Walter Teninga: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 11:25, 4 November 2024
| Walter H. Teninga | |
| Full name | Walter Henry "Wally" Teninga |
| Date of birth | February 14, 1928 |
| Date of death | September 24, 2018 |
| Place of birth | Roseland, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Spouse | Nancy Neumann (m. 1951) |
| Children | Laurie, Robert |
| Education | University of Michigan, B.A. in Economics (1950); Michigan State University, MBA (1971) |
| Military service | U.S. Army (1946) |
| College football position | Halfback, Punter |
| College team | Michigan Wolverines |
| NFL Draft | 1949, 17th round |
| Career Highlights | National Champion (1947, 1948) |
| Business career | Vice Chairman and CFO, Kmart Corporation; Director, Price Club Northern California; Founder, Warehouse Club, Inc. |
| Board memberships | Michigan National Corporation, SITE Centers, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Detroit |
| Community involvement | President, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Detroit; Member, Detroit Athletic Club |
| Notable honors | Roseland-Pullman Sports Hall of Fame (1975) |
| Hobbies | Golf, dancing, storytelling |
Walter Henry "Wally" Teninga (February 14, 1928 – September 24, 2018) was an American football player, businessman, and philanthropist. Known for his versatility on the field as a halfback and punter for the University of Michigan Wolverines, Teninga went on to make a substantial impact in the retail sector as a senior executive at Kmart and later through his pioneering work with the wholesale retailer Price Club and the founding of Warehouse Club, Inc.
Early Life and Education
Born in the Roseland neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, Walter Teninga was the youngest of five children in a Dutch-American family. Growing up on Normal Avenue, he attended Morgan Park High School, where he excelled in football as a halfback. His talent on the field earned him a scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he joined the Wolverines' football program and quickly became a key player.[1]
University of Michigan Football Career
Enrolling at the University of Michigan in 1945, Teninga made an immediate impact on the football field. As a 17-year-old freshman, he led the team in rushing yards and took on multiple roles, including punter and defensive back. Known for his resilience, he helped lead the Wolverines to back-to-back national championships in 1947 and 1948, solidifying his place in Michigan’s football legacy.[2][3]
After briefly leaving college in 1946 to serve in the U.S. Army, Teninga returned to Michigan in 1947 to continue his football career. In his senior season, he scored game-winning touchdowns and threw a critical touchdown pass against Ohio State in 1949. His election as senior class president in 1949, with the campaign slogan “Carry the ball for Teninga — and let Teninga carry the ball for you,” highlighted his leadership on and off the field.[4][5]
Business Career
After graduating with a degree in economics in 1950, Teninga began working at Teninga Real Estate Co., his father’s company in Chicago. He later shifted to S.S. Kresge Co. (later Kmart), where he spent nearly three decades and rose to the role of Vice Chairman and CFO in 1972. His strategic oversight and financial acumen supported Kmart's aggressive expansion during the 1970s.[6]
In the early 1980s, Teninga’s career took a pivotal turn when he joined Price Club, the first membership-based wholesale retailer, as the Northern California Director. There, he advised Price Club’s founder, Sol Price, on expanding into new markets and helped shape the concept that would become the backbone of the warehouse club model.[7] After Price opted against expanding into the Midwest, Teninga left the company but took the knowledge he gained to establish his own wholesale club in Illinois.
In 1983, Teninga founded Warehouse Club, Inc., alongside Sid Doolittle, a former Montgomery Ward executive. Warehouse Club, Inc. expanded to 15 locations across the Midwest and sought to provide significant savings on bulk merchandise to small businesses, union members, and other select groups. Although Warehouse Club ultimately struggled to compete with larger chains like Sam's Club and Costco, it played an important role in the broader acceptance of the wholesale retail model.[8][9] Teninga also served on the board of SITE Centers, a real estate investment trust, until his retirement in 1998.[10]
Personal Life and Legacy
In 1951, Teninga married Nancy Neumann of Birmingham, Michigan, and together they had two children, Laurie and Robert. Known for his humor, storytelling, and community spirit, Teninga was actively involved in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Detroit, serving as President from 1974 to 1980. He was inducted into the Roseland-Pullman Sports Hall of Fame in 1975, recognizing his lifelong contributions to sports and community.[1] A passionate golfer and dancer, Teninga was remembered for his lively personality and dedication to his family and friends.[11]
Honors and Awards
- Roseland-Pullman Sports Hall of Fame (1975)
- Senior Class President, University of Michigan (1949)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 “Gridder Teninga and Golfer Kletcke: Elect 2 Sports Hall of Famers.” Suburbanite Economist (Chicago), August 28, 1975.
- ↑ “1945 Football Team.” University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
- ↑ Devine, Tommy. “Michigan's All-Conquering Football Squad Boasts 10 Outstanding Backfield Performers.” Detroit Free Press, reprinted in Los Angeles Times, December 19, 1947.
- ↑ “Wally Teninga May Play Quarterback For Michigan Grid Team This Fall.” The Suburban Economist, July 20, 1949.
- ↑ Fullerton, Hugh S. “Sports Roundup.” Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, May 2, 1949.
- ↑ “Kresge Plans 3-1 Split, Management Changes.” Los Angeles Times, March 22, 1972.
- ↑ O'Reiley, Tim. “Sol Price Looks North to Canada.” San Diego Business Journal, Vol. 6, Iss. 15, Nov 4, 1985.
- ↑ Holton, Lisa. “Warehouse Concept Ready for Takeoff.” Chicago Sun-Times, November 19, 1989.
- ↑ Muir, Frederick. “Price Co. Ties Its Success to Low Prices.” Los Angeles Times, March 11, 1985.
- ↑ “Developers Diversified Announces Director Changes; Walter H. Teninga Retires, Shareholders Approve Barry A. Sholem as Director.” Business Wire, May 12, 1998.
- ↑ “Obituary for Walter Henry Teninga at Lorne and Sons Funeral Home.” www.lorneandsons.com, accessed November 5, 2018.