Mary Anderson (business executive)

Mary Anderson
Born
Mary Gertrude Gaiser

(1909-12-07)December 7, 1909
Yakima, Washington, US
DiedMarch 27, 2017(2017-03-27) (aged 107)
Washington, US
Occupation(s)Teacher, Executive
Known forCo-founder of REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.)
SpouseLloyd Anderson (m.1932–2000, his death)
Children2 daughters

Mary Gertrude Anderson (née Gaiser; December 7, 1909 – March 27, 2017) was an American business executive, known for co-founding REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) in 1938 with her husband, Lloyd Anderson.[1]

As avid mountaineers in Seattle, Washington, they saw a need for quality gear so created a consumer cooperative company that is one of the largest recreational equipment retailers.[2][3] They were inducted into the Cooperative Business Association's Hall of Fame in 1993.[4]

In honor of her 100th birthday in 2009, December 7 was "Mary Anderson Day" in Washington state and the city of Seattle.[5]

Family life

Gaiser was born to John and Gertrude Gaiser in Yakima, Washington. In 1932, she married Lloyd Alva Anderson.[6] She died at age 107 in 2017.[1][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Tu, Janet I. (April 4, 2017). "Outdoors enthusiast Mary Anderson, who co-founded REI, dies at 107". Seattle Times. (obituary). Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  2. ^ Drosendahl, Glenn. "The Mountaineers" (https://historylink.org/ : accessed March 2, 2020) History Link Essay 20547 Posted April 20, 2018
  3. ^ Morse, Gardiner (May 2003). "Gearing Up at REI". (https://www.hbr.org : accessed March 1, 2020) Harvard Business Review. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  4. ^ "Lloyd and Mary Anderson". Cooperative Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 25, 2012.Lloyd and Mary Anderson". Cooperative Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  5. ^ Heim, Kristi (December 9, 2009). "REI creates grant in honor of co-founder's 100th birthday". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9M-KQLK : November 28, 2018), Lloyd A Anderson and G Mary Gaiser, June 19, 1932, Yakima, Washington, United States, Washington State Archives, Olympia; FamilySearch digital folder 007285622.
  7. ^ "Mary Anderson, Co-Founder Of Outdoor Outfitter REI, Dies At 107", (https://www.npr.org/ : accessed March 2, 2020) NPR, All Things Considered April 12, 2017