Harvey Granger,

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA - Harvey Granger, Jr., 81, died September 10, 2009.
Mr. Granger was born in Savannah on September 9, 1928 and was the only child of Harvey Granger and Marion Rauers Granger. Mr. Granger was a 1945 graduate of Savannah High School and served in the United States Navy from 1945 - 1948. He attended the University of South Carolina and graduated in 1951 from Georgia Tech's School of Industrial Engineering with a Bachelor of Science degree. He served as an Industrial Engineer at what was then Union Bag and Paper Corporation from 1950 to 1956. In 1956, Mr. Granger started a 40-year career at what was The Steel Products Company, now Great Dane Trailers, Inc. Starting as an Industrial Engineer in 1956, he served in many management positions at Great Dane and served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1984 to 1992. He then became a consultant until 1996. Under his leadership as President, Great Dane became the number one Truck Trailer Manufacturer in the United States, surpassing Fruehauf, which originated the Truck-Trailer concept.
During the 1980s, Mr. Granger served three years as a member of the Alumni Advisory Board of Georgia Tech's School of Industrial and Systems Engineering and was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the school. He was a member of the Board of the United Way of the Coastal Empire for several years and served as Chairman of the Capital Campaign Committee. Mr. Granger's major civic effort was in the hospital area. From 1988 to 2003 he served as a Trustee of Saint Joseph's Hospital and Saint Joseph's/Candler Health System. He was Vice-Chairman and Chairman of Saint Joseph's Hospital and was one of the key participants in the negotiations which led to the merger of Saint Joseph's and Candler Hospitals. He became the founding Chairman of Saint Joseph's/Candler Health System and was Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the two institutions for nine years.
Mr. Granger was a member and past President of the Oglethorpe Club, a member and Past Chairman of the Cotillion Club, a member and past Governor of the Century Club, and a member of the Savannah Golf Club and the Chatham Club. He was a past member and founding board member of the First City Club, and a past member of the Savannah Yacht Club and the Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, North Carolina.
Mr. Granger is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Brandt Granger, a son and daughter-in-law, Harvey and Ruth Granger of Jacksonville, Florida, a son Matthew Brandt Granger of Valdosta, a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara (Jamie) and Wesley Collier of Atlanta, and five grandchildren - Andrea Granger of Manhattan, Kansas, Corinne and Andrew Granger of Jacksonville, and Dee and Sam Collier of Atlanta.
The family thanks John O'Neal, Sabrina Mason, Michelle Grier, and Francina Cruse for their excellent care and support.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o'clock Friday evening at Gamble Funeral Service, 410 Stephenson Avenue.
The funeral service will be held at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the graveside, Greenwich section of Bonaventure Cemetery, conducted by Monsignor William O. O'Neill.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Saint Joseph's Hospital Foundation - 11705 Mercy Boulevard, Savannah, Georgia 31419 or the Coastal Georgia Region, Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter - 201 Television Circle, Savannah, Georgia 31406.