Carl R. Pohlad

Carl Ray Pohlad was born the third of eight children in Valley Junction, a small railroad community in central Iowa. For most of his early life, his mother was the family’s sole support, but as the oldest boy in the family, Carl soon joined in helping his mother to support the family during the Depression years. These experiences allowed him to appreciate the value and importance of hard work, and instilled gratitude for the basic necessities of life.

His business career started with a twenty-five cent deal. At an early age, young Pohlad developed a relationship with a local farmer, convincing him to hire a group of school-aged children to work in the fields. The group charged 25 cents an hour; Carl earned five cents an hour for organizing and record keeping. It was the beginning of a half-century of entrepreneurial leadership.

Following a distinguished military career during World War II as a member of the U.S. infantry, including the receipt of the Purple Heart with clusters, Carl returned to Iowa and began his involvement in banking. In the late 1940s, he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he has spent more than 50 years creating and expanding successful banking and other finance businesses.

Mr. Pohlad and his family currently have numerous business holdings in specialty finance, banking services, employee compensation and benefits services, soft drink beverage industry, airline industry, and in commercial real estate operations. The family also owns the Minnesota Twins, World Series champions in 1987 and 1991 and American League Central Division Champions in 2002, 2003, and 2004.

Over the years, Carl has offered his time, talent, vision and financial resources to some of the area’s leading charitable organizations. He was a founder of the Boys Club of Minneapolis. He served on the boards for organizations such as the Association for Mentally Retarded Children, the United Hospital Fund and others. He was also finance director for Hubert H. Humphrey’s 1970 U.S. Senate campaign. Carl was also a member of the Commission on Investment and Banking under Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich.

Mr. Pohlad has received many honors for his work in the community and in business. He holds an honorary doctor of law degree from his alma mater, Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He was inducted into the Minnesota Business Hall of Fame in 1983. In 1984 he was honored by the American Academy of Achievement. In 1985, Corporate Report magazine named him Executive of the Year. That same year, he received the Great American Award from B’nai B’rith International. The City of Minneapolis awarded him the Distinguished Service Award in 1986. One year later, he was elected into the Minnesota Executive Hall of Fame.

Carl and his wife Eloise were married in 1947 and have three sons: James, Robert and William.

Carl attributes his life successes to the lessons learned while a young boy in Iowa and the love and support of a close, caring and grateful family.