R.A. Long

R.A. Long was a prominent American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the lumber industry and later became a successful real estate developer in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a close associate of J.C. Penney and Harvey Firestone, and his business dealings often intersected with those of John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. Long's life and career were also influenced by his relationships with Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, and he was a frequent visitor to the White House during their presidencies. His business acumen and philanthropic efforts earned him recognition from Yale University and Harvard University, among other institutions.

● Early Life and Career

R.A. Long was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1850 to a family of English Americans who had settled in the United States in the early 19th century. He grew up in a family of modest means and was educated at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he developed an interest in business and economics. After completing his education, Long worked for several years in the lumber industry in Wisconsin and Michigan, eventually becoming a partner in a lumber company in Saginaw, Michigan. He later moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he became involved in the real estate and construction industries, working with architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. Long's business dealings in Kansas City, Missouri often brought him into contact with other prominent businessmen, including Henry Ford and John Jacob Astor IV.

● Business Ventures

R.A. Long's business ventures were diverse and far-reaching, and he became one of the most successful entrepreneurs of his time. He was a key figure in the development of the Kansas City, Missouri real estate market, and his company, the Long-Bell Lumber Company, became one of the largest lumber companies in the United States. Long was also a pioneer in the development of suburban communities, and his company built several planned communities in the Kansas City, Missouri area, including Mission Hills, Kansas and Prairie Village, Kansas. He was a member of the Kansas City, Missouri Chamber of Commerce and worked closely with other business leaders, including J.P. Morgan and John Wanamaker, to promote the city's economic development. Long's business dealings also brought him into contact with politicians such as Woodrow Wilson and Warren G. Harding, and he was a frequent visitor to the United States Capitol.

● Philanthropy and Legacy

R.A. Long was a generous philanthropist who supported a wide range of causes, including education, healthcare, and the arts. He was a major donor to Yale University and Harvard University, and he also supported several other institutions, including Princeton University and Columbia University. Long was a member of the Kansas City, Missouri Museum of Art board of directors and was a strong supporter of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. He also supported several charitable organizations, including the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, and was a member of the Kansas City, Missouri Rotary Club. Long's philanthropic efforts earned him recognition from presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt, and he was awarded several honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

● Personal Life

R.A. Long was married to Martha Ellen Wilson Long and had several children, including Sally Long and Louise Long. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and was active in several social organizations, including the Kansas City, Missouri Country Club and the University Club of Kansas City. Long was also a sportsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing in his free time, often visiting Yellowstone National Park and Yosemite National Park. He was a close friend of several prominent sportsmen, including Theodore Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway, and was a member of the Boone and Crockett Club. Long's personal life was also influenced by his relationships with artists such as Thomas Hart Benton and John Steuart Curry.

● Later Life and Death

R.A. Long died in 1934 at the age of 84, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most successful businessmen and philanthropists of his time. He was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri, and his funeral was attended by several prominent business leaders and politicians, including Herbert Hoover and Alfred P. Sloan. Long's company, the Long-Bell Lumber Company, continued to operate after his death, and it remained one of the largest lumber companies in the United States for several decades. Today, R.A. Long is remembered as a pioneering entrepreneur and philanthropist who played a major role in shaping the development of Kansas City, Missouri and the United States as a whole, and his legacy continues to be celebrated by institutions such as the Library of Congress and the National Archives. Category:American businesspeople