Inventor. Sylvan Nathan Goldman invented and patented the first shopping cart in 1936. After attending public schools through the 8th grade, he worked with his father in a dry goods store. He was born into a Jewish household and was bar mitzvahed. On April 25, 1917 during World War I, he enlisted in the Army serving in Company A. 1st Separate Battalion, Oklahoma Engineers. After serving in France during World War I, he and his older brother Alfred opened Goldman Brother's Wholesale Fruits and Produce in Texas. After relocating back to Oklahoma, the brothers opened Sun Grocery Company on April 3, 1920 and a year later, they owned 21 stores. In 1929, this company was sold, and in 1934 he purchased the faltering Humpty-Dumpty grocery chain, turning the business around to make a profit. Besides the shopping cart, he invented the grocery sacker, the folding interoffice basket carrier, and the handy milk bottle rack. He received many honors, including honorary chief of the Pawnee Indian Tribe in 1950, the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities Award in 1965, a Distinguished Service Citation from the University of Oklahoma and the induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame both in 1971, and an honorary doctorate from Oklahoma City University in 1974. After retiring from the grocery business, he turned his interest to banking and real estate, becoming Goldman Enterprises, making him a multi-millionaire. Goldman and his wife were known for their philanthropy. One week after his wife's death, he died. The couple had two sons.
Inventor. Sylvan Nathan Goldman invented and patented the first shopping cart in 1936. After attending public schools through the 8th grade, he worked with his father in a dry goods store. He was born into a Jewish household and was bar mitzvahed. On April 25, 1917 during World War I, he enlisted in the Army serving in Company A. 1st Separate Battalion, Oklahoma Engineers. After serving in France during World War I, he and his older brother Alfred opened Goldman Brother's Wholesale Fruits and Produce in Texas. After relocating back to Oklahoma, the brothers opened Sun Grocery Company on April 3, 1920 and a year later, they owned 21 stores. In 1929, this company was sold, and in 1934 he purchased the faltering Humpty-Dumpty grocery chain, turning the business around to make a profit. Besides the shopping cart, he invented the grocery sacker, the folding interoffice basket carrier, and the handy milk bottle rack. He received many honors, including honorary chief of the Pawnee Indian Tribe in 1950, the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities Award in 1965, a Distinguished Service Citation from the University of Oklahoma and the induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame both in 1971, and an honorary doctorate from Oklahoma City University in 1974. After retiring from the grocery business, he turned his interest to banking and real estate, becoming Goldman Enterprises, making him a multi-millionaire. Goldman and his wife were known for their philanthropy. One week after his wife's death, he died. The couple had two sons.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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