Ward Melville
Encyclopedia
John Ward Melville was an American
philanthropist
, and businessman, born to Frank Melville, Jr. Ward Melville attended college at Columbia University
, where he was active in the Columbia Daily Spectator
and the Philolexian Society
. Following graduation in 1909, Melville joined his father's shoe company and married Dorothy Bigelow. Upon the United States
' entrance in World War I
, Melville became a soldier of the US Army.
After the war, Melville continued to work in his father's company Melville Corporation
, eventually taking control of it in 1922, when he created the Thom McAn
shoe line. He would also serve as a member of the school board in Setauket, New York, a town on Long Island
, where he donated the land for the high school which was named after him. Melville was very active in many philanthropic works around the "three village area" (Stony Brook
, Setauket, Old Field
) and the surrounding towns. These ranged from restoring old buildings, to natural conservation to supporting education. Among these works was the donation of land that would be used for the site of the State University of New York at Stony Brook
. Later, he would be made Chairman of the Council of that university by Governor Averill Harriman.
Melville died in 1977 and is buried in Setauket at the Caroline Church.
Ward Melville's legacy is well remembered in western Suffolk County
. Numerous organizations that serve various needs are named after him, including a local high school (Ward Melville High School
). The main library
at Stony Brook University is named for his father.
- He was the 66th President of the Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York from 1948 to 1949.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 businessman, born to Frank Melville, Jr. Ward Melville attended college at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where he was active in the Columbia Daily Spectator
Columbia Daily Spectator
Columbia Daily Spectator is the daily student newspaper of Columbia University. It is published at 112th and Broadway in New York, New York. Founded in 1877, it is the oldest continuously operating college news daily in the nation after The Harvard Crimson, and has been legally independent of the...
and the Philolexian Society
Philolexian Society
The Philolexian Society of Columbia University is one of the oldest college literary societies in the United States, and the oldest student group at Columbia...
. Following graduation in 1909, Melville joined his father's shoe company and married Dorothy Bigelow. Upon the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' entrance in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Melville became a soldier of the US Army.
After the war, Melville continued to work in his father's company Melville Corporation
Melville Corporation
Melville Corporation, formerly based in Rye, New York, was a large retail holding corporation incorporated in 1922 as the Melville Shoe company by Ward Melville. It changed its name to CVS Corporation in 1996...
, eventually taking control of it in 1922, when he created the Thom McAn
Thom McAn
Thom McAn is a brand of shoes distributed by Footstar, Inc., formerly the Melville Corporation . The brand is currently sold in Kmart and Wal-Mart stores, and consists of leather dress, casual, and athletic shoes...
shoe line. He would also serve as a member of the school board in Setauket, New York, a town on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, where he donated the land for the high school which was named after him. Melville was very active in many philanthropic works around the "three village area" (Stony Brook
Stony Brook, New York
Stony Brook is a hamlet located in the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York, which is on the North Shore of Long Island...
, Setauket, Old Field
Old Field, New York
Old Field is a village of 918 residents in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The Incorporated Village of Old Field is in the town of Brookhaven, on the North Shore of Long Island. It is one of the most affluent communities in the state and is among the wealthiest towns in the United States...
) and the surrounding towns. These ranged from restoring old buildings, to natural conservation to supporting education. Among these works was the donation of land that would be used for the site of the State University of New York at Stony Brook
State University of New York at Stony Brook
The State University of New York at Stony Brook, also known as Stony Brook University, is a public research university located in Stony Brook, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island, about east of Manhattan....
. Later, he would be made Chairman of the Council of that university by Governor Averill Harriman.
Melville died in 1977 and is buried in Setauket at the Caroline Church.
Ward Melville's legacy is well remembered in western Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
. Numerous organizations that serve various needs are named after him, including a local high school (Ward Melville High School
Ward Melville High School
Ward Melville High School is a public high school in the Three Village Central School District of Suffolk County, New York on Long Island, serving grades ten through twelve. It is fed by the two junior high schools in the district: Paul J...
). The main library
Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library
The Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library is the main library at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. It is named for the father of philanthropist Ward Melville. Originally constructed in 1962 as a modest sized three-story building, it was renovated almost immediately and greatly expanded...
at Stony Brook University is named for his father.
- He was the 66th President of the Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York from 1948 to 1949.