George Gregersen, founder and publisher of The Enterprise for more than 50 years, died Aug. 15 following a fall at his home in Salt Lake City. He was 86.
Gregersen spent his early career in the real estate and securities industries in Salt Lake City. While building a successful real estate portfolio — and in conversations with fellow Utah business owners and entrepreneurs — he realized a need for a source of more timely local business news than was available in the market at that time. With a lifelong love for journalism but no publishing experience, Gregersen published the first edition of The Enterprise on July 4, 1971. His weekly flagship publication proved enduring, having recently celebrated its 50th year serving the Utah business community.
The Enterprise also provided fertile ground for Gregersen to launch other business-oriented publications, including the Ogden Business Herald, the Salt Lake Real Estate News, the Monthly Business Report, the Enterprise Business Directory, the Enterprise Business Directory Ogden, the Phoenix Enterprise Review, the Greater Phoenix Real Estate News, the Book of Lists, the Utah County Business Journal and the Wasatch North Business Journal.
Roald George Gregersen was born March 14, 1935, in Copenhagen, Denmark, the middle child of Richard V. and Eva M. Gregersen. The family had converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and shortly after the close of World War II, the Gregersens immigrated to the United States and Salt Lake City. George Gregersen was 13 years old.
Gregersen grew up in the Sugar House area of Salt Lake City, graduated from South High School and attended the University of Utah. He loved to read, having read over 5,000 books, some of them multiple times. He devoted his life to his children, Christian and Georgia. Among his other loves were fly fishing; golf, which he took up later in life; being well-dressed; Mazatlán, Mexico; his Federal Heights Ward; and his time spent with friends at the Alta Club. His real passion was business and the contacts and knowledge he obtained as publisher of The Enterprise.
Gregersen is survived by his brother, Ole Richard, and his daughter, Mary Anne Georgia. He is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Mary Anne; and his son, John Christian.
Funeral services are planned for Aug. 25 at noon at the Federal Heights Ward, 1300 E. Fairfax Road, Salt Lake City.