George W. Barber

George W. Barber
Residence Birmingham, Alabama
Occupation Business executive, philanthropist
Parent(s) George Warren Barber

George W. Barber (a.k.a. George Barber, Jr.) is an American businessman, real estate developer and philanthropist from Alabama.

Early life

Barber's father, George Warren Barber, founded Barber Dairies in the 1930s.[1][2] It became the largest dairy company in Alabama.[2] His father promoted the use of pasteurized milk in the United States.[2]

Career

Barber was a racecar driver.[1] Later, he was a real estate developer and served as the Chairman of Barber Dairies.[1][3] In 1998, he sold the family business to Dean Foods.[1][4] In 2003, he established the Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, near Birmingham.[1][5]

Motorcycle collection

Barber started collecting motorcycles in the 1970s.[3] It is "the world's largest collection of motorcycles,"[1] and it is in the Guinness Book of Records with more than 1400 motorcycles covering all timelines from vintage to modern. The collection is always growing.[3] He was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2014.[3]

Barber Marina

Barber Marina is a marina located in Elberta, Alabama just North of Gulf Shores, Alabama on the Alabama Intercostal Waterway. Construction for the marina began in 2004 after George Barber completed the Barber Motorsports Park, which is located in Birmingham, Alabama.[6] The marina began operation in 2008 and construction contined through 2010. There are several different attractions featured at Barber Marina, including the "Dinosaurs in the Woods", "Lady at the Lake", and "Bamahenge." In 1991, artist Mark Cline was approached by the brother-in-law of billionaire George W. Barber to build seven dinosaurs on his property in Elberta, Alabama. After completing the dinosaurs, Mark Cline was later commissioned by George Barber to build the previously mentioned "Lady at the Lake" and "Bamahenge".[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Connor Sheets, Who are the richest Alabamians now that billionaire Marguerite Harbert has passed?, The Birmingham News, March 23, 2015
  2. 1 2 3 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame: George Barber
  3. 1 2 3 4 Dawn Kent Azok, Birmingham businessman George Barber elected to AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, The Birmingham News, June 27, 2014
  4. ↑ Dean looks South: Dean Foods Co. of Franklin Park agreed..., The Chicago Tribune, August 11, 1998
  5. ↑ Kelly Kazek, A skeleton in the elevator: Inside the wacky, wonderful world of Alabama's George Barber, The Birmingham News, December 30, 2014
  6. ↑ "About Us". Barber Marina. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  7. ↑ "Dinosaurs in the Woods, Elberta, Alabama". Roadside America. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
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