Entrepreneur L. Gale Lemerand gives $1 million planned gift to support university
The middle child of two factory workers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, L. Gale Lemerand never had the chance to attend college, except for taking a few night classes at a community college.
“I missed the university opportunity and I realized how much I missed,” says the Daytona Beach, Fla., entrepreneur and philanthropist.
But he doesn’t want other young people to miss out. That’s why Lemerand recently made a $1 million planned gift to Embry-Riddle that will support academic and athletic scholarships and the university’s greatest needs.
“I’ve watched the university grow and I have a lot of respect for Dr. Johnson,” says Lemerand, who is also a former member of the Embry-Riddle Board of Trustees.
An avid sports fan, he specifically directed part of his gift toward Embry-Riddle’s athletics program to show his support for Steve Ridder, the Eagles men’s basketball coach and former athletic director, who recently became a special assistant to the president to pave the program’s path toward NCAA-Division II membership.
The planned gift is the latest in a series of generous contributions to the university over the years. The L. Gale Lemerand Auditorium in the Willie Miller Instructional Center on Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus is named in his honor.
“I think you need to give back if you’ve been fortunate enough to make it,” Lemerand says.
Success didn’t come easy. Lemerand grew up in a house without indoor plumbing and spent four years in the U.S. Air Force, including serving in the Korean War. As a young man, he worked a series of jobs, including selling Fuller brushes door-to-door.
“Things were really rough growing up,” he says. “I didn’t have any mentors.”
At age 40, Lemerand bought out his partner at Williams Insulation in Chicago and renamed the business Gale Industries. He expanded the company nationally and sold it in 1995 to Masco Corporation, where he remained as president until retiring in 2000. He also has ownership in more than 30 restaurants in Florida, including Stonewood Grill & Tavern, Peach Valley Café, Houligan’s and Pie 5 Pizza Company.
“I see nothing but good things for the area, and I see Embry-Riddle leading the way,” Lemerand says. --Melanie Stawicki Azam