Gregory Gray Garland Jr.

Garland was born in Richmond, Virginia.[1] His parents were Lula W. and Gregory Gray Garland of 112 Cathedral Place in Richmond.[2][3] His father was the district superintendent for Autocar Sales and Service Company in Richmond.[4] However, in the mid 1930s, his father became disabled in serious fall.[3]

He attended St. Christopher's School in Richmond, where he graduated in 1942 and received the General Prize for Excellence in Journalism for his work with The Pine Needle.[1][5][6] He then enrolled in the Virginia Military Institute for a year.[1][7]

During World War II in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an ensign.[2][7] He served as a communications officer on a submarine chaser in the Pacific; his ship was damaged during Typhoon Louise in October 1945.[7] In May 1945, he was sent to a United Nations conference in San Francisco.[2] He was picked for a small group of Navy and Army personnel to attend the conference because of his background, conduct, and talent.[2]

After the war in September 1946, he entered the University of Virginia on the G.I. Bill.[8][7] While there, he was a member of St. Anthony Hall before graduating with a B.A. in 1947.[1][7] He also went to Harvard Business School, graduating in 1949.[1] Known as the Gold Rush Class, the Harvard Business School Class of 1949 generated more company presidents and CEOs than any other class.[1]

His father-in-law suggested that he become a lawyer, and Garland enrolled in the Duquesne University School of Law, graduating in 1954.[1][7]

In 1949, Garland went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with just 24¢ and a Gulf Oil card.[1] He co-founded McCann, Garland, Ridall, and Burke Esq.[1] This law firm specializes in corporate and commercial law, estate planning, nonprofit law, and real estate, but he was most interested in tax law, mergers, and acquisitions.[9][7]

In 1962, he founded Unionvale Coal Company which distributed coal from Ligonier, Pennsylvania.[1][10] He also purchased Youngstown Steel Tank, Machinex, and Embassy magazine in New York City.[1][7][11] He was chairman Greenville Metals, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, Ranger Investments, and Union National Bank.[1][12] His specialty was to "take companies and turn them around."[7]

He incorporated his wartime and personal life experiences into three novels, including the thriller Top Secret: Escape from Iran.[1]

• The Swiss Bank Account of Baroness Von Braunstein: An Exciting Adventure Story. Dorrance Publishing Company, 2016. ISBN 9781480938267
• Four Knights: A Novel of World War II. World Association Publishers, 2015. ISBN 9781633850958
• Top Secret: Escape From Iran. Author House, 2009. ISBN 9781438933580

Garland married Margaret "Peggy" Garland McCann on August 23, 1948, at Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[13][14] Their reception was at the University Club.[14] She was the daughter of John A. McCann of Pittsburgh, an attorney.[13][7] Peggy predeceased Garland after 58 years of marriage.[1] Their daughters were Margaret and Gayle.[1]

In 1980, Garland was invited to visit Liberian President William Tolbert of Liberia.[7] During their stay with the president and his wife in April 1980, the Garlands found themselves amid a coup where the president was executed.[7] The Garlands fled Liberia during the cover of night.[7]

Garland served on the board of directors of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.[15] He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia. He was also a member of The Brook Club in New York City, the Duquesne Club, Fox Chapel Golf Club, and Rolling Rock Club.[1] In 2005, Garland donated an athletic field to the Winchester Thurston School in memory of his wife who had attended the school.[16]

In 2020, he died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1]