Henry Segerstrom facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Henry T. Segerstrom
Henry Thomas Segerstrom, Founding Chairman of the Orange County Performing Arts Center.
Born	Henry Thomas Segerstrom April 5, 1923 Santa Ana, California
Died	February 20, 2015(2015-02-20) (aged 91)
Education	Stanford University, BA Stanford Graduate School of Business, MBA
Occupation	Managing Partner, C.J. Segerstrom & Sons
Organization	Founding Chairman, Orange County Performing Arts Center, now known as the Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Known for	Henry T. Segerstrom was known for his entrepreneurship, philanthropy, cultural leadership and patronage of the arts

Henry Thomas Segerstrom (April 5, 1923 – February 20, 2015) was a very important person who helped shape Orange County, California. He was a successful businessman, a generous giver (philanthropist), and a big supporter of the arts. He helped create the Orange County Performing Arts Center, which is now known as the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Early Life and Education

Henry T. Segerstrom was born in Santa Ana, California, on April 5, 1923. His family were Swedish immigrants who were farmers. They started with dairy farming, then grew alfalfa, and eventually became the biggest lima bean farmers in the United States.

School Days

Henry was a great student. In 1939, he was the top student (valedictorian) at Santa Ana High School. He was also the class president. At just 17 years old, he started college at Stanford University.

College and War Service

His college studies were put on hold when World War II began. Henry joined the U.S. Army in 1942. He became an officer and fought in France. He was badly wounded during the Battle of the Bulge, one of the war's toughest battles.

After recovering, he went back to Stanford. He earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration. In 1945, he received the Purple Heart medal for his injuries and the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal for his service in Europe. He stayed in the army until 1947.

Building a Business Empire

Henry T. Segerstrom took over his family's business, C. J. Segerstrom and Sons. This company, started in 1898, managed real estate. Henry helped turn Orange County from a quiet farming area into a busy, international place called South Coast Metro.

Creating South Coast Plaza

In 1967, Henry and his cousin opened a huge shopping center called South Coast Plaza. It was built on one of their family's old lima bean fields. Today, South Coast Plaza is one of the most popular luxury shopping centers in the country, attracting over 18 million visitors each year.

Henry had a big vision. He wanted to build a whole community around South Coast Plaza, not just shops. He wanted to include places for art and culture too.

Early Business Ideas

Henry was always looking for new ideas. After World War II, the U.S. Army left behind warehouses on his family's land. Henry suggested leasing these buildings to businesses. This was a smart move that brought in the family's first tenants.

He also convinced his family to buy an old library building in Santa Ana. They tore it down and built the region's first office building with air conditioning.

Planning for Growth

Henry planned for a major shopping area on his family's land between Santa Ana and Costa Mesa. He worked with local leaders to make sure the area would have enough water and good roads. He even helped bring bus lines to the area and improve traffic flow. Because of his efforts, he became known as the "Father of the Orange County Transportation Authority."

A Leader in the Arts

Henry T. Segerstrom loved the arts. Even though Orange County had many cultural groups in the 1940s, it didn't have good places for performances or public art.

Founding the Segerstrom Center

In 1979, the Segerstrom family generously donated five acres of land. This land became the home for a new cultural center. It brought together three major arts groups: the Philharmonic Society, the Pacific Symphony, and the Pacific Chorale. By 1986, they all became one big center, first called the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

The center grew and is now known as the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. It was named after the Segerstrom family because of their amazing generosity and dedication to the arts.

Generous Contributions

Henry continued to support the center. In 2005, he gave another $40 million to help build the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and improve the entire center. He also gave his time, serving on the boards of many important cultural groups, like the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Henry helped create a special partnership between the Segerstrom Center and Carnegie Hall in New York City. This allowed amazing performances and cultural events from Carnegie Hall to be shared with audiences in Southern California for the first time.

In 2010, Carnegie Hall honored Henry with their Medal of Excellence. They even declared June 7, 2010, "Segerstrom Center for the Arts Day" in New York!

Thanks to Henry's lifelong commitment, Orange County is now known for its amazing arts community and its creative spirit.

Giving Back (Philanthropy)

Henry T. Segerstrom was very proud of his work as the founding chairman of the Orange County Performing Arts Center. He also helped create the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford University's business school.

In 2008, Stanford University gave him the Ernest C. Arbuckle Award for his lifetime achievements. He also received the Tree of Life Award in 1995 from Margaret Thatcher. This was for his work in developing water desalination plants in Southern California, which help turn saltwater into fresh water. In 1998, the King of Sweden honored him with the Order of the Polar Star.

Death and Legacy

Henry T. Segerstrom passed away in Newport Beach, California, on February 20, 2015, at the age of 91.

His legacy lives on in Orange County. The Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, and Segerstrom Avenue in Santa Ana are all named after him, honoring his incredible contributions to the community.

Awards and Honors

Henry T. Segerstrom received many awards throughout his life for his business success, cultural leadership, and philanthropy. Here are some of them:

• 1971: Citizen of the Year, Coast Community College
• 1982: First Golden Baton Award, Philharmonic Society of Orange County
• 1988: Order of the Polar Star, bestowed by the King of Sweden
• 1995: Tree of Life Award, Jewish National Fund
• 1995: Named Founding Chairman for Life, Orange County Performing Arts Center
• 2008: The Ernest C. Arbuckle Award, Stanford Graduate School of Business
• 2010: The Medal of Excellence Award, Carnegie Hall
• 2013: Lifetime Achievement Award, Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce

Images for kids

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  Henry Thomas Segerstrom, photo from Santa Ana High School.

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  Henry Thomas Segerstrom, OCS Class 109 stands in front of the Segerstrom family ranch on Fairview road in Costa Mesa, California