
42. Gary Melius
2006 Power List
He can make one claim that no other Power Lister can: Gary Melius actually turned back time. In 1984, Melius began to resurrect a fallen LI treasure, the former Cold Spring Hills estate of railroad baron Otto Kahn, Oheka Castle. Since that time, Oheka has become the premier location for any event. Even after all of these years, it is one of the largest private residences ever built in the country. And Melius is the face of this grand place, using it wisely in the community. His ability to breathe new life into LI history has helped cement him as one of LI’s most powerful.