Cincinnati Chamber Releases 2024 State of the Region Report

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Read articles and learn more about the Cincinnati Chamber through our related news articles

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Advocacy

Read articles and learn more about the Cincinnati Chamber through our related news articles

2025 Great Living Cincinnatians Announced by Cincinnati Regional Chamber Anderson, Lindsay, Scheper and Warner to receive region’s preeminent honor at February 27 Annual Dinner
Arena Study Findings Confirm Need for New Arena, Identify Highly Viable Sites, and Project Programming Increase in Modern Facility
Recognize & Celebrate businesses & people

Great Living Cincinnatians: Honorees

Celebrating the leadership, vision, tenacity, and love of community shared by the recipients of the Great Living Cincinnatian Award, presented annually by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber since 1967.

Fred Lazarus, Jr.

Awarded In 1969

1884 – 1973

 

Fred Lazarus, Jr. was the founder of Federated Department Stores. Born in Columbus, Ohio, he grew up working in his family’s small department store there, F. & R. Lazarus. He briefly attended Ohio State University, but dropped out at the age of 18 to work full time in the store. He began expanding the business soon afterward.

In 1921, Lazarus suggested to a merchants group, the Retail Research Association, that all its members keep their books the same way in order to share profit and sales information. The idea was accepted. The group formed the Associated Merchandising Corp.

In 1930, F. & R. Lazarus merged with Abraham & Straus, Filene’s and Bloomingdale’s to become Federated Department Stores, of which “Mr. Fred” became the chairman in 1945. Under his leadership, Federated eventually became the largest department store company in the United States.

Lazarus himself exerted enormous financial, social, and political clout; he is credited with convincing President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 to move Thanksgiving a week earlier in order to make the Christmas shopping period longer.

Nominate a Great Living Cincinnatian

Recipients are selected from candidates by the Cincinnati Chamber’s senior council based on the following criteria: – Community service – Business and civic attainment on a local, state and national or international level – Leadership – Awareness of the needs of others – Distinctive accomplishments that have brought favorable attention to their community, institution or organization