Anton "Tony" Hulman, Jr. (February 11, 1901 - October 27, 1977)
was a businessman from Terre Haute, Indiana and graduated from Yale
University in 1924.His business, Hulman & Company, produces
Clabber Girl Baking Powder, which Tony made popular through the use
of clever advertising in the 1930s. Born into one of Terre Haute's
wealthiest families, young Tony was raised in one of the city's
finest homes and seemed destined to enter the family business. Upon
his graduation from Yale in 1924, the young Hulman returned to
Terre Haute to take his place in the family business, a place he
would have to earn. His father, Anton Hulman, Sr., instructed the
people of Hulman & Co., "Don't give Tony a place in the
business. Let him work for it." Hulman is probably best known for
buying the dilapidated Indianapolis Motor Speedway from a group led
by World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker immediately after
World War II. Influenced by three-time Indy 500 winner Wilbur Shaw
(who became the track's president in the early years of the Hulman
regime), Hulman made numerous improvements to the track in time for
the race to be held in 1946. Following Shaw's death in a plane
crash on October 30, 1954, Hulman stepped into his
soon-to-be-familiar role as the "face" of the Speedway. Ever
popular with drivers and fans alike, the normally shy Tony relished
the job. He is famous for starting the tradition of launching the
Indianapolis 500 with the command, "Gentlemen, start your engines!"
At 76 years old, Tony appeared to be in good health, strikingly fit
and trim for a man of his age. On the night of October 27, 1977,
Hulman died of heart failure. Hulman's grandson, Anton Hulman
"Tony" George, is currently the president and CEO of the Speedway
and the Indy Racing League As you exit 465 onto Crawfordsville
Road, you will notice orange towers lining the roadway that say,
"Hulman Memorial Way". Near one of these towers is a cache. Please
enter from the Speedway Shopping Center parking lot - and do not
attempt to retrieve it from the street. You will need your own
pen.