John Galbreath
Encyclopedia
John Wilmer Galbreath (August 10, 1897 – July 20, 1988) was an American
building contractor
, sportsman and philanthropist
.
Born in Derby, Ohio
, he graduated from Ohio University
in 1922 and was a member of the Beta Chapter of Delta Tau Delta
International Fraternity. The non-denominational Galbreath Memorial Chapel on the Ohio University College Green was donated by Galbreath in memory of his first wife, Helen Mauck who died in 1946.
In 1955, he married Dorothy Bryan Firestone, widow of Russell A. Firestone of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
.
John Galbreath made a fortune in commercial property development, building skyscraper
s in the United States and abroad. However, he may be best known for his role in the Pittsburgh Pirates
as the franchise owner from 1945 to 1985, during which the Pirates won three world championships in 1960
, 1971
, and 1979
. He was the first owner to break the so-called "Million Dollar Mark" when he signed Dave Parker to a multi-year contract in 1979
. He also signed Hall of Fame player Roberto Clemente
.
He graduated from Mount Sterling High School.
near the Darby Creek in Galloway, Ohio
. In 1949 he purchased the 650 acres (2.6 km²) core property of Idle Hour Stock Farm
in Kentucky
and renamed it Darby Dan Farm.
Galbreath met his second wife Dorothy through Thoroughbred racing. She had been involved in the sport with her first husband and would be very active with Darby Dan breeding and racing. The Darby Dan Farm raced several champion horses. John Galbreath is one of only four men to have raced both a Kentucky Derby winner and an Epsom Derby winner. The others are Paul Mellon
, Michael Tabor
, and Prince Ahmed bin Salman
.
In the early 1950s, he served as chairman of the Greater New York Association. During his time, he oversaw the construction of the new Aqueduct Racetrack
and the extensive rebuilding of Belmont Park
.
John Galbreath was voted the 1972 Big Sport of Turfdom Award
by the Turf Publicists of America and in 1974 he won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder
.
Galbreath died in Galloway, Ohio
, three weeks prior to his 91st birthday.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
building contractor
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
, sportsman and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
Born in Derby, Ohio
Derby, Ohio
Derby is a census-designated place in central Darby Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 43117.-References:...
, he graduated from Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
in 1922 and was a member of the Beta Chapter of Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...
International Fraternity. The non-denominational Galbreath Memorial Chapel on the Ohio University College Green was donated by Galbreath in memory of his first wife, Helen Mauck who died in 1946.
In 1955, he married Dorothy Bryan Firestone, widow of Russell A. Firestone of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is an American tire company founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles. The company...
.
John Galbreath made a fortune in commercial property development, building skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
s in the United States and abroad. However, he may be best known for his role in the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
as the franchise owner from 1945 to 1985, during which the Pirates won three world championships in 1960
1960 World Series
The 1960 World Series was played between the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League and the New York Yankees of the American League from October 5 to October 13, 1960...
, 1971
1971 World Series
The 1971 World Series matched the defending champion Baltimore Orioles against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with the Pirates winning in seven games. Game 4, played in Pittsburgh, was the first-ever World Series game scheduled to be played at night....
, and 1979
1979 World Series
The 1979 World Series matched the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates against the American League's Baltimore Orioles , with the Pirates coming back from a three games to one deficit to win the Series in seven games...
. He was the first owner to break the so-called "Million Dollar Mark" when he signed Dave Parker to a multi-year contract in 1979
1979 in sports
1979 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Peter Lüscher, Switzerland** Women's overall season champion: Annemarie Moser-Pröll, Austria-American football:...
. He also signed Hall of Fame player Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. Clemente played his entire 18-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He was awarded the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in...
.
He graduated from Mount Sterling High School.
Thoroughbred horse racing
In 1935 John W. Galbreath founded Darby Dan FarmDarby Dan Farm
Darby Dan Farm is a produce, livestock, and thoroughbred horse breeding and training farm founded in 1935 near the Darby Creek in Galloway, Ohio by businessman John W. Galbreath. Named for the creek and for Galbreath's son, Daniel M. Galbreath , it was expanded from an original farm into a 4,000...
near the Darby Creek in Galloway, Ohio
Galloway, Ohio
Galloway is an unincorporated community west of the city of Columbus in southern Prairie Township, Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The 43119 ZIP Code, however covers a significant portion of rural and suburban western Franklin County, as well as parts of western Columbus, and locals might...
. In 1949 he purchased the 650 acres (2.6 km²) core property of Idle Hour Stock Farm
Idle Hour Stock Farm
Idle Hour Stock Farm was a 400 acre thoroughbred horse breeding and training farm near Lexington, Kentucky, United States established in 1906 by Colonel Edward R...
in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and renamed it Darby Dan Farm.
Galbreath met his second wife Dorothy through Thoroughbred racing. She had been involved in the sport with her first husband and would be very active with Darby Dan breeding and racing. The Darby Dan Farm raced several champion horses. John Galbreath is one of only four men to have raced both a Kentucky Derby winner and an Epsom Derby winner. The others are Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
, Michael Tabor
Michael Tabor
Michael B. Tabor is a businessman and owner of Thoroughbred racehorses.-Thoroughbred racing career:...
, and Prince Ahmed bin Salman
Ahmed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Prince Ahmed bin Salman was a member of the royal family of Saudi Arabia and a media executive who also was a major figure in international Thoroughbred horse racing....
.
In the early 1950s, he served as chairman of the Greater New York Association. During his time, he oversaw the construction of the new Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
and the extensive rebuilding of Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
.
John Galbreath was voted the 1972 Big Sport of Turfdom Award
Big Sport of Turfdom Award
The Big Sport of Turfdom Award has been given annually by the Turf Publicists of America since 1966 to a person or group who enhances coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with the media and Thoroughbred racing publicists....
by the Turf Publicists of America and in 1974 he won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor for breeders. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually.Its Canadian counterpart is the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Breeder....
.
Galbreath died in Galloway, Ohio
Galloway, Ohio
Galloway is an unincorporated community west of the city of Columbus in southern Prairie Township, Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The 43119 ZIP Code, however covers a significant portion of rural and suburban western Franklin County, as well as parts of western Columbus, and locals might...
, three weeks prior to his 91st birthday.