Who Knew? - Part 1 of 2

A tragedy hits home and the nation is rivetted.

Hertz Corporation, NYC, 1978 - The Start of a Thirty-Year Career

Life is strange. Just when we think we have it figured out, another curve ball comes at us.

I had a fulfilling career at Hertz Corporation which was the world leading Car Rental company for several decades.

When I started there in 1978, Hertz headquarters was at 660 Madison Avenue, on the northwest corner of Madison and East 60th Street, near Central Park and the Pierre Hotel. Very upscale.

We were growing fast, and after I commuted to the city for many years from Brooklyn, and then from Bayside, Queens, they decided to move their headquarters to Park Ridge, New Jersey in Bergen County.

Many of us moved as well, taking advantage of a generous relocation package that Hertz offered. We bought a house in Wayne, Passaic County, in a lake community which we all loved. And it was only a thirty-minute drive to work.

1988 - Hertz Moves their Headquarters to Park Ridge, New Jersey

In September 1988, Hertz opened their new international headquarters in a 225,000-square-foot complex on Brae Boulevard.

As you can see, it was a beautiful building inside and out.

“Welcome to Hertz!”

Outside View - receiving and dropping off visitors was a delight as were the magnificent views. A Marriott was conveniently located across the street, and the location was accessible to the major highways.

The Hertz Lobby - Notice out the window on the far right, the solid glass blocks forming the walls of that stairwell. An example of the meticulous details that went into this campus.

A Ford Model T and a Shelby Mustang adorned the Park Ridge lobby:

In 1918, Walter Jacobs started Rent-a-Car with 12 Model T’s. He grew it to 600 cars, and in 1923, he sold the business to John D. Hertz.

The Shelby Hertz Mustang GT350-H was one of the most iconic vehicles in Hertz history.

To celebrate their new headquarters in Park Ridge, Hertz held a spectacular cocktail reception in that lobby for the incoming employees, their spouses and some distinguished guests.

O.J. Simpson, who was still Hertz’s most recognizable celebrity spokesperson, headlined the event:

For years he appeared in the famous Hertz commercials where he sprinted through airports to make his rental car on time. To many Americans in the 1970s and 1980s, O.J. was almost synonymous with the Hertz brand:

O.J. exuded charm. We weren’t celebrity chasers by nature, but Mr. Simpson noticed that Claire was close to having a baby (Tara) and let us know that he and Nicole just had their second. We compared notes for a while, and he moved on to other guests.

A while later, Hertz sponsored another get-together, sans O.J. This was a daytime event for families with an emphasis on fun activities and photos. This is my favorite family pic of all time:

Please stay tuned for:

Who Knew? - Part 2 of 2 A tragedy hits home and the nation is rivetted.

On January 1, 1989, an event took place involving O.J. Simpson, and later involved countless other individuals, that became one of the most extraordinary and tragic media events in American history. I will present this respectfully and objectively.

See you next week.