George Welch Olmsted (1874 – 1940) was an American businessman who founded the Long Island Lighting Company in 1911."Olmsted Family History ", Olmsted Manor Retreat Center, Our History. Retrieved 30 March 2007. He was also a philanthropist and led the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America."Tributes to George W. Olmsted." Warren, Pennsylvania: Warren Times-Mirror, January 20, 1940, p. 4 (subscription required).
Formative years Born in Ridgway, Pennsylvania on May 18, 1874, George W. Olmsted was a son of Samuel Ashbel Olmsted and Frances (Welch) Olmsted. He was also related to landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of New York City's Central Park.
On June 17, 1904, Olmsted married Iva Catherine Groves."Executors' Notice: In the Estate of George W. Olmsted." Kane, Pennsylvania: The Kane Republican, February 29, 1940, p. 7 (subscription required).
Business career In 1911, Olmsted founded the Long Island Lighting Company.Electric Lighting Trust for Suffolk: Long Island Lighting Co. Is Taking Over Several Local Concerns." Brooklyn, New York: Times Union, January 18, 1911, p. 10 (subscription required).
During late 1939 and early 1940, he was a member of the board of directors of the Queens Borough Gas and Electric Company."F. S. Koons Named Utility Director." Brooklyn, New York: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, February 9, 1940, p. 19 (subscription required).
Public service As an adult, Olmsted was active in the Boy Scouts of America."Tributes to George W. Olmsted," Warren Times-Mirror, January 20, 1940. In 1926, he purchased and donated the land for the Chief Cornplanter Council camp, now known as Camp Olmsted. He was the chairman of the BSA National Camping Committee. In 1931, Olmsted received the Silver Buffalo Award for his service to youth."George W. Olmsted, In Memoriam." Kenosha, Wisconsin: Kenosha News, March 15, 1940, p. 15 (subscription required).
Death Olmsted had a heart attack on Friday evening, January 12, 1940, and died at his home in Ludlow, Pennsylvania on Monday, January 15, 1940 at 10 p.m."George W. Olmsted" (death notice). Warren, Pennsylvania: Warren Times-Mirror, January 16, 1940, p. 4 (subscription required). Following funeral services at his home at 2:30 p.m. on January 18,"George W. Olmsted: Rites for Utilities Official." New York, New York: Daily News, January 17, 1940, p. 231 (subscription required). he was buried at the Oakland Cemetery in Warren, Pennsylvania."Geo. W. Olmsted Dies Monday: Outstanding Philanthropist, Public Utilities Executive and Boy Scout Backer Suffers Heart Attack: Burial in Oakland Cemetery, Warren." Brockway, Pennsylvania: The Brockway Record, January 19, 1940, front page (subsription required).
He was survived by his wife and son, Robert G. Olmsted, who succeeded him in February 1940 as a member of the board of directors of the Long Island Lighting Company."L. I. Lighting Elects." Brooklyn, New York: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, February 17, 1940, p. 3 (subscription required).
Notes