Ellsworth Milton Statler
Ellsworth Milton Statler was an American hotel businessman, founder of the Statler Hotels chain.
Biography
Statler built his first permanent hotel in 1907, in Buffalo, New York. Future Statler Hotels constructed by E. M. Statler were located in Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis, New York, a new hotel in Buffalo, and his last hotel, the Boston Park Plaza built in Boston.The Hotels Statler Company built several other hotels after Statler's death in 1928. The Statler Hotel chain was sold to Hilton Hotels in 1954.
Upon his death, the Statler Foundation was established in his will, becoming benefactors of what is now the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in Ithaca, New York. The Statler Foundation, located in Buffalo, New York, continues to contribute to many worthwhile hospitality-related causes.
On March 20, 1951, the radio show, Cavalcade of America sponsored by DuPont, featured the life story of Ellsworth Statler in a light 30 minute drama.
In 1984, E. M. Statler was inducted into the Wheeling, West Virginia Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Hospitality Industry Hall of Honor in 1997 along with Curt Carlson, Charles Forte, Baron Forte, and Ray Kroc.
Personal life
Ellsworth Statler was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, the third of the children of Rev. William J. Statler and Mary A. McKinney.E.M. married first Mary Idesta Manderbach and together they raised four adopted children. Milton Howland Statler, Marian Francis Statler, Ellsw Morgan Statler, and Elva Idesta Statler. E.M. had only one grandchild, Milton's daughter Joan M. Statler.
E.M. married Alice M. Seidler on April 30, 1927.