Gus Stavros

Gus A. Stavros is an American entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist. Born in New Jersey, he is the founder of the Stavros Institute in Largo and the Pinellas Education Foundation, two organizations whose aims are to improve the quality of public education in Pinellas County, Florida. The organizations, which operate the business education programs Enterprise Village and Finance Park, have raised over $140 million to support students and teachers in Pinellas County.[1] Stavros, a veteran of World War II, founded the company Better Business Forms in the 1960s, and sold it in 1984 for $12.5 million. He owns 1% of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team.[2]

Gus A. Stavros
Born1924/1925 (age 95–96)
New Jersey
NationalityAmerican
EducationColumbia University
Spouse(s)Frances Stavros
Children3
Parent(s)Anthony Stavros

Early life

Stavros' father, Anthony Stavros, was born in Crete, and was sold by his parents to a wealthy businessman in Athens, Greece to work as a gardener at age nine.[2] He fled his servitude to earn money working in a factory, and moved to the United States at age fourteen. He was accepted as a dishwasher at a Greek restaurant in New York City, was taught to cook, and became a restaurateur.[3] He established the Twin Diner in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Stavros was born in New Jersey and was educated at Columbia University. He served as an American soldier in World War II, and received a Purple Heart for his military service on the Western Front, having been wounded on January 19, 1945.[3][4] Stavros appeared as a background extra in the 1947 film The Farmer's Daughter.[2] Stavros married his wife Frances in 1948, and they moved to Pinellas County, Florida in the 1950s.

Career

Stavros founded the company Better Business Forms in Pinellas Park in the 1960s, expanded it from 3 to 550 employees, and sold it in 1984 for $12.5 million.[2][3] He founded the Pinellas Education Foundation in 1986 and the Stavros Institute in 1989.[5] Stavros is a fan of baseball, and owns 1% of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team.[2] In 2012, Stavros made the decision to spend more time with his wife Frances than on community affairs.[2]

Personal life

Gus Stavros is married to Frances Stavros, with whom he has had three children—Paul, Ellen, and Mark.[2]

References
  1. "About Us". Pinellaseducation.org. Pinellas Education Foundation. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  2. Robert Trigaux (September 15, 2012). "In stepping back, legendary philanthropist Gus Stavros leaves a void". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  3. Art Levy (November 1, 2007). "Icon: Gus Stavros". Florida Trend. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  4. Paul Richard Huard (October 23, 2014). "The M-4 Sherman Tank Was Hell on Wheels—And a Death Trap". medium.com. A Medium Corporation. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  5. Keith Niebuhr (January 24, 2009). "Gus Stavros Institute celebrates 20 years teaching free enterprise". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
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