John D. Hertz

John Daniel Hertz, Sr. (April 10, 1879October 8, 1961) was an American businessman, thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder, and philanthropist. Biography Born Sándor Herz to a Jewish family in Szklabinya, Austria-Hungary (today Sklabiňa, a village in modern-day Martin, Slovakia). His family emigrated to Chicago when he was five. He ran away from home after being beaten by his father. He had just completed his fifth grade, the end of his formal education. He then work as a newspaper copyboy at the Chicago Morning Herald. Hertz eventually became a reporter for the newspaper. As a young man, Hertz Jr. was an amateur boxer, fighting as "Dan Donnelly." He won amateur championships at the Chicago Athletic Association and eventually began to box under his own name. He lived at 880 Fifth Avenue in New York City. Business career Hertz had extensive and complex business interests, mainly in the transport sector.