Alfred Cowles III (September 15, 1891 – December 28, 1984) was an American economist, businessman and founder of the Cowles Commission. He graduated from Yale in 1913, where he was a member of Skull and Bones. He was the grandson of Alfred Cowles, Sr., who was a founder of the Chicago Tribune. His father, Alfred Cowles, Jr. (1865–1939) managed and directed the Chicago Tribune from 1898 to 1901 and the American Radiator Company. His mother was Elizabeth Cheney (1865–1898). His parents lived at 1130 N. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois. Alfred Cowles III had three siblings: Knight Cheney Cowles (born 1892); John Cheney Cowles (born 1894); and Thomas Hooker Cowles (born June 6, 1895) who married Barbara Granger, daughter of architect Alfred Hoyt Granger. Alfred Cowles was a fellow and treasurer of the Econometric Society. Selected works References American chief executives Economists from Illinois Cowles family Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows of the Econometric Society Businesspeople from Chicago People from Colorado Yale University alumni 1891 births 1984 deaths 20th-century American economists Grand River Academy alumni 20th-century American businesspeople