Frederic M. Ayres Sr.
Frederic M. Ayres Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frederic Murray Ayres February 17, 1872 |
| Died | May 15, 1940 (aged 68) |
| Resting place | Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Occupation | Retail department store executive |
| Years active | 1893–1940 |
| Employer | L. S. Ayres |
| Title | President |
| Term | 1896–1940 |
| Spouse | Alma (Hoegh) Ayres (1878–1969) |
| Children | Lyman S. Ayres II (1908–1996) Anne Ayres (1910– 2002) Frederic M. Ayres Jr. (1913–1973) |
| Parent(s) | Lyman S. Ayres (1824–1896) Maria Helen (Murray) Ayres (1837–1911) |
Frederic Murray Ayres Sr. (February 17, 1872 – May 15, 1940) was president of L. S. Ayres and Company from 1896 to 1940. The flagship store of his family's midwestern retail department store chain was founded by Lyman S. Ayres, his father, in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1872. During his forty-four year career at L. S. Ayres, Frederic oversaw the company's steady growth, the construction and additional expansion of its flagship store in downtown Indianapolis, and the introduction of new shopping concepts, including the store's transition to women's ready-to-wear fashions. He is best known for his quiet demeanor and service to the Indianapolis community. Ayres was a member of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, among other civic groups, and a member of several Indianapolis social clubs. During World War I, Ayres served in the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C., and in France.