CARTER, VICTOR M.

CARTER, VICTOR M. (1910–2004), U.S. businessman and philanthropist. Carter, born in Rostov, Russia, was brought to America at age 11 by his parents, who settled in Los Angeles. At 16 he worked full time in his father's hardware store. Carter went into business for himself at age 19, opening the original do-it-yourself hardware store, which evolved into Builder's   Emporium. A highly successful building materials company, it included an engineering plant and a large hardware concern. In 1959 Carter bought a major interest in Republic Pictures, of which he became president and chairman of the board. Carter retired from business in 1967 to devote himself to his philanthropic activities, which included the State of Israel and many Jewish organizations. He was national chairman of the American Israel Bonds Campaign from 1962 to 1965 and chaired the international economic conferences to promote investment in Israel, which were held in Jerusalem in 1968 and 1969. He was president of the Jewish Federation Council and the Jewish Community Foundation and held leadership posts in support of Tel Aviv, Ben-Gurion, and Brandeis universities, as well as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, City of Hope, and the Histadrut. He was also involved in municipal government and in the African-American, Hispanic, and Asian communities. (Ruth Beloff (2nd ed.)