Daniel R. Gernatt Sr.

Daniel R. "Dan" Gernatt Sr. (February 7, 1917 – May 5, 2014) was an American entrepreneur, businessman, horseman, and dairy farmer in Collins, New York.

Daniel R. Gernatt Sr.
Gernatt at Diocese of Buffalo Catholic Education Awards Dinner, 2007
BornFebruary 7, 1917
Collins, New York, United States
DiedMay 5, 2014(2014-05-05) (aged 97)
Collins, New York, United States
OccupationChairman, Gernatt Family of Companies; Co-Founder, Dan Gernatt Farms
Spouse(s)Flavia C. (Schmitz) Gernatt

Gernatt and his wife Flavia began a farming enterprise, Dan Gernatt Farms, that included raising dairy cows and later breeding and racing Standardbred horses. Beginning in the 1940s, they began marketing sand and gravel from their property, leading to their establishment and ownership of several mining businesses, now known as the Gernatt Family of Companies.

Gernatt started a charitable foundation, and was a donor and supporter of St. Joseph Parish in Gowanda, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. He was recognized with awards for his contributions and service.

Background and early life

Gernatt was born and raised in Collins, New York, and lived there his entire life.[1] He was one of 10 children born to John and Martha Gernatt, who were German and Austrian immigrants.[1][2][3] He was raised on a farm, and for a 4-H project he successfully raised and sold turkeys at the age of 17.[1][4] He was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Gowanda, New York, and attended the school there for several years.[5]

Business interests
Main article: Dan Gernatt Farms

Gernatt married Flavia C. Schmitz in 1938, and they began Dan Gernatt Dairy Farms in 1938.[5][6] In the 1950s, the couple was identified as having the largest milking dairy herd in Erie County.[1][5][6][7] As the Gernatts' farming business expanded, it was later simply known as Dan Gernatt Farms.[8][9] In the 1960s, the Gernatt's transitioned their dairy farming business to one of breeding and racing Standardbred horses. The Gernatts established themselves in horse breeding and harness racing throughout a period of three decades.[10][11] The horse business raised and sold more than 1,000 horses.[1] Among the Gernatts' harness racing horses were those that were bred on their farm, identified by the presence of the last name 'Collins', the town's name.[1]

Gernatt Gravel Pit, Collins, New York, June 1996

The Gernatt Family of Companies, also known simply as Gernatt's, is a group of 11 businesses located in Western New York State that market sand, gravel, soil, crushed stone, rocks, asphalt, aggregate, and cement.[12] The corporate businesses include Dan Gernatt Gravel Products, Inc.; Gernatt Asphalt Products, Inc.; and Country Side Sand and Gravel, Inc., with headquarters at Taylor Hollow Road in Collins, New York. Other businesses are in Gowanda, Freedom, Irving, Great Valley, Springville, Chaffee, West Seneca, Delevan, South Dayton, and Westfield, all in the New York State counties of Erie, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua.[13] The companies were cofounded in 1946 by Gernatt[14] and his late wife, Flavia C. (Schmitz) Gernatt.[15] The companies also own and operate the public Gowanda Airport.[16] The companies are also involved in oil and natural gas exploration, maintain a real estate division, and are copartners in an electric cogeneration plant.[17]

Philanthropy
Gernatt with parishioners at St. Joseph Church, 2006

In 1987, Gernatt and his wife established the Daniel and Flavia Gernatt Family Foundation, which provides grants and loans mostly in the areas of education, healthcare, Christian-related endeavors,[18] and poverty and homeless relief.[19][20] In 1995 it helped the Amish Valley View Cheese Cooperative Association in Conewango, New York reopen the 35-year-old cheese plant there, which had been closed for two years.[21][22]

Gernatt and his wife donated the construction of a new rectory to St. Joseph Parish in Gowanda in 1992.[23] In 1996 he created the Gernatt Family Endowment Fund for St. Joseph School in Gowanda.[5][24] He was also a benefactor to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo[5][23] and regularly donated to Catholic Charities of Buffalo and Western New York.[25][26]

In 2004, the family's foundation and companies donated $150,000 to TLC Health Network's $1 million campaign to make renovations to and update diagnostic imaging equipment at hospitals in Gowanda and Irving, New York.[27] The donation was identified as a "jump start" to the health network's capital campaign drive.[27]

Recognition

In 2001, Gernatt received the DeWitt Clinton Masonic Award.[28] In 2007 he received the Bishop's Medal from the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.[5][29]

Personal life

Gernatt has a son, Daniel Jr., and two daughters, Patricia Rebmann and Phyllis Ulmer.[1][2] Gernatt died in 2014 following a short illness.[1]

See also

References
  1. Daniel R. Gernatt Sr., entrepreneur, horseman, Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 7 May 2014, Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  2. Daniel R. Gernatt Sr., Gowanda News, Gowanda, NY: Community Papers of Western New York, 9 May 2014, Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  3. Jack Quinn (20 September 1995). "Tribute to Msgr. David A. Gernatt". Congressional Record/United States Congress. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  4. An American success story of faith and exceptionalism, The Observer, Dunkirk, NY: John D'Agostino, 31 January 2010, Heischberger, R.L., Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  5. "Bishop's Medal recipient: Daniel R. Gernatt Sr.," Celebrate Catholic education dinner 2007, Buffalo, NY: Diocese of Buffalo, 2007.
  6. Flavia C. Gernatt, businesswoman, Buffalo News - City Edition, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 29 November 1995, Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  7. "New York Holstein-Friesian News, Volumes 8-9". New York Holstein-Freisen World, Inc./Cornell University. 1953. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  8. Summers, R.J. (23 September 1992). "Fort Erie simulcasting schedule to keep track operating all year". Buffalo News/Berkshire Hathaway (Buffalo, New York). Archived from the original on 28 March 2015.
  9. Summers, R.J. (5 August 1992). "Horse racing: Fort legend Hawley heads to hall of fame". Buffalo News/Berkshire Hathaway (Buffalo, New York). Archived from the original on 28 March 2015.
  10. Summers, R.J. (3 August 1994). "Breeder has a shot at harness heaven: A win by Bye Tsem in Hambletonian would crown Gernatt's career". Buffalo News/Berkshire Hathaway (Buffalo, New York). Archived from the original on 28 March 2015.
  11. Abbey, H.C. (1984). "Gernatt's horses plug 'Collins'". Buffalo News/Berkshire Hathaway (Buffalo, New York). Missing or empty |url= (help)
  12. Gernatt family of companies celebrate 50 years in materials industry Pit & Quarry, 98 (6), 10, 2005 | Accessdate= October 26, 2013.
  13. Mining permits issued during 2003, Twentieth Annual Report, Albany, NY: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Department of Mineral Resources, 2004, Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  14. Daniel R. Gernatt Sr., Observer, Dunkirk, NY: John D'Agostino, 7 May 2014, Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  15. Flavia C. Gernatt, businesswoman, Highbeam.com, Cengage Learning, from the original: Buffalo News, 29 November 1995, Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  16. "Gowanda Airport". AirNav.com. 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  17. Spirit of Gowanda - 1995 Annual Report, Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce, Gowanda, NY, February 1996.
  18. Daniel & Flavia Gernatt Family Foundation, Collins, New York, Christian Volunteering.org, Dorchester, MA: Christian Volunteering, 2014, Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  19. Form 990-PF 2008 Return of Private Foundation: Daniel & Flavia Gernatt Family Foundation, GuideStar, Washington, DC: GuideStar USA, Inc., 2009, Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  20. "Foundation grants to individuals". Foundation Center (Sacramento, California). 2014. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  21. Buyer, Bob (23 December 1996). "Amish thrive with reopened cheese plant". Buffalo News (Buffalo, New York). Archived from the original on 28 March 2015.
  22. Buyer, Bob (11 November 1994). "Amish families to resume making cheese at plant". Buffalo News (Buffalo, New York). Archived from the original on 28 March 2015.
  23. 2003 St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Eden Prairie, MN: Olan Mills Church Directories, January 2004.
  24. Foundation funds supporting Catholic education, The Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  25. Catholic Charities: Thank you corporate donors, 2012 Archived 2014-10-18 at the Wayback Machine Catholic Charities of Buffalo Appeal, Buffalo, NY, Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  26. 2011–2012 Annual Report Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine, Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, NY, Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  27. "$1M campaign launched for Irving, Gowanda hospitals". Buffalo Business First/American City Business Journals. 2 January 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  28. Dan Gernatt Sr. to receive award, Newspapers.com, from the original: The Sun and the Erie County Independent, 19 April 2001, Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  29. "Religion notes". Buffalo News/Berkshire Hathaway (Buffalo, New York). 30 December 2006. Missing or empty |url= (help)
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