John Cheever Cowdin
Encyclopedia
John Cheever Cowdin was an American financier and polo champion who was a head at Standard Capital Corporation of New York City
and Chairman of Ideal Chemicals.
.
In 1936, Cowdin's Standard Capital was part of the lending group who had to exercise their rights to the shares held as loan collateral of the financially strapped Universal Pictures Corp.
from Carl Laemmle
. Cowdin would serve as Universal's President and Chairman of its Board of Directors
until 1946.
A director of Curtiss-Wright
, Cowdin was considered a leader in aviation financing, notably associated with fellow financier George Newell Armsby
in the investment house of Blair & Co., which merged with BancAmerica to form Bancamerica-Blair in 1931. Through Armsby, Cowdin was associated with aviation pioneer (and friend of Amelia Earhart
) Floyd Odlum
.
As a prominent American, the TIME
magazine reported Cowdin's marriage to Manhattan socialite divorcee, Mrs. Katherine McCutcheon Abbott, in Bristol, Maine
during a cruise on his yacht, Surf.
He died on September 16, 1960.
in Queens, New York
. In 1941, the track renamed its Junior Champion Stakes Thoroughbred horse race
to the Cowdin Stakes
in his honor.
He was termed by Esquire Magazine not only one of the best-dressed men of his era, but "one of the Big Four of polo from the time of the great Tommy Hitchcock
." The International Polo Club Palm Beach lists him on a 1927 team with W. Averell Harriman
and Tommy Hitchcock
. He also played in 1925
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Chairman of Ideal Chemicals.
Biography
He was born in 1889 to John Elliott CowdinJohn Elliott Cowdin
John Elliott Cowdin was an American polo champion in the 1902 International Polo Cup. He was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.-References:...
.
In 1936, Cowdin's Standard Capital was part of the lending group who had to exercise their rights to the shares held as loan collateral of the financially strapped Universal Pictures Corp.
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
from Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle , born in Laupheim, Württemberg, Germany, was a pioneer in American film making and a founder of one of the original major Hollywood movie studios - Universal...
. Cowdin would serve as Universal's President and Chairman of its Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
until 1946.
A director of Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....
, Cowdin was considered a leader in aviation financing, notably associated with fellow financier George Newell Armsby
George Newell Armsby
George Newell Armsby was an American entrepreneur, most noted for his drive toward corporate mergers in the first half of the 20th century: first the merger of California food companies that resulted in California Packing Corporation, which sold...
in the investment house of Blair & Co., which merged with BancAmerica to form Bancamerica-Blair in 1931. Through Armsby, Cowdin was associated with aviation pioneer (and friend of Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
) Floyd Odlum
Floyd Odlum
Floyd Bostwick Odlum was a wealthy lawyer and industrialist. He has been described as "possibly the only man in the United States who made a great fortune out of the Depression"...
.
As a prominent American, the TIME
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine reported Cowdin's marriage to Manhattan socialite divorcee, Mrs. Katherine McCutcheon Abbott, in Bristol, Maine
Bristol, Maine
Bristol is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,644 at the 2000 census. A fishing and resort area, Bristol includes the villages of New Harbor, Pemaquid, Round Pond, Bristol Mills and Chamberlain. It includes the Pemaquid Archeological Site, a U.S. National...
during a cruise on his yacht, Surf.
He died on September 16, 1960.
Equine sportsman
J. Cheever Cowdin served as president of Aqueduct RacetrackAqueduct 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:...
in Queens, New York
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
. In 1941, the track renamed its Junior Champion Stakes Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
to the Cowdin Stakes
Cowdin Stakes
The Cowdin Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack and at Belmont Park. First run in 1923 as the Junior Champion Stakes, it was renamed the Cowdin Stakes in 1941 to honor to John Cheever Cowdin, former president of Aqueduct Racetrack.The race was for...
in his honor.
He was termed by Esquire Magazine not only one of the best-dressed men of his era, but "one of the Big Four of polo from the time of the great Tommy Hitchcock
Tommy Hitchcock
Thomas Hitchcock, Jr. was an American polo player who was killed in an air crash during World War II. He was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
." The International Polo Club Palm Beach lists him on a 1927 team with W. Averell Harriman
W. Averell Harriman
William Averell Harriman was an American Democratic Party politician, businessman, and diplomat. He was the son of railroad baron E. H. Harriman. He served as Secretary of Commerce under President Harry S. Truman and later as the 48th Governor of New York...
and Tommy Hitchcock
Tommy Hitchcock
Thomas Hitchcock, Jr. was an American polo player who was killed in an air crash during World War II. He was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
. He also played in 1925