
- ^ Kozinn, Allan. "Kenneth Schermerhorn, Rigorous Conductor, Dies at 75", The New York Times, 2005-04-19. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
[edit] External links
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| Persondata | |
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| NAME | Ingram, Martha Rivers |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Rivers, Martha Robinson |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Chairman, Ingram Industries |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1935-8-20 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Charleston, South Carolina |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
