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'{{short description|American businessman and sports team owner}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Arthur Blank | image = Arthur Blank 2016.jpg | caption = Blank in 2016 | birth_name = Arthur Morris Blank | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|9|27}} | birth_place = [[Queens]], [[New York City]], U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = [[Babson College]] ([[Bachelor of Business Administration|BSBA]]) | occupation = {{hlist|[[Home Depot]] [[Entrepreneur|co-founder]]|[[Atlanta Falcons]] [[owner]]|[[Atlanta United FC]] [[owner]]|[[philanthropist]]}} | spouse = {{plainlist| * [[Diana Blank|Diana Latow]] (divorced 1993) * {{marriage|Stephanie Wray|1995|2014|end=divorced}} * {{marriage|Angela Macuga|2016|2019|reason=divorced}}<ref name="heavy.com">{{Cite web|url=https://heavy.com/sports/2017/02/arthur-blank-falcons-owner-wife-angie-angela-macuga-who-is-age-how-old-married-ex-photos/|title=Angela Macuga, Arthur Blank's Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|first=Tom|last=Cleary|date=February 5, 2017}}</ref> }} | children = 6 | website = {{URL|http://www.blankfamilyofbusinesses.com/}} }} '''Arthur Morris Blank''' (born September 27, 1942) is an American [[Businessperson|businessman]]. He is best known for being a co-founder of the home improvement retailer [[The Home Depot]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Our History |url=http://corporate.homedepot.com/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDdwNHH0sfE3M3AzMPJ8MAF0sDKND388jPTdUvyHZUBAB6afqn/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfMEcwQUw5TDQ3RjA2SEIxUEY5MDAwMDAwMDA!/ |work=homedepot.com |publisher=The Home Depot |access-date=January 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121070705/http://corporate.homedepot.com/wps/portal/%21ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDdwNHH0sfE3M3AzMPJ8MAF0sDKND388jPTdUvyHZUBAB6afqn/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfMEcwQUw5TDQ3RjA2SEIxUEY5MDAwMDAwMDA%21 |archive-date=January 21, 2011 }}</ref> Blank owns two professional sports teams based in [[Atlanta, Georgia]]{{Snd}}the [[Atlanta Falcons]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and [[Atlanta United FC]] of [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS), the latter of which won the [[2018 MLS Cup]]<ref>{{cite web|title=ARTHUR BLANK - OWNER AND CEO |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/roster-staffs/arthur-blank/ |work=atlantafalcons.com |access-date=January 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108042058/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/roster-staffs/arthur-blank/ |archive-date=January 8, 2011 }}</ref>{{Snd}}and is chairman of their parent company, AMB Group LLC. ==Life== Arthur Blank was born to a [[American Jews|Jewish]] family in [[Flushing, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Images|first=Getty|title=Super Bowl-Bound Arthur Blank on Why Jews Score as NFL Owners|url=https://forward.com/news/361861/falcons-owner-arthur-blank-interview-jewish-super-bowl/|access-date=2020-09-16|website=The Forward|date=February 2, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> He was born to Max Blank, a pharmacist, and Molly Blank. He has an older brother named Michael. Blank graduated from [[Stuyvesant High School]] in [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Staff/Executive/Arthur_Blank.aspx |title=Arthur Blank - Owner and CEO - Biography |access-date=November 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217004008/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Staff/Executive/Arthur_Blank.aspx |archive-date=December 17, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>[[File:Arthurblank.jpg|thumb|Blank in 2009]] After graduating from [[Babson Institute]] in 1963,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://venturefizz.com/stories/incredible-list-babson-college-alumni-part-1-undergraduates|title=The Incredible List of Successful Babson College Alumni (Part 1: Undergraduates)|date=2018-06-15|website=VentureFizz|language=en|access-date=2019-05-10}}</ref> Blank was hired by Arthur Young and Company, where he was a senior accountant. He later joined the [[Daylin]] corporation, where he rose to become president of Elliott's Drug Stores/Stripe Discount Stores, a division of Daylin. When Daylin decided to sell off that division, Blank moved to another division, [[Handy Dan]] Home Improvement Centers. [[Bernard Marcus]] was CEO of Handy Dan and Blank was vice president of finance when both were fired in 1978 as part of an internal power struggle. In 1978, Blank co-founded [[Home Depot]] with Marcus. New York [[investment banker]] [[Ken Langone]] assembled the initial group of investors and merchandising expert [[Pat Farrah|Patrick Farrah]] helped founders realize their vision of one-stop shopping for the do-it-yourselfer. The store revolutionized the home improvement business with its warehouse concept and Blank and Marcus became [[billionaire]]s as a result. Blank spent 19 years as the company's president before succeeding Marcus as CEO. Blank retired from the company in 2001 as co-chairman. He received his MBA from Harvard. On May 22, 2024, Blank won the [[List of Advance subsidiaries#Leaders Group|Sports Business Journal]]'s Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with the Falcons, United FC, and the surrounding community.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=SBJ |number=1793443300176793839 |title=Lifetime Achievement Recipient: Arthur M. Blank, AMB Sports and Entertainment 🏆🌟 Arthur M. Blank rebuilt the Falcons, launched Atlanta United, and created a world-class stadium, all with a relentless focus on the people who matter most — the fans. #SBJAwards |date=May 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/05/22/2024-sports-business-awards-winners |title=Winners of the 2024 Sports Business Awards |last1=Cahillane |first1=Mollie |last2=Karp |first2=Austin |last3=Lemire |first3=Joe |last4=Schaefer |first4=Rob |last5=Silverman |first5=Alex |last6=Friend |first6=Tom |publisher=sportsbusinessjournal.com |date=May 22, 2024}}</ref> ==Sports ownership== In February 2002, Blank purchased the [[Atlanta Falcons]] franchise in the [[National Football League]] from owner Taylor Smith, the son of team founder [[Rankin M. Smith Sr.]] In September 2004, he bought the [[Arena Football League (1987–2008)|Arena Football League]] franchise, the [[Georgia Force]]; he moved the team to the city of [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]] after it had spent several years in suburban [[Gwinnett County, Georgia|Gwinnett County]]. Blank has expressed serious interest in purchasing other franchises. In early 2006, he temporarily withdrew from contention as a potential buyer of the [[Atlanta Braves]] of [[Major League Baseball]]. Some months later, Blank re-entered serious talks with [[Time Warner]] and a report indicated that a sale was imminent. However, in February 2007, the Braves completed the sale of the team to [[Liberty Media]]. Blank has also founded an expansion [[Major League Soccer]] franchise named [[Atlanta United FC]] that began play in 2017.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2015/06/24/atlanta-united-fc-mls-expansion-2017|title=In 2017, get ready to watch Atlanta United FC in MLS|first=Brian|last=Straus|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=June 24, 2015 }}</ref> The club shares [[Mercedes-Benz Stadium]] with the Falcons. Blank also helped the [[United States Soccer Federation]] set up their new headquarters in Atlanta, and the new training center was named in his honor. ==Philanthropy== Blank is chairman of The Arthur Blank Family Foundation,<ref>{{cite news|title=AMB Group names key executives|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2001/06/18/daily26.html|access-date=January 8, 2011|newspaper=Atlanta Business Chronicle|date=June 20, 2001}}</ref> and serves on the Board of Trustees of Emory University. In March 2020, Blank's foundation announced it would donate nearly $5.4 million to aid the coronavirus pandemic response in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Montana]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announces nearly $5.4 million in funding for COVID-19 relief efforts|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/arthur-m-blank-family-foundation-announces-nearly-5-4-million-in-funding-for-cov|access-date=2020-10-14|website=www.atlantafalcons.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=WSBTV com News|title=Arthur Blank donates $5+ million in funding for coronavirus relief efforts|url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/arthur-blank-donates-5-million-funding-coronavirus-relief-efforts/7DIAZLLNNVCJZISSMYY6WQKQ6M/|access-date=2020-10-14|website=WSBTV|date=March 20, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2020, it was announced that the new [[Children's Healthcare of Atlanta]] hospital would be named after Arthur Blank after his foundation donated $200 million to the project. The [[CHOA Arthur M. Blank Hospital|Arthur M. Blank Hospital]] is expected to open in September 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Walsh|first=Erin|date=2020-10-12|title=Falcons owner Arthur Blank donates $200 million to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/falcons_owner_arthur_blank_donates_200_million_to_childrens_healthcare_of_atlanta_hospital/s1_13132_33071519|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Yardbarker|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=WSBTV com News|title=Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital names new facility in honor of Arthur Blank|url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/childrens-healthcare-atlanta-hospital-is-getting-new-name-honor-arthur-blank/PXD73UD3KNHEXJWAWKKWWSS7KY/|access-date=2020-10-12|website=WSBTV|date=October 12, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> He is a signatory of [[The Giving Pledge]] committing himself to give away at least 50% of his wealth to charitable causes. ==Personal life== Blank has been married and divorced three times. He has three children with his first wife, [[Diana Blank]] (born 1942): Kenny Blank, Dena Blank Kimball, and Danielle Blank Thomsen;<ref>[http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/businesses/G-L/Blankm-Arthur.html Reference for Business: "Arthur Blank"] retrieved October 18, 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.npca.org/news/magazine/all-issues/2011/fall/the-visionaries.html National Parks Conservation Association: "The Visionaries - Diana J. Blank"] retrieved October 18, 2014</ref> they divorced in 1993.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2015/09/18/a-longtime-anonymous-donor-reveals-her-identity.html Atlanta Business Journals: "A longtime anonymous donor reveals her identity" by Maria Saporta] September 18, 2015</ref> In 1995, he married Stephanie V. Blank (born 1968), a [[Blowing Rock, North Carolina]] native and [[Appalachian State University]] graduate.<ref name=Digs>[http://digmagsonline.com/display_article.php?id=373370 Point's North magazine: "Stephanie Blank"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018173201/http://digmagsonline.com/display_article.php?id=373370 |date=October 18, 2014 }} May 2010</ref> They met when she worked as a designer at a Home Depot store in Atlanta.<ref name=Digs /> They had three children - Joshua Blank, Max Blank, and Kylie Blank - before being divorced.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://heavy.com/sports/2017/02/arthur-blank-ex-wives-family-children-atlanta-falcons-owner-foundation-who-is-married-biography/|title=Arthur Blank's Wives & Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|first=Daniel S.|last=Levine|date=February 6, 2017|access-date=May 22, 2020}}</ref> In June 2016, Blank married Angela Macuga (born 1968),<ref name="heavy.com"/><ref name=Saporta>[http://saportareport.com/blog/2014/04/arthur-blank-says-his-purchase-of-a-mls-soccer-team-for-atlanta-is-close-to-his-heart/ Saporta Report: "Arthur Blank says purchasing soccer team for Atlanta is ‘close to his heart’"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112055809/http://saportareport.com/blog/2014/04/arthur-blank-says-his-purchase-of-a-mls-soccer-team-for-atlanta-is-close-to-his-heart/ |date=November 12, 2014 }} April 17, 2014</ref> who had three children from a previous marriage.<ref name=Saporta /><ref>[http://kenlynews.com/july-obituaries-p8429-84.htm Kenly News: "DWIGHT PARRISH"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023112022/http://kenlynews.com/july-obituaries-p8429-84.htm |date=October 23, 2014 }} July 2014 Obituaries</ref> They announced their pending divorce on January 1, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|first=D. Orlando |last=Ledbetter |title=Arthur Blank, wife Angela are getting a divorce |publisher=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|date=January 1, 2019 |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/blanks-are-getting-divorce/zlpy5gvdgazGuJnX21D4LN/ }}</ref> Blank owns Mountain Sky Guest Ranch and West Creek Ranch outside [[Yellowstone National Park]] in [[Paradise Valley (Montana)|Paradise Valley]], [[Montana]]. He also owns several PGA TOUR Superstores. On February 9, 2016, Blank disclosed that he had treatable [[prostate cancer]].<ref>[http://jewishvoiceny.com/index.php?view=article&catid=96%3Abusiness&id=995%3Ajewish-billionaires-join-group-pledging-majority-of-their-wealth-to-charity&tmpl=component&print=1&page=&option=com_content&Itemid=279 Jewish Voice New York: "Jewish Billionaires Join Group Pledging Majority of Their Wealth to Charity" by Sholom Schreiber] April 25, 2005</ref> On March 17, 2016, Blank announced that he is cancer-free following treatment.<ref>[http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/football/blank-announces-he-is-cancer-free/nqnHs/ The Atlanta Journal Constitution: "Blank announces he is ‘cancer free’" by D. Orlando Ledbetter] March 17, 2016</ref> ==References== {{Reflist|3}} ==External links== * [https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/54/400list08_Arthur-Blank_6Q6S.html Forbes profile] {{s-start}} {{s-bus}} {{succession box | before=[[Bernard Marcus]] | title=[[Chief executive officer|CEO]] of [[Home Depot]] | years=1997–2000 | after=[[Robert Nardelli]]}} {{s-end}} {{Atlanta Falcons}} {{NFL owner navbox}} {{MLS owner navbox}} {{Atlanta United FC}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Blank, Arthur}} [[Category:1942 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American businesspeople in retailing]] [[Category:American soccer chairmen and investors|Blank]] [[Category:Arena Football League executives]] [[Category:Atlanta Falcons owners]] [[Category:Atlanta United FC]] [[Category:Babson College alumni]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Atlanta]] [[Category:Cox Enterprises]] [[Category:Jewish American sports executives and administrators]] [[Category:21st-century American philanthropists]] [[Category:Stuyvesant High School alumni]] [[Category:The Home Depot people]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Queens, New York]] [[Category:Major League Soccer owners|Blank]] [[Category:Chairmen and investors of soccer clubs in the United States]] [[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]] [[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]] [[Category:21st-century American Jews]] [[Category:Jews from New York (state)]]'