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Alfred "Al" Lerner (May 8, 1933—October 23, 2002) was an American billionaire. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Lerner was the son of Russian immigrants. He attended Columbia University. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1955 to 1957.

Later in his life Lerner became chairman of MBNA Bank. He also owned the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League, after purchasing the rights to the team in 1998. Prior to that in 1995 he assisted his friend at the time Art Modell, former owner of the Browns, in moving Modell's NFL franchise rights from Cleveland to Baltimore. After his death, his son, Randy took over the Browns franchise. Lerner's initials are stitched on the shoulders of the Browns jerseys.

Lerner donated approximately twenty-five million dollars toward the construction of a new Columbia University student center in 1999, which was named Alfred Lerner Hall in his honor.

In 2007, Columbia University announced it would honor Alfred Lerner's military service in the United States Marine Corps with a plaque to be placed in Lerner Hall.

Trivia

• Had a tribute to him at the end of a season 8 episode of The Drew Carey Show called "The Dawn Patrol".
• Also has a building named after him located at the University of Delaware and Columbia University.
• Was President of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and donated over $100 million to the hospital system.

References

1. Matt Sanchez (March 23, 2007). "Bringing the Military to Columbia". The Columbia Spectator.

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External links

• Biography from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans
• The Lerner Research Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio

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• 1933 births
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• American bankers
• Cleveland Browns
• National Football League owners
• People from Cleveland
• Columbia University alumni
• American billionaires
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