Enterprise founder Jack Taylor dies at 94

Construction worker Jim Bowen installs the sign for Enterprise Renat-A-Car’s 5,000th worldwide location on Wednesday, April 10, 2002, in Schaumburg, Ill. By concentrating on neighborhood locations since 1957, Enterprise has grown to become the largest rental car company in North America, managing more than 600,000 vehicles and currently opening an average of one new location per day. (Feature Photo Service)

ST. LOUIS — Jack Taylor, who started a leasing company with seven cars and built it into Enterprise Rent-A-Car, has died. He was 94.

Enterprise said in a statement Taylor died Saturday in St. Louis after a brief illness.

In 1957, Taylor founded Executive Leasing at a Cadillac dealership in St. Louis where he was a salesman. He rented cars to customers whose own vehicles were in the shop.

Eventually the business grew into Enterprise, which differed from competitors by allowing people to pick up and drop off cars away from airports.

Forbes magazine estimates Taylor’s wealth at $5.3 billion and puts him 248th on its list of the richest people.

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