Reply #2: Just for the sake of accuracy... [View All]

[punpirate]

... there's no hard evidence available that Howard F. Ahmanson, Jr., was one of the principal investors in AIS (I know--I looked long and hard for it at one time a few years ago).

Part of the problem stems from the fact that Howard's uncle and first cousin were appointed as trustees of the Ahmanson Foundation. A lot of people came to the erroneous conclusion that the Ahmanson Foundation is directly associated with Howard F., Jr. It's not. The Ahmanson Foundation was set up by the elder Ahmanson (the Foundation and Howard F., Jr. essentially split the proceeds of Ahmanson's will at his death) to promote the Los Angeles area (little known, but the elder Ahmanson was Jewish and not particularly devout--he was one of the movers and shakers in the so-called Westside development movement). In fact, the Ahmanson Foundation web site specifically states that it does not support religious causes.

Howard F., Jr. has his own foundation--the Fieldcrest Foundation, after his middle name--and there's just no indication that either Fieldcrest or Ahmanson, Jr., personally, ever invested in AIS.

The other Ahmansons did invest Ahmanson Foundation money in AIS, as an investment for the fund, and there are at least small suggestions here and there that a goodly percentage of the Foundation's shares were sold. Truth is, I don't think the Foundation trustees care much for Howard, Jr. In fact, I believe there was a lawsuit between them at one time.

Hate to burst a bubble, but after a lot of time in state and federal documents, there's just no way to be sure of this claim--even though it is generally accepted as fact due to a long period of repetition.

Cheers.