Gert Boyle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gertrude Boyle
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Gert Boyle in 2013
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| Born |
Gertrude Lamfrom
March 6, 1924 Augsburg, Germany
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| Died | November 3, 2019 (aged 95) Portland, Oregon, US
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Arizona (BA) |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Known for | Chairwoman of Columbia Sportswear |
| Spouse(s) |
Neal Boyle
(m. 1948; |
| Children | 3, including Timothy Boyle |
| Relatives | Hildegard Lamfrom (sister) |
Gertrude Boyle (born Lamfrom; March 6, 1924 – November 3, 2019) was an amazing American businesswoman. She was born in Germany. Her family had to leave their home because of Nazi Germany. Later, her father started a business that became Columbia Sportswear. In 1970, Gertrude became the company's president.
She was president until 1988. From 1983 until she passed away in 2019, she was also the chairwoman of the company's board. In the 1980s, she became famous for appearing in funny TV ads for Columbia Sportswear. In these ads, she often tested products on her son, Timothy Boyle, showing how tough and good their gear was. She was also a kind person who gave a lot to charity and wrote a book about her life.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Gertrude Lamfrom was born in Augsburg, Germany. Her family was Jewish. Her father owned a large shirt factory. In 1937, when Gertrude was 13, her family had to leave Nazi Germany. They moved to Portland, Oregon, in the United States. When they arrived, Gertrude did not speak English.
In 1938, her father bought a hat company. He renamed it the Columbia Hat Company, after the Columbia River. Gertrude went to Grant High School in Portland. She later earned a degree in sociology from the University of Arizona.
Leading Columbia Sportswear
In 1964, Gertrude's father passed away. Her husband, Neal Boyle, took over the company. He started making outdoor clothes for hunters, fishermen, and skiers. In 1960, the company's name changed to Columbia Sportswear.
In 1970, her husband Neal suddenly died. Gertrude became the company's president. At that time, the company made about $800,000 in sales each year. The business faced many challenges and almost went bankrupt. But in the 1970s, Gertrude and her son Timothy decided to focus on outdoor clothing and casual wear. This was a smart move, as more people wanted comfortable clothes. In 1975, they were the first company to use Gore-Tex in their jackets.
In 1983, Gertrude became the chairman of Columbia's board of directors. She held this important role for 36 years, until her death.
"One Tough Mother" Ads
Gertrude started appearing in commercials for Columbia in 1984. She played "Ma Boyle," known as "One Tough Mother." In these ads, she would humorously test new products on her son, Tim. This made the ads very popular.
In 1986, Columbia released the Bugaboo jacket. This jacket had a zip-out lining and became very popular. It helped the company grow even more. Columbia was special because it sold its products to many different stores. By 1997, the company's sales had grown to $353.5 million. In 1998, the company became public, meaning its shares could be bought and sold.
In 1988, Gertrude stepped down as company president. Her son, Tim, took over. But she remained the chairman of the board.
Giving Back to Others
Gertrude Boyle was also very generous. In 1995, she provided clothing for the Special Olympics Team USA for the World Games. She gave the money she earned from her book, One Tough Mother, to the Special Olympics. She also supported Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children.
In 2010, she gave $2.5 million to the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health and Science University. This gift honored her sister, Hildegard Lamfrom, who was a scientist. In 2014, Gertrude donated a huge $100 million to the Knight Cancer Institute.
Family Life
In 1948, Gertrude married Joseph Cornelius "Neal" Boyle. They met in college. They had three children: Timothy, Kathy, and Sally. In 2013, her son Tim was the CEO of Columbia. Kathy is an artist, and Sally co-owns a chocolate company. Gertrude's husband, Neal, passed away in 1970, and she never remarried.
In 2010, Gertrude faced a scary situation at her home in West Linn, Oregon. She was brave and managed to trigger a silent alarm. This alerted the police, and the robber was later caught.
Gertrude Boyle passed away on November 3, 2019, at the age of 95.
Awards and Recognition
- 1992 Inc. Magazine’s Northwest Entrepreneur of the Year
- 1998 Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement
- 2003 The National Sporting Goods Association Hall of Fame
- 2018 ISPO Cup
