Alice Marriott

Alice Sheets Marriott (October 19, 1907 – April 17, 2000) was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist. She was married to J. Willard Marriott, founder of the hospitality company Marriott Corp.

For the historian, see Alice Marriott (historian). For the actress, see Alice Marriott (actress).
Alice Marriott
Born
Alice Taylor Sheets

October 19, 1907
Salt Lake City, Utah
DiedApril 17, 2000(2000-04-17) (aged 92)
NationalityAmerican
EducationBachelor of Arts in Spanish, University of Utah
OccupationRestaurateur, Philanthropist
Spouse(s)J. Willard Marriott
ChildrenJ. W. "Bill" Marriott Jr.
Richard E. Marriott
Parent(s)Alice Taylor and Edwin Spencer Sheets

Early life and career

Marriott was born in Salt Lake City, the daughter of Alice Taylor and Edwin Spencer Sheets. She graduated with honors from the University of Utah in 1927 at age 19. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Chi Omega sorority. She married J. Willard Marriott in the Salt Lake Temple on June 9, 1927.[1]

In 1927, Alice worked as a bookkeeper with her husband at a root beer stand they both started. After introducing a Mexican-themed menu, the stand was renamed The Hot Shoppe and several more were opened. Alice and her husband opened their first motel, the Twin Bridges Motor Hotel in Arlington, Va., in 1957. This one motel grew into a chain of Marriott hotels.[2]

Later life

Marriott served two ten-year terms on the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She was also vice-chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1965 to 1976, and honorary chairman of the 1973 Richard Nixon inaugural committee.

Legacy

Marriott provided endowments to educational institutions. In 1988 she provided funds for the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University. The University of Utah opened the Alice Sheets Marriott Center for Dance, which houses the University's departments of Modern Dance and Ballet, on September 25, 1989.[3]

Family

Marriott's mother Alice Taylor Sheets married U.S. Senator Reed Smoot on 2 July 1930 after both of them had been widowed.[4]

References
  1. "Biography of Alice Sheets Marriott". Archived from the original on 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  2. Alice S. Marriott, 92, Matriarch of Hotel Family
  3. "Marriott Center for Dance". Archived from the original on 2007-07-27. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  4. http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/s/SMOOT,REED.html Archived 2008-04-07 at the Wayback Machine Utah History Encyclopedia
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