Walter T. Schimmel - Bio
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Walter T. Schimmel - Bio
| stefanie (View posts) | Posted: 27 Jun 2003 1:16AM GMT |
Classification: Query
Surnames: Schimmel, Levinson, Elugter, Rothchild, Mendelson
Kansas - The First Century - vol. 3
Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York: 1956
p. 46
"For a number of years the name of Schimmel has been identified with hotel management in the Midwest, and the properties under the ownership of this capable family have continued to increase in number and in value. Residents of Wichita are familiar with their record as owners and managers of the Hotel Lassen. They also own and operate the Cornhusker in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Blackstone in Omaha, Nebraska, and the Custer in Galesburg, Illinois. There are no outside stockholders in these hotels, whose assets total over three and a quarter million dollars, of which sum over two and a half milion is fixed.
Charles Schimmel, the father of Walter T. Schimmel and the other scions of the hotel managing family, was born in Vienna, the son of a hotelkeeper. Arriving in this country at the age of sixteen, he settled in Chicago, beginning his career there as a bar waiter. He conserved his resources, and was able in time to become a hotel proprietor in his own right. Assisting him in the realization of his plan was his wife, the former Mary Levinson. She was born in 1880 and died in 1946, while Charles Schimmel was born in 1872 and died in 1938. Their children are A.Q., Bernard, Walter, Edward, and Miriam (Schimmel) Mendelson. A corporate organization, consisting of the four brothers and the sister, controls the properties. Each property is operated by one of the brothers, independently of the management of the others, and each hotel has its distinct individuality. In effect, there is no chain management, despite the group ownership.
Under this system, Walter T. Schimmel's hotel is the Lassen, in Wichita. Mr. Schimmel was born at Quincy, Illinois, on May 28, 1905. He completed his education at Cornell, and joined his father and brothers in hotel operation in 1920. The Hotel Lassen, with three hundred rooms, was acquired in 1942, and he has been the manager since. A review of his activities in the pages of the trade publication, 'Hotel Management,' contains his description of the man himself:
' Walter is the least demonstrative of the Schimmels, and follows the middle-of-the-road policy more than any of them. He has never smoked an entire pack of cigarettes in any 24-hour period. He has never had a drink after dinner and has always kept regular sleeping hours. He is the only one who has managed hotels for other bosses for any length of time. This may be one reason why he behaves more like a business executive than a greeter. He is quiet and unassuming and could never be picked out in the lobby as the big boss...'
He is active in support of community causes, and is a member of the following organizations: Wichita Conservatory, Midian Temple of the Shrine, Wichita Symphony Society, (president), and Wichita Chamber of Commerce, (vice president, 1954). He serves on the board of the following: Kansas Children's Service League, Y.M.C.A., Kansas Livestock Association, Knife and Fork Club, Sedgwick County Red Cross, Auto Club of Kansas and Kansas Hotel ASsociation. He was A.M.K.O. Hotel Association president in 1948. He is a director of Associated Industries of Kansas, is vice president of the Union Development Company, and a member of Rolling Hills Country club, Wichita Club, and Temple Emanuel. Mr. Schimmel also serves on the Traffic Commission for the City of Wichita.
On November 5, 1930, Walter T. Schimmel married Miss Kathryn Elugter, daughter of Charles and Dollie (Rothchild) Elugter. The couple are the parents of three sons: 1. Charles, who was born on June 29, 1935. 2. Walter, Jr., born on September 3, 1937. 3. William, born on November 29, 1942."
Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York: 1956
p. 46
"For a number of years the name of Schimmel has been identified with hotel management in the Midwest, and the properties under the ownership of this capable family have continued to increase in number and in value. Residents of Wichita are familiar with their record as owners and managers of the Hotel Lassen. They also own and operate the Cornhusker in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Blackstone in Omaha, Nebraska, and the Custer in Galesburg, Illinois. There are no outside stockholders in these hotels, whose assets total over three and a quarter million dollars, of which sum over two and a half milion is fixed.
Charles Schimmel, the father of Walter T. Schimmel and the other scions of the hotel managing family, was born in Vienna, the son of a hotelkeeper. Arriving in this country at the age of sixteen, he settled in Chicago, beginning his career there as a bar waiter. He conserved his resources, and was able in time to become a hotel proprietor in his own right. Assisting him in the realization of his plan was his wife, the former Mary Levinson. She was born in 1880 and died in 1946, while Charles Schimmel was born in 1872 and died in 1938. Their children are A.Q., Bernard, Walter, Edward, and Miriam (Schimmel) Mendelson. A corporate organization, consisting of the four brothers and the sister, controls the properties. Each property is operated by one of the brothers, independently of the management of the others, and each hotel has its distinct individuality. In effect, there is no chain management, despite the group ownership.
Under this system, Walter T. Schimmel's hotel is the Lassen, in Wichita. Mr. Schimmel was born at Quincy, Illinois, on May 28, 1905. He completed his education at Cornell, and joined his father and brothers in hotel operation in 1920. The Hotel Lassen, with three hundred rooms, was acquired in 1942, and he has been the manager since. A review of his activities in the pages of the trade publication, 'Hotel Management,' contains his description of the man himself:
' Walter is the least demonstrative of the Schimmels, and follows the middle-of-the-road policy more than any of them. He has never smoked an entire pack of cigarettes in any 24-hour period. He has never had a drink after dinner and has always kept regular sleeping hours. He is the only one who has managed hotels for other bosses for any length of time. This may be one reason why he behaves more like a business executive than a greeter. He is quiet and unassuming and could never be picked out in the lobby as the big boss...'
He is active in support of community causes, and is a member of the following organizations: Wichita Conservatory, Midian Temple of the Shrine, Wichita Symphony Society, (president), and Wichita Chamber of Commerce, (vice president, 1954). He serves on the board of the following: Kansas Children's Service League, Y.M.C.A., Kansas Livestock Association, Knife and Fork Club, Sedgwick County Red Cross, Auto Club of Kansas and Kansas Hotel ASsociation. He was A.M.K.O. Hotel Association president in 1948. He is a director of Associated Industries of Kansas, is vice president of the Union Development Company, and a member of Rolling Hills Country club, Wichita Club, and Temple Emanuel. Mr. Schimmel also serves on the Traffic Commission for the City of Wichita.
On November 5, 1930, Walter T. Schimmel married Miss Kathryn Elugter, daughter of Charles and Dollie (Rothchild) Elugter. The couple are the parents of three sons: 1. Charles, who was born on June 29, 1935. 2. Walter, Jr., born on September 3, 1937. 3. William, born on November 29, 1942."