| Roy Black | |
|---|---|
| Born | Roy Keith Black October 30, 1927 London, England, UK |
| Died | December 28, 2009 (aged 82) San Diego, California, USA |
Roy Black (October 30, 1927 – December 28, 2009) was a British-born businessman, best known for owning and operating, Electronic Rentals Group, a UK public company during the 1960s in Dublin, Ireland specializing in television rentals. By 1970, ERG was the world's second largest Electronic Rental Company in the world with operations in 22 countries. In 1987, ERG was acquired by Granada Limited for an estimated $450 million. From 1967 to 1973, he owned Gola Sporting Goods. He is the nephew of Reuben Viner and Viners Cutlery, one of Europe's most prestigious family of silversmiths ordained by the British monarchy. His wife, Maureen Black (née Peres) is the daughter of Harold Peres, legendary music producer and record distributor of Solomon and Peres, a UK and Ireland-based company which later was acquired by Decca Records.
In 1982, Black moved to San Diego, California, U.S., and owned and operated Video Library, which later became Blockbuster Inc. In retirement, Roy served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Mingei International Museum and was California Western School of Law's Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1991 to 1994, and continued to serve as Chairman Emeritus. In 1995, he was awarded an Honorary Juris Doctorate. He is the grandfather of film and television writer, Keith D. Black, the cousin to both British Politician, Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes and House of Common's Conservative MP, Phillip Oppenheim and friend and business associate of Hank Greenspun.