Mari Hulman George facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mari Hulman George
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Mari Hulman George 2015 Indianapolis 500
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Mary Antonia Hulman
December 26, 1934 Evansville, Indiana, U.S.
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| Died | November 3, 2018 (aged 83) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
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| Alma mater | St. Mary-of-the-Woods College |
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| Title | Chairman emeritus |
| Spouse(s) | Elmer George (1957–1976) |
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| Parent(s) | Anton "Tony" Hulman and Mary Fendrich Hulman |
| Relatives | Kyle Krisiloff (grandson) Jesika Gunter Boaz (granddaughter) Jarrod Krisiloff (grandson) Tony George JR Lauren George (granddaughter) Olivia Conforti (granddaughter) |
Mary Antonia "Mari" Hulman George (December 26, 1934 – November 3, 2018) was an important person in Indiana. She was the daughter of Tony Hulman and Mary Fendrich Hulman. Her parents were well-known for helping others and running big businesses. Mari Hulman George led the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1988 to 2016. She also led Hulman & Company, a family business.
Mari's Family Life
Mari was the only child of the Hulman family. From a young age, she made friends with the families of Indianapolis 500 drivers. In 1957, she married a driver named Elmer George. At 22, she became a stepmother to Elmer's children from his first marriage. Together, Mari and Elmer had four more children. They had three daughters: Nancy, Josie, and Kathi. They also had a son named Anton Hulman George, who was known as "Tony."
Elmer George stopped racing in 1963. He later worked as a vice-president for the Speedway. He also led the IMS Radio Network. Mari and Elmer owned a farm in Indiana. They also spent time at their large ranch in Wyoming. Mari and Elmer separated in 1976. Elmer George passed away later that year. On November 3, 2018, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced that Mari Hulman George had died.
Leading the Speedway
After her father, Tony Hulman, died in 1977, Mari's mother, Mary Fendrich Hulman, became the leader of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She also led Hulman & Co. Mari Hulman George became a vice president and board member.
In 1988, Mari Hulman George took over as the leader of the companies. She held these important roles until 2016. After the 2016 Indianapolis 500, Mari's health began to decline. She was then named chairman emeritus, which means she was an honorary leader. Her son, Tony George, then became the new chairman.
Like her parents before her, Mari had a special role at the races. From 1997 to 2015, she officially started the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 races. She would say the famous words, "Gentlemen, start your engines!" Sometimes she added "Ladies and" to the command. In 2016, for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, her whole family joined her to give the command.
Helping Others and Loving Animals
Mari Hulman George was well-known for her kindness and generosity. Like her parents, she gave a lot to colleges and universities in Indiana. Her own college, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, was one of the main places she helped.
The college even has a special school named after her. It's called the Mari Hulman George School of Equine Studies. This school teaches about horses, which Mari loved very much.
In 2001, a training area for search-and-rescue teams was renamed after her. It is now called the Mari Hulman George Search and Rescue Training Center. This was to thank her for helping animals affected by disasters. She also worked to help rescue and find homes for racing greyhounds.
