James Orthwein
Encyclopedia
James Busch Orthwein was an American
advertising
executive and great-grandson of Anheuser-Busch
founder Adolphus Busch
. Orthwein owned the New England Patriots
from 1992
-1993
.
, from Washington University in St. Louis
, and joined his father's advertising firm in 1947. Orthwein was chairman and chief executive of the D’Arcy Advertising Company from 1970 to 1983. Orthwein took the advertising agency to the global stage merging with agencies in Detroit and London. In 1985, the St. Louis-based company then merged with Benton & Bowles of New York to form D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles
.
He purchased the New England Patriots from Victor Kiam
, when the latter was facing bankruptcy and owed him millions. During his ownership Orthwein hired Bill Parcells
as head coach, who helped to return the moribund franchise to respectability. He planned to relocate the Patriots franchise to St. Louis, renaming the team the St. Louis Stallions
. The move never came to pass as Robert Kraft
, who owned the lease on Foxboro Stadium
, refused to accept a buyout of the lease and instead made a then-record $175 million counter-offer for outright ownership of the Patriots, an offer which Orthwein had little choice but to accept.
In 1997 he held 1.6 million shares in Anheuser-Busch, more than any other company insider with the exception of Chairman and President August Busch III
, who was Orthwein's first cousin.
For 35 years, Orthwein was Master of Foxhounds at Bridlespur Hunt Club and he was a member of the Missouri Horseman's Hall of Fame. He helped raise more than $1-million for horse show related charities.
Orthwein died of cancer
at his home in Huntleigh, Missouri
.
Orthwein' third wife was Ruth Orthwein; they divorced in the late 1990s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
executive and great-grandson of Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. , is an American brewing company. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and 18 in other countries. It was, until December 2009, also one of America's largest theme park operators; operating ten theme parks across the United States through the...
founder Adolphus Busch
Adolphus Busch
Colonel Adolphus Busch was the German-born co-founder of Anheuser-Busch with his father-in-law, Eberhard Anheuser. His great-great-grandson, August Busch IV is now on the board of Anheuser-Busch InBev.-Biography:...
. Orthwein owned the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
from 1992
1992 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1992 season with a record of two wins and fourteen losses, and finished last in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:-Roster:...
-1993
1993 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1993 season with a record of five wins and eleven losses, and finished fourth in the AFC East division.-Season summary:Amid year-long rumors that the team would move to St...
.
Life and career
Orthwein graduated from the Choate School in Wallingford, ConnecticutWallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 43,026 at the 2000 census.- History :Wallingford was established on October 10, 1667, when the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the "making of a village on the east river" to 38 planters and freemen...
, from Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
, and joined his father's advertising firm in 1947. Orthwein was chairman and chief executive of the D’Arcy Advertising Company from 1970 to 1983. Orthwein took the advertising agency to the global stage merging with agencies in Detroit and London. In 1985, the St. Louis-based company then merged with Benton & Bowles of New York to form D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles
D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles
D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles was an advertising agency in the United States with worldwide subsidiaries.DMB&B was established in November 1985 by the merger of the Benton & Bowles and D'Arcy-MacManus Masius advertising agencies...
.
He purchased the New England Patriots from Victor Kiam
Victor Kiam
Victor K. Kiam was an American entrepreneur and the owner of the New England Patriots football team from 1988-1991....
, when the latter was facing bankruptcy and owed him millions. During his ownership Orthwein hired Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
as head coach, who helped to return the moribund franchise to respectability. He planned to relocate the Patriots franchise to St. Louis, renaming the team the St. Louis Stallions
St. Louis Stallions
The St. Louis Stallions were a proposed National Football League expansion team to be located in St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis had lost the Cardinals franchise, which moved to Phoenix and became the Arizona Cardinals. The city entered the race to get a team for the 1995 NFL season.The team would...
. The move never came to pass as Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft
Robert K. Kraft is an American business magnate. He is the Chairman and was the Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio...
, who owned the lease on Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
, refused to accept a buyout of the lease and instead made a then-record $175 million counter-offer for outright ownership of the Patriots, an offer which Orthwein had little choice but to accept.
In 1997 he held 1.6 million shares in Anheuser-Busch, more than any other company insider with the exception of Chairman and President August Busch III
August Busch III
August Anheuser Busch III is the great-grandson of Anheuser-Busch founder Adolphus Busch and was the company's Chairman until November 30, 2006...
, who was Orthwein's first cousin.
For 35 years, Orthwein was Master of Foxhounds at Bridlespur Hunt Club and he was a member of the Missouri Horseman's Hall of Fame. He helped raise more than $1-million for horse show related charities.
Orthwein died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at his home in Huntleigh, Missouri
Huntleigh, Missouri
Huntleigh is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 334 at the 2010 census.-History:The community, most of which encompasses what was the original 1700s farm of Stephen Maddox, is residential, with no commercial or industrial uses. Police services are provided by...
.
Orthwein' third wife was Ruth Orthwein; they divorced in the late 1990s.