He was founder of Cole National Corp. and the final publisher of the Cleveland Press newspaper, as well as part-owner of the Cleveland Indians major league baseball team.
[1] He began his career in 1926 working for the National Key Company in Cleveland.
[2][1] As the company grew, diversifying into such areas as car dealerships, the Things Remembered gift shop, and the Original Cookie Company, it was renamed Cole National Corp.[1] In the 1950s, Cole became a minority owner of the Cleveland Indians (now "Guardians") baseball team; he twice attempted to purchase the team in its entirety, but was unsuccessful.
[3] In 1980, Cole purchased the struggling Cleveland Press newspaper.
[3] Cole died January 8, 1995, in Palm Beach, Florida from complications from a stroke, shortly after his 81st birthday.