Savannah businessman, philanthropist Dale Critz Sr. passes away
Longtime Savannahian, Dale Critz Sr., 91, died Sept. 29. He was well-known for both his acumen in the automotive industry and his family’s philanthropic efforts, for which he was honored numerous times.
Just a few days ago, the boardroom of the United Way of the Coastal Empire was named for Critz, who was described as a “consistently active volunteer leader.”
At a surprise ceremony at the United Way building on Bull Street, Critz was recognized as “not just a member of our United Way of the Coastal Empire family; he is the heart and soul of our Alexis de Tocqueville Society,” according to Brynn Grant, president and chief executive officer of the local United Way. Additionally, Grant said: “Many invest in our work today because of Dale’s influence and passion for our mission.”
Critz was a 25-year member and former chairman of the Tocqueville Society, which is the United Way’s most prestigious giving society, with members contributing $10,000 or more annually to the United Way Community Fund.
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In a 2021 interview Critz said one of his goals was making Savannah a better place to live, after he and wife, Lila, received the “Legends, Leaders and Life Well-Lived Award” from Senior Citizens, Inc.
“(You make Savannah better) by working with charities and through preservation,” he explained. The Critzes began volunteering decades ago with groups such as the Telfair Museums, Junior Achievement and the Junior League of Savannah. A longtime resident of the Historic District, Critz was a past president of the Historic Savannah Foundation and in 2017 received the Davenport Trophy, the group’s highest preservation achievement honor.
Critz was a “dear friend and mentor” of longtime family friend and business associate J. Curtis Lewis III.
“He was a true icon in this community, not just in the automotive world but in philanthropic and civic matters,” Lewis added. “I was fortunate to work with on a number of business and charitable endeavors, He was a family man of integrity, and I will miss him.”
Critz served on the endowment committees at the Georgia Historical Society, the Savannah Community Foundation, and the George Washington Foundation. He was a 60-year member of Rotary Club of Savannah and in 2004 was inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. The Critz Tybee Run Fest has donated more than $560,000 to local organizations that foster education and healthy living in the Coastal Empire.
In 2019 the family established the Critz Family Fund at the Georgia Historical Society, “ensuring that their commitment to Georgia history will continue in perpetuity,” according to the society.
Bill Daniel, a retired businessman and colleague of Critz's, decribed Critz as a "Savannah institution."
"In business, he has always represented the best in integrity and successfully guided some of our oldest and most important nonprofit institutions through decades of service and growth," said Daniel. "Savannah, coastal Georgia and South Carolina as better places because Dale Critz chose to make a difference."
A native of Little Rock, Ark., Critz graduated from Duke University in 1955. He and his wife were married in 1957 and moved to Savannah shortly afterward to join his family’s automobile business, Critz, Inc. During his 45-year career he established dealerships in Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana and Florida. In 1998 he was honored by Time magazine as the Quality Automobile Dealer of the Year. He retired in 2002 and his son, Dale, now serves as president and CEO of Critz Auto Group. Funeral arrangements are pending.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah businessman, philanthropist Dale Critz Sr. passes away
