Malcolm Glazer Biography

Malcolm Irving Glazer (born May 25, 1928) is an American businessman and sports team owner. He is the president and chief executive officer of First Allied Corporation, a holding company for his varied business interests and owns both the Manchester United Football Club of the English Premier League and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a National Football League team based in Tampa, Florida.

Biography

Born in Rochester, New York as one of seven children, Glazer took over the family watch-parts company at age 15 following the death of his father. Always one with an astute mind for business, Glazer first expanded the company and then continued his foray into the professional world, investing in other businesses.

Glazer eventually went on to become president and CEO of First Allied Corporation, a holding company specializing in ownership,management and leasing of community and neighborhood shopping centers throughout the United States. He owns, has owned or has been the largest share holder of a diverse portfolio of international holdings and public companies,including: First Allied, Zapata Corporation, Houlihan's Restaurant chain,Harley Davidson, Formica, Tonka, Specialty Equipment and Omega Protein.

In addition to his business ventures, Glazer is also involved in philanthropic efforts. He launched the Glazer Family Foundation in 1999, which is dedicated to assisting charitable and educational causes in the Tampa Bay community. Inits 14 years of existence,the Foundation has donated millions in programs, tickets, grants and in-kind contributions. Recently, the Foundation donated $5 million toward the construction of the Glazer Children's Museum in downtown Tampa, which opened on September 25, 2010. 

Glazer has also overseen the operations of the far-reaching Glazer Family Foundation's Vision Program, created in 2006 to provide school-children with an opportunity to have vision problems identified in schools at an early age. The initiative, highlighted by the Vision Mobile, visits schools and provides eye examinations to thousands of disadvantaged children. 

Glazer's charitable activities have also included the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, an organization that promotes amateur sports activities. Glazer has committed $2 million to the Commission. Glazer currently resides in Palm Beach, Florida. He and his wife, Linda, have six children and 14 grandchildren.

Business history

Glazer's first attempt at a corporate takeover was in 1984, when he launched an unsuccessful $7.6 billion bid to buy the bankrupt freight rail company, Conrail. He also failed in an attempted takeover of kitchen designer Formica in 1988 and, later, with motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson.

One of the companies that Glazer did purchase successfully was the nearly bankrupt Zapata Offshore, a remnant of Zapata, an oil and gas company founded by George H. W. Bush, which was left over after the latter's takeover by South Penn Oil to create Pennzoil. Glazer successfully diversified it into fish protein and Caribbean supermarkets.

Glazer has owned a diverse portfolio of nationwide investments which include food service equipment, food packaging and food supplies, marine protein, broadcasting, health care, property, banking, natural gas and oil, the Internet, stocks and bonds.

Sports ownership

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Glazer purchased the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise on January 16, 1995, following the death of former owner Hugh Culverhouse. Glazer serves as president of the team, while sons Bryan, Joel and Edward are co-chairmen.

Since coming under the Glazer family's ownership, the club has experienced an upswing in its fortunes, winning 131 regular season games, earning seven playoff berths and capturing its first Super Bowl Championship in Super Bowl XXXVII. Prior to Glazer's purchase, the Buccaneers had won just 87 games in 19 seasons and had advanced to the postseason just three times. 

Tampa Bay also eclipsed the club record for wins in a regular season with 12 in 2002. In fact, the top five single-season win totals in club history (12 in 2002, 11 in 2005, 11 in 1999, 10 in 2010, 10 in 2000 and 10 in 1997) have all come under Glazer's stewardship, and Tampa Bay was the only team in the league to play in the postseason each year from 1999 to 2002. The 2007 campaign saw the Buccaneers claim their third NFC South Division title in six years, the sixth division crown in franchise history. The three titles are the most for any team in the division since its inception in 2002. 

In January of 2009, Glazer and his family hired Raheem Morris as head coach of the Buccaneers, making him the youngest head coach in the National Football League upon his appointment. In addition, the family continued to upgrade their Tampa Bay's front office by naming longtime Director of Pro Personnel Mark Dominik as the fourth general manager in club history. With Dominik and Morris in place, the Buccaneers began a rebuilding process, starting with drafting franchise quarterback Josh Freeman in 2009, followed by a highly regarded 2010 draft class that included such players as defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price, wide receivers Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams, cornerback Myron Lewis and safety Cody Grimm.In 2010 under Morris, the team completed its sixth double-digit win season in franchise history, finishing with a record of 10-6 and just missing the playoffs. 

On January 27, 2012, Glazer and his family appointed long-time Rutgers University head coach Greg Schiano as the ninth head coach in franchise history. In his first year at the helm, Schiano increased the team's win total by four from the previous season. In the same year, under Glazer's supervision, Schiano worked with general manager Mark Dominik to draft Boise State University running back Doug Martin in the first round of the April NFL Draft. The duo also signed prized free agent wide receiver Vincent Jackson from the San Diego Chargers. These two key players,along with lifetime Buccaneer defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, each were elected to the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl squad. 

Glazer has successfully constructed a multi-faceted plan, which calls for stable ownership, a talented coaching staff, knowledgeable personnel executives, and asolid business partnership within the Tampa/St. Petersburg communities. 

In addition, Glazer has devoted a significant amount of time working to make the organization more fan-friendly by greatly increasing fan activities at Buccaneers home games through the expansion of the club's community relations and special events departments. His mandate to enhance the team's visibility in the community was reflected through increased appearances by Buccaneer players,coaches, cheerleaders and front office officials in recent years. Since 1999, the team has also coordinated with the Glazer Family Foundation to host "Gameday for Kids," a program that has hosted over 13,000 underprivileged youth at Buccaneers home games, giving them an opportunity to spend pre-game moments on the playing field and to cheer on the Buccaneers from exclusive seats in Raymond James stadium. 

Glazer's input has been sought on the league level as well, as evidenced by his tenure on the NFL's Finance Committee. He has also played a major role in Tampa becoming a host for the Super Bowl on several occasions. In May 2005, the Bay Area was awarded Super Bowl XLIII, marking the second time during Glazer's ownership the area welcomed the world's most spectacular event. 

Manchester United

See Glazer ownership of Manchester United for more information Glazer acquired ownership of Manchester United between 2003 and 2005. The club is currently headed by the Glazer family, with sons Joel and Avram serving as co-chairmen. Since taking ownership, Glazer has also overseen the club's continued success. Manchester United was crowned champions of England for the second consecutive year in 2008, champions of Europe as the UEFA Champions League winner and champions of the world as the FIFA Club World Cup winner. After finishing as runner-up to Chelsea in the 2009"10 season, United achieved a then-record 19th league title in 2010"11, securing the championship with a 1"1 away drawagainst Blackburn Rovers on 14 May 2011. After again finishing as runner-up, this time to Manchester City in the 2011"12 season, United improved on their record with a 20th league title in 2012"13, securing the championship with a 3"0 home win against Aston Villa on 22 April 2013.Under Glazer ownership, since 2005, the team has won five League championships, three League Cups, five FA Community Shields, one UEFA Champions League Cup, and a franchise-first FIFA Club World Cup, won in 2008.                                         

Manchester United is reputed to be the most popular football club in the world, with one of the highest average home attendance in Europe. The club's worldwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognized branches of the Manchester United Supporters Club (MUSC), in at least 24 countries. The club takes advantage of this support through its worldwide summer tours. 

Personal life

Malcolm Glazer has been married to Linda Glazer since 1961. They live in Palm Beach, Florida and have five sons and one daughter:

• Avram Glazer, Co-Chairman of Manchester United.
• Kevin E. Glazer,
• Bryan Glazer, vice-president at First Allied and Co-Chairman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Joel Glazer, vice-president at First Allied and Co-Chairman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Darcie S. Glazer Kassewitz, Co-President of the Glazer Family Foundation.
• Edward S. Glazer, vice-president at First Allied and Co-Chairman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Glazers attend the Palm Beach synagogue in Palm Beach, Florida.