Person:Forrest Laug (1)

He operated a supermarket food business; co-founded Michigan Bulb Company; owned Grand Rapids Country Club; co-operated a food manufacturing business in Mexico City, introducing margarine to Mexico; and promoted/developed the Santa Fe Golf Course in Cuernavaca Mexico.

 Source: Mexico A-Z, An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Mexico, 1975, page 851.

Obituaries

MICHIGAN BULB CO. FOUNDER DIES

  Forrest C. Laug and his brother started the mail-order business in 1942.
  A Grand Rapids man who founded one of the nation's largest bulb and flower companies has died.
  Mr. Forrest C. Laug, who operated the Michigan Bulb Co. for more than 25 years, died Tuesday in Naples, Fla.  He was 90.
  Mr. Laug and his brother, Gerald, started the mail-order business in 1942.  A third brother, Louis, joined the firm soon after its inception.
   Forrest Laug had been a local wholesale grocer who sold a shipment of gladiola bulbs by mail after finding that the grocers he supplied needed nursery licenses to sell the bulbs.
   He began advertising the bulbs in national magazines and radio stations, and saw the business grow out of his Sigsbee Street home.
   Within four years, Michigan Bulb was doing $2 million in annual business.  It accounted for more that one-tenth of all the postage sales at the Grand Rapids Post Office -- making it the largest purchaser of postage in the city.
  In 1969, Mr. Laug retired and the family sold its interests to the first of a series of companies that would run the bulb and flower business.  The family bought it back in 1975, only to sell it again in 1984.
  It is now owned by the Illinois-based Foster & Gallagher Inc.
 In addition to the bulb business, Mr. Laug enjoyed his time on the golf course.  His love for golf led him to purchase the Highlands Golf Club in Grand Rapids.
  The Coopersville native is survived by his wife, Dorothy, three children, many grandchildren and several other relatives.
  Visitation is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Throop Funeral Home in Coopersville.  The service will begin there at 1 p.m. Friday, with burial in Coopersville Cemetery.
 Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
   Source: Grand Rapids Press  Wednesday, September 4, 1996, pg. B2.

LAUG --Mr. Forrest C. Laug, aged 90, of Grand Raids and Naples, FL., passed away Tuesday, September 3, 1996 in Naples, FL. Mr. Laug was born November 18, 1905 in Coopersville, MI. He founded and operated the Michigan Bulb Co. in Grand Rapids, which has grown to one of the largest mail order Bulb and Flower companies in the U.S. Mr. Laug loved the game of Golf and purchased the Highlands Golf Club in Grand Rapids, he was a member of Wilderness County Club in Naples, FL. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; children, Carolyn Laug both of Grand Rapids, Norma Laug of FL, Ronald Laug of FL.; eight grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; four great great granchildren; two brothers, Gerald Laug of NC and Louis Laug of FL.; one sister, Genevieve Hosler of Grand Rapids; several nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held Friday 1 PM at the Throop Funeral Home -- Coopersville, with burial in Coopersville Cemetery. Visitation hours: 7 to 9 PM Thursday evening at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Laug may be made to: The American Cancer Society.

 Source:  Grand Rapids Press  Wednesday, September 4, 1996.

1923, HS graduation picture

1. ↑ Ottawa County Michigan Births.

   Book 7 Pg 245 #516.

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Obituaries, in Grand Rapids Press. (Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, United States).

   Wednesday, September 4, 1996, pg. B2.