Enterprise Holdings has a rich and distinctive heritage. It’s a truly remarkable story of how entrepreneurship, hard work and a big dream can turn a tiny start-up into a world-class company.

The story begins with our founder, Jack Taylor. Born in our company’s home town of St. Louis in 1922, Jack heeded his country’s call after the attack on Pearl Harbor drew the United States into World War II. In 1942, he enlisted and served as a decorated fighter pilot in the skies over the South Pacific.

Then, like so many others of the “Greatest Generation,” Jack returned home to raise his family and start a business. Lessons learned in the Navy - including the values of integrity, hard work, team spirit and simply doing the right thing - helped shape his personality. They also made their mark on the company he founded in 1957, and that his family owns to this day.

In a tiny lower-level office in a St. Louis Cadillac dealership, he started out with a fleet of seven cars, one employee and a commitment to provide a uniquely personal brand of customer service.

Jack developed a simple but enduring business philosophy that still guides our efforts as the largest rental car operation in the world: “Take care of your customers and your employees first, and the profits will follow.” As his company grew, the Navy veteran expanded operations into new markets and named the company after an aircraft carrier on which had served, the World War II USS Enterprise.

To learn more about Enterprise’s rich heritage, please check out our Founding Values and Cultural Compass, which focuses on our operations, diversity and inclusion, workplace quality, business ethics, public affairs and philanthropy, and environmental conservation.

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