Great Living Cincinnatians: Honorees

Ralph Lazarus started his career in 1935 as a salesman with Federated Department Stores Inc, the company his father had founded. He held many positions in the firm. In 1951, he joined the Federated corporate office as executive vice-president and was elected to its board of directors. He was president from 1957 to 1967. Lazarus became chairman of the board of Federated in 1967 and was the company’s chief executive officer from 1966 to 1981.

Lazarus served on the boards of Chase Manhattan Corp., General Electric Co., Scott Paper Co., Dartmouth College, the Committee for Economic Development, the Business Council and the Council of Foreign Relations Inc. He was also a member of the advisory board of the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, the board of overseers of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Commercial and Commonwealth Clubs of Cincinnati. He was a founder and co-chairman of the Cincinnati Business Committee.

Lazarus was a former director of the Cincinnati area chapter of the American National Red Cross, the 1960 campaign chairman of the United Appeal, and director of the Boy’s Clubs of Greater Cincinnati.

In 1975, Lazarus received the Brotherhood Award, the highest honor from the National Conference of Christians and Jews.