Richard Merillat
Encyclopedia
Richard Merillat is an entrepreneur
, philanthropist
and the retired President
/CEO of Merillat Industries
.
Born in Adrian
, Michigan
, his parents were Ruth and Orville D. Merillat
, founder of Merillat Industries, Inc., which was acquired by the Masco Corporation in 1985.
He worked in the family business from when he was 13 until retirement, eventually becoming vice president of manufacturing and president of Merillat Industries, and continuing as chairman of the board.
He is a long-time Mackinac Center for Public Policy
supporter and is the president of Christian Family Foundation in Naples, Florida
. He has also has been associated with the Lenawee Christian School, the Christian Family Centre, Huntington College, Bill Glass Prison Ministries, and the American Bible Society
Richard Merillat and his wife, Lynette, are both active socially and are noted philanthropists in both Michigan and Florida
. They maintain homes in both states which were designed by the late Robert Denning
of Denning & Fourcade
of New York City
and Paris
. They have three daughters: Wendy, Collette and Tricia.
The Merillat Quarter Horse Farm was widely renonwed with AQHA World Champions at Stud. It was donated to Michigan State University
in 1996, the e largest gift-in-kind received by the university and by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. This included 80 acres (323,748.8 m²), two premier stallions
, 43 quarterhorses, two houses (each 1500 square feet (139.4 m²) in size), a 72-by-200 horse barn, a 72-by-100 breeding barn, an 80-by-200 arena, and storage building.
The Merillats created the Merillat Scholars Program at Huntington University
in Huntington
, Indiana
, a program providing financial assistance to students there who are members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ
, student leaders of Youth for Christ
, or children of Huntington alumni. He is also on the Board of Trustees of Eckerd College
in St. Petersburg, Florida
. the college awarded him an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree. in 2002.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, 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...
and the retired President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
/CEO of Merillat Industries
Merillat Industries
Merillat Industries was founded in Adrian, Michigan as an American manufacturer of kitchen cabinets in 1946 by Orville D. Merillat. Now retired, Richard Merillat, took over from his father as CEO and President....
.
Born in Adrian
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, his parents were Ruth and Orville D. Merillat
Orville D. Merillat
Orville D. Merillat , businessman and philanthropist, was born on a dirt farm in Tedrow, Ohio, on May 1, 1916, he quit school in the ninth grade to work on the family farm. He married Ruth Muller on January 19, 1941, and served in the U.S...
, founder of Merillat Industries, Inc., which was acquired by the Masco Corporation in 1985.
He worked in the family business from when he was 13 until retirement, eventually becoming vice president of manufacturing and president of Merillat Industries, and continuing as chairman of the board.
He is a long-time Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a free market think tank headquartered in Midland, Michigan. It is the USA’s largest state-based free market think tank...
supporter and is the president of Christian Family Foundation in Naples, Florida
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
. He has also has been associated with the Lenawee Christian School, the Christian Family Centre, Huntington College, Bill Glass Prison Ministries, and the American Bible Society
Richard Merillat and his wife, Lynette, are both active socially and are noted philanthropists in both Michigan and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. They maintain homes in both states which were designed by the late Robert Denning
Robert Denning
Robert Denning was an American interior designer whose lush interpretations of French Victorian decor became an emblem of corporate raider tastes in the 1980s.-Early life:...
of Denning & Fourcade
Denning & Fourcade, Inc.
Robert Denning & Vincent Fourcade, Inc. was an interior design firm which for over forty years was a leader in opulent interiors with offices in New York City and Paris...
of New York City
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 Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. They have three daughters: Wendy, Collette and Tricia.
The Merillat Quarter Horse Farm was widely renonwed with AQHA World Champions at Stud. It was donated to Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1996, the e largest gift-in-kind received by the university and by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. This included 80 acres (323,748.8 m²), two premier stallions
Stallion (horse)
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
, 43 quarterhorses, two houses (each 1500 square feet (139.4 m²) in size), a 72-by-200 horse barn, a 72-by-100 breeding barn, an 80-by-200 arena, and storage building.
The Merillats created the Merillat Scholars Program at Huntington University
Huntington University (United States)
Huntington University is an institution of higher education in Huntington, Indiana, United States, that is affiliated with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.- History :...
in Huntington
Huntington, Indiana
Huntington, known as the "Lime City", is a small city in and the county seat of Huntington County, Indiana, United States. It is in Huntington Township and Union Township...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, a program providing financial assistance to students there who are members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ
United Brethren in Christ
United Brethren in Christ may refer to:*Church of the United Brethren in Christ, the evangelical Christian denomination*United Brethren in Christ , a historic church building...
, student leaders of Youth for Christ
Youth for Christ
Youth for Christ is the name of a number of previously unaffiliated evangelical Protestant religious campaigns which led to the creation of Youth for Christ International in 1946....
, or children of Huntington alumni. He is also on the Board of Trustees of Eckerd College
Eckerd College
Eckerd College is a private 4-year coeducational liberal arts college at the southernmost tip of St. Petersburg, Florida, in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.- Campus :...
in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
. the college awarded him an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree. in 2002.