Background
He was born on June 16, 1883 in Pulaski, New York, United States, the son of Benjamin Snow, Jr. , manager of the Ontario Iron Works, and Mary Watson.
He was born on June 16, 1883 in Pulaski, New York, United States, the son of Benjamin Snow, Jr. , manager of the Ontario Iron Works, and Mary Watson.
John was educated at the Union School and Academy, graduating in 1900, second in his class. He entered New York University's School of Commerce in the fall of 1902, after a term at the Mt. Hermon School, a preparatory school. He was class historian in 1903 and president of his class in 1904. He edited the school newspaper and yearbook, and was active in sports. Having taken extra courses, he was able to graduate in two years
After high school Snow worked in sales and traveled. Later he went to work for Haskins and Sells as a junior accountant until 1906. That year, he pursued an opportunity to join the F. W. Woolworth Company and began as a stockroom clerk in one of the midtown Manhattan stores.
Snow showed remarkable potential and the next year was assigned to manage a new F. W. Woolworth store in Port Jervis, New York. It was here that he met his longtime friend and business partner, Merritt Speidel. Snow remained in Port Jervis for only a matter of months before he was asked to return to New York City to manage a new midtown store.
His success in merchandising was such that, in 1909, he signed a contract with Woolworth's in which he was guaranteed a 25 percent share of the net profits. When Woolworth's expanded its operation in northern England, Snow became merchandiser in charge of the district office in Liverpool. He was responsible for, among other things, organizing the opening day of new stores, which he made into festive occasions. His approach was highly successful.
Snow was promoted to buyer in 1913 and transferred to London. He was remarkably accurate in gauging consumer interests, especially those of young people, and saved considerable sums of money by buying products in large quantities. He was soon made a director, and in 1920 named superintendent of buyers.
In 1936, Snow retired from Woolworth's and thereafter focused most of his time on his horses. Only fifty-three years of age at his retirement and eager to work, Snow turned to a new career that took him home to the United States by the end of the decade.
For nearly thirty years, he had funded projects managed by his associate, Merritt Speidel. Their first joint venture had been in 1909 with the purchase of a northern Ohio newspaper known as the Picqua Daily Call. Snow paid for it and Speidel managed it. Speidel, who thoroughly understood the newspaper business, continued managing operations while Snow provided the capital for their acquisitions. In 1921, Snow and Speidel sold their first newspaper and purchased the Iowa City Press-Citizen. In 1935, they acquired the Chillicothe Scioto Gazette and in 1936 bought the Salinas Index-Journal, the Salinas Post, and the Fort Collins Express Courier. Two years later, they owned the Chillicothe News Advertiser and a year after that, Cheyenne Newspapers, Inc. , the Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier, and the Reno Gazette.
In 1937, when Snow and Speidel established a holding company to serve as the headquarters for all of their newspapers, the firm went under the name of Speidel Newspapers, Inc. New financial reports divulged Snow as a primary stockholder, and he was subsequently elected chairman of the board of several newspapers.
Snow settled the company in Colorado Springs. He purchased a ranch and once again entered the business of breeding various types of horses. The following year Snow purchased The Western Horseman, a magazine he took more interest in than all of his newspapers. By 1950 Snow held eight newspaper companies, one radio station, and one magazine. Two years later, at the age of sixty-nine, he settled on a plan to transfer control into multiple hands. He surrendered his voting rights and traded $4. 5 million worth of common stock for preferred stock.
Snow continued as chairman of the board of Speidel Newspapers, Inc. , for the remainder of his life. In 1948, he established the John Ben Snow Foundation, the assets of which reached $2 million by 1962. The village of Pulaski, New York, was one of his primary beneficiaries.
Snow died in Colorado Springs.
He was a devout Christian.
Snow's personal wealth increased rapidly. By the time of his retirement he was a multimillionaire.
Snow had always been a silent partner. His name could not be found on newspaper mastheads or on financial statements.
Snow also gave liberally to people, whom he learned had faced tragic setbacks or who were otherwise in need.
Although Snow had no family of his own and never married, to his extended family and friends he gave considerable financial assistance.
