John
Daniel
Hertz
Sr.
Born April 10, 1879
[place of birth?]
Son of
Jacob Hertz and
Katie Schlessinger
Brother of
Jennie Hertz, Fred Hertz, Julie Hertz, Emilia Hertz and William Hertz [add sibling]
Husband of
Francis Kesner
(Married in
[location?] [marriage date?])
Father of
Leona Jane Saks, John Hertz and Helen Hexter [add child]
Died October 8, 1961
[place of death?]
About John Hertz
John Hertz came with his parents and siblings from Sklabina, Hungary, to America in 1882 on the ship SS Herman. They settled in Chicago, Illinois.
He first worked for a newspaper selling papers and then as a reporter in Chicago. He began selling automobiles in 1904.
When used cars came into the lot, he developed the idea of a cab company with inexpensive cars for everyday people. His taxicabs had lower rates than standard cabs.
In 1907 he had a fleet of seven cars. By 1915 he had formed the Yellow Cab Company in Chicago.
The company became very popular and was franchised across the United States. In 1924 he took over a car rental company and named it Hertz Drive-UR-Self Corp.
John became a self-made millionaire by age 30. Both his businesses were purchased later by General Motors and John became a member of the board of directors of GM.
In 1953, John purchased the rental car company back from General Motors and ran it himself, naming it Hertz-Rent-a-Car.
In California and Kentucky, he raised thoroughbred race horses.
He established the Hertz Foundation to fund education for the sciences.
John died in Oct. 8, 1961, in Los Angeles, California.
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