Richard T. Farmer
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dick" Farmer is an American
businessman
whose fortune is self-made through his development of the Cintas Corporation
. The company started out as his grandfather's industrial rag cleaning business but today is the nation's leading corporate uniform provider.
He worked for his father in the family business through childhood, high school, and college where he received a Bachelor of Arts
in Marketing
from Miami University
in Oxford, Ohio
in 1956. After graduation, he served briefly in the United States Marines before coming on full-time with the family business in 1957. In 1968 Farmer created a new company, an offshoot of his grandfather's business.
He turned Cintas from a negative net worth of $34,000 into a Fortune 500
company with annual sales of $3.8 billion. Today Cintas works with such clients as Delta Air Lines
, DHL
, NASCAR
, Eli Lilly
, and 700,000 other clients. Farmer currently is the Chairman of the Cintas Corporation and has served as a member and chair of the board of directors
at Miami University
, where the Farmer School of Business is named for him. Forbes
Magazine consistently rates Farmer among the richest people in the world.
Farmer was the 15th largest fundraiser for the 2000 election of George W. Bush
and has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the Republican Party
http://www.motherjones.com/news/special_reports/mojo_400/index.html.
Farmer was also a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. (DTD)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
whose fortune is self-made through his development of the Cintas Corporation
Cintas
Cintas Corporation , based in Mason, Ohio, is a publicly traded company that operates more than 400 facilities throughout North America. The company provides specialized services to businesses, including the design and manufacturing of corporate identity uniform programs, entrance mats, restroom...
. The company started out as his grandfather's industrial rag cleaning business but today is the nation's leading corporate uniform provider.
He worked for his father in the family business through childhood, high school, and college where he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
from Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
in 1956. After graduation, he served briefly in the United States Marines before coming on full-time with the family business in 1957. In 1968 Farmer created a new company, an offshoot of his grandfather's business.
He turned Cintas from a negative net worth of $34,000 into a Fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
company with annual sales of $3.8 billion. Today Cintas works with such clients as Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
, DHL
DHL
DHL Express is a division of the German logistics company Deutsche Post providing international express mail services. DHL is a world market leader in sea and air mail....
, NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical company. Eli Lilly's global headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States...
, and 700,000 other clients. Farmer currently is the Chairman of the Cintas Corporation and has served as a member and chair of the 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...
at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, where the Farmer School of Business is named for him. Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
Magazine consistently rates Farmer among the richest people in the world.
Farmer was the 15th largest fundraiser for the 2000 election of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
http://www.motherjones.com/news/special_reports/mojo_400/index.html.
Farmer was also a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. (DTD)
See also
- Miami UniversityMiami UniversityMiami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
- Farmer School of Business