Wayne Huizenga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wayne Huizenga
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Huizenga in the 1980s
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| Born |
Harry Wayne Huizenga
December 29, 1937 Evergreen Park, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | March 22, 2018 (aged 80) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
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| Resting place | Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | Businessman; entrepreneur |
| Known for | Blockbuster Video, Waste Management, Inc., AutoNation, and Swisher Hygiene former owner of NFL's Miami Dolphins, the NHL's Florida Panthers, and MLB's Florida Marlins teams |
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Harry Wayne Huizenga Sr. (December 29, 1937 – March 22, 2018) was an American businessman. He was also an entrepreneur and a generous giver to charities. He started big companies like AutoNation and Waste Management Inc.. He also owned or co-owned Blockbuster Video. Wayne Huizenga was famous for owning professional sports teams. These included the Miami Dolphins (NFL), the Florida Panthers (NHL), and the Florida Marlins (MLB).
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Who Was Wayne Huizenga?
Wayne Huizenga was born in Evergreen Park, Illinois, on December 29, 1937. His family had roots in the Netherlands. His grandfather, Harm Huizenga, started a trash hauling business in Chicago in 1899. Wayne's parents were Gerrit Harry Huizenga and Jean Huizenga. They were strict Christians.
In 1953, Wayne's family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His father became a builder there. Wayne went to Pine Crest School and played football. After high school, he went to Calvin College for a short time. He then worked low-wage jobs and joined the army reserves.
Building Big Businesses
Wayne Huizenga followed his grandfather's path. In 1962, he started a garbage hauling business in Fort Lauderdale. He borrowed $5,000 from his father. He bought used trucks from a rival company.
Starting Waste Management
In 1968, Huizenga began with one garbage truck. He worked hard to get customers. He bought many small garbage companies. By 1972, his company, Waste Management, Inc., became public. It grew into one of the largest waste companies in the U.S. He left the company in 1984.
Blockbuster and AutoNation
Huizenga then bought a few Blockbuster Video stores in 1987. He quickly made it the top movie-rental chain by 1994. Later, he started buying car dealerships. In 1996, he created AutoNation. This company became the biggest car dealer in the country.
Other Business Ventures
In 2004, he sold a group of hotels called Boca Resorts. This was a big deal worth $1.25 billion. In 2010, he invested in Swisher Hygiene. This company provided cleaning and hygiene services. It became a publicly traded company.
Owning Sports Teams
Wayne Huizenga brought baseball and ice hockey to South Florida. He started the Florida Marlins and the Florida Panthers. He also bought a TV channel, SportsChannel Florida, to show his teams' games. He named the teams after the state of Florida. He wanted fans from all over the area, not just Miami.
Miami Dolphins (NFL)
In 1990, Huizenga bought 15% of the Miami Dolphins football team. He also bought part of their stadium. By 1994, he owned the entire team and stadium. He changed the stadium's name to Pro Player Stadium. It has been renamed many times since then.
In 2008, Huizenga sold half of the team and stadium to Stephen M. Ross. By 2009, Ross owned most of the team. Huizenga kept a small share and owned half of the land.
Florida Marlins (MLB)
In 1996, Huizenga spent a lot of money on new players for the Florida Marlins. This helped the team become very strong. In 1997, the Marlins made it to the playoffs for the first time. They went on to win the World Series!
After winning, Huizenga decided to cut the team's player budget. Many championship players left. In 1998, he sold the Marlins to John Henry. Later, the team was sold again for a much higher price in 2017. Some experts called Huizenga a "genius" for winning the World Series and then selling the team for a good profit.
Florida Panthers (NHL)
Huizenga also owned the Florida Panthers hockey team. He used the team's success to help build a new arena for them. In 1996, the Panthers made it to the Stanley Cup finals. This made people excited about the team.
In 2001, he sold the Panthers to his friend Alan Cohen. In 2017, the Panthers honored Huizenga by retiring the number 37 jersey. This was his birth year and a lucky number for him.
Giving Back to the Community
Wayne Huizenga was a generous person. He gave money to many causes.
- He funded the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University.
- He donated to Pine Crest School, which named its science building after him.
- He was on the board of the Laureus Foundation. This charity uses sports to help end violence and unfairness.
- In 2009, his family foundation donated a chapel to a Scout camp in Florida.
Awards and Recognition
Wayne Huizenga received many honors for his work:
- In 1991, he got the Golden Plate Award.
- In 1992, he was named a "Distinguished American" for helping fund scholarships.
- In 2005, he was named the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year.
- In 2012, a street in Fort Lauderdale was renamed Wayne Huizenga Blvd.
His Life and Passing
Wayne Huizenga married Joyce Vander Wagen in 1960. They had two children, Wayne Jr. and Scott. He later married Martha Jean "Marti" Goldsby in 1972. He adopted her two children, Robert Ray and Pamela. Marti passed away in 2017 after a long illness.
Wayne Huizenga owned a large luxury yacht called Floridian. It even had a helipad for a helicopter. He also owned an exclusive golf club in Florida called the Floridian Golf & Yacht Club. He sold the club in 2010.
Wayne Huizenga passed away from cancer at his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 22, 2018. He was 80 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Wayne Huizenga para niños
