Stephen Jay Ross
Encyclopedia
Stephen Jay Ross (1927 – 1992) was an American
businessman and corporate executive credited with the founding of Warner Communications
which would later merge with Time Inc.
to form Time Warner Inc.
Born on April 5, 1927, Stephen Jay Ross came into the world as Stephen Jay Rechnitz. Born to Jewish immigrant parents in Brooklyn
, New York, Ross had his last name changed from Rechnitz at the start of the Great Depression
, as his father felt the change would help him find work after losing everything.
Ross would go on to attend Paul Smith's College
for only two years before leaving for a brief stint with the military. After leaving the Army, Ross met Carol Rosenthal, and the two were married when Ross was twenty-six years old.
Steve got his introduction into the world of business while working for Carol's father in his funeral home. Ross would later pilot the businesses evolution into Kinney National Services
. In 1962 Ross became the CEO of Kinney National Services
and directed the 400 million dollar buyout of Warner Communications
. He would go on to pioneer Warner's growth from a low-end movie production company into one of America's largest entertainment groups. Ross would become CEO of Warner Communications
in 1972, and would remain in that position through the additions of MTV
and Nickelodeon
to its programs. His role as chairman ended in 1992, two years after the company's merge with Time Inc.
to form Time Warner Inc.
While president of Warner communications, Ross lead the firm into the world of sports ownership in the mid 1970's via the purchase of the then obscure New York Cosmos
soccer club. While under the direction of Warner/Ross, the club emerged from a near media vacuum to become a major mainstream franchise in American sports. The growth of the club was largely due to Ross's acquisition of international superstars Pele
, Giorgio Chinaglia
, and Franz Beckenbauer
. The addition of these well known figures to the club added not only notoriety but a level of skill to that point unheard of in America.
As part of his commitment to the development of American soccer, Ross also lobbied (unsuccessfully) to bring the FIFA World Cup
to the United States in 1986.
Steven Spielberg
dedicated his film Schindler's List to Ross in the end credit roll.
Stephen Jay Ross died on December 20, 1992, following extended hospital stays due to complications caused by prostate cancer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and corporate executive credited with the founding of Warner Communications
Warner Communications
Warner Communications or Warner Communications, Inc. was established in 1971 when Kinney National Company spun off its non-entertainment assets, due to a financial scandal over its parking operations and changed its name....
which would later merge with Time Inc.
Time Inc.
Time Inc. is a subsidiary of the media conglomerate Time Warner, the company formed by the 1990 merger of the original Time Inc. and Warner Communications. It publishes 130 magazines, most notably its namesake, Time...
to form Time Warner Inc.
Born on April 5, 1927, Stephen Jay Ross came into the world as Stephen Jay Rechnitz. Born to Jewish immigrant parents in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York, Ross had his last name changed from Rechnitz at the start of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, as his father felt the change would help him find work after losing everything.
Ross would go on to attend Paul Smith's College
Paul Smith's College
Paul Smith's College is a private college and is the only four year institution of higher education located within the boundary of the Adirondack State Park in Upstate New York...
for only two years before leaving for a brief stint with the military. After leaving the Army, Ross met Carol Rosenthal, and the two were married when Ross was twenty-six years old.
Steve got his introduction into the world of business while working for Carol's father in his funeral home. Ross would later pilot the businesses evolution into Kinney National Services
Kinney National Company
Kinney National Services, Inc. was formed in 1966 when the Kinney Parking Company and the National Cleaning Company merged. The new company was headed by Steve Ross....
. In 1962 Ross became the CEO of Kinney National Services
Kinney National Company
Kinney National Services, Inc. was formed in 1966 when the Kinney Parking Company and the National Cleaning Company merged. The new company was headed by Steve Ross....
and directed the 400 million dollar buyout of Warner Communications
Warner Communications
Warner Communications or Warner Communications, Inc. was established in 1971 when Kinney National Company spun off its non-entertainment assets, due to a financial scandal over its parking operations and changed its name....
. He would go on to pioneer Warner's growth from a low-end movie production company into one of America's largest entertainment groups. Ross would become CEO of Warner Communications
Warner Communications
Warner Communications or Warner Communications, Inc. was established in 1971 when Kinney National Company spun off its non-entertainment assets, due to a financial scandal over its parking operations and changed its name....
in 1972, and would remain in that position through the additions of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
to its programs. His role as chairman ended in 1992, two years after the company's merge with Time Inc.
Time Inc.
Time Inc. is a subsidiary of the media conglomerate Time Warner, the company formed by the 1990 merger of the original Time Inc. and Warner Communications. It publishes 130 magazines, most notably its namesake, Time...
to form Time Warner Inc.
While president of Warner communications, Ross lead the firm into the world of sports ownership in the mid 1970's via the purchase of the then obscure New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
soccer club. While under the direction of Warner/Ross, the club emerged from a near media vacuum to become a major mainstream franchise in American sports. The growth of the club was largely due to Ross's acquisition of international superstars Pele
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, Giorgio Chinaglia
Giorgio Chinaglia
Giorgio Chinaglia is a former football striker from Italy. He grew up and played his early football in Cardiff, Wales and began his career with Swansea Town in 1964. A year later at age 19, Chinaglia returned to Italy to play for Massese, and then Internapoli, before joining S.S. Lazio in 1969...
, and Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
. The addition of these well known figures to the club added not only notoriety but a level of skill to that point unheard of in America.
As part of his commitment to the development of American soccer, Ross also lobbied (unsuccessfully) to bring the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
to the United States in 1986.
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
dedicated his film Schindler's List to Ross in the end credit roll.
Stephen Jay Ross died on December 20, 1992, following extended hospital stays due to complications caused by prostate cancer.