L. Gale Lemerand is an entrepreneur, restaurateur and prominent philanthropist. He is the subject of "To Win in Business... Bet on the Jockey," which tells his remarkable and inspiring entrepreneur story.[1]
Lemerand is also the inventor of Sanidoor, a new touch-free, germ-free restroom door system that is being used in Florida restaurants.[2]
Lemerand grew up in a working class family in Michigan. After serving in the Korean War, he returned stateside and began a career at Williams Insulation in Chicago in 1968. At the age of 40, Lemerand bought out his partner and renamed the business Gale Industries.[3] He moved the company to Daytona Beach, Florida in 1978. By 1990, the corporation was the largest insulation contractor in the nation, with more than 100 locations in 23 states. He sold Gale Industries to the Fortune 200 company Masco Corporation in 1995, and stayed on as CEO and president until 2000.[4]
Lemerand is also a co-founder and majority owner of Stonewood Grill & Tavern restaurants. He owns major interest in 29 restaurants which include Stonewood, Peach Valley Café, Houligan's, Perkins Family Restaurant and Bakery, The Dish and Ormond Wine Company.
Lemerand is one of the top donors at the University of Florida. The road near UF's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and the L. Gale Lemerand Athletic Center are named is his honor.[5] In May 2003, the University of Florida awarded Lemerand an honorary doctor's degree.[6] He was also named Florida Entrepreneur of the Year in 1995.
In addition to the University of Florida, Lemerand has donated to Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona State College and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Lemerand has served on numerous local community boards, including SunTrust Banks, WDSC PBS 15, Ormond Beach Memorial Hospital and donated to his alma mater, Escanaba High School, in Michigan. He also supports local groups and charities, such as Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, March of Dimes, The Volusia Council on Aging, and the United Way.