Horace Hagedorn

He died on January 31, 2005 in Sands Point, New York of pulmonary fibrosis. His second wife, Amy, founded the Hagedorn Foundation in 2005.

In later life, he donated large amounts to various charities, particularly those dealing with children. In 2000, he gave $45 million to the Long Island Community Foundation, funded a cleft palate clinic at North Shore University Hospital, and underwrote the Miracle-Gro Kids program.

Miracle-Gro, a water-soluble fertilizer, was developed after Hagedorn met nurseryman Otto Stern and learned of Stern's troubles shipping plants in the 1944. The pair hired O. Wesley Davidson, a Rutgers University professor to develop the fertilizer. Hagedorn used royalties from producing a crime-drama "The Big Story" to fund the company. In 1950, the company was formed after his wife Peggy named the product. He is largely credited with the success of the company due to the nature of his effective marketing, employing advertisements in differing medias and working with emerging hardware chains. Hagedorn, however, credits being at the right place at the right time for the success of the company. In 1963, he became the company's first full time salesman. In 1995, the company merged with Scotts for $200 million in stock, made Hagedorn the majority investor. The merger created world's largest maker of lawn and garden products. He retired from Miracle-Gro in 1997.

Horace Hagedorn (March 18, 1915 – January 31, 2005) was an advertising executive, businessman and philanthropist, who was co-founder of the Miracle-Gro brand, with Otto Stern (he eventually bought out the 50% interest of Stern).

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