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Jon Meade Huntsman Sr. (June 21, 1937 – February 2, 2018)[1] was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was the founder and executive chairman of Huntsman Corporation, a global manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals. Huntsman plastics are used in a wide variety of familiar objects, including (formerly) clamshell containers for McDonald's hamburgers.[2] Huntsman Corporation also manufactures a wide variety of organic and inorganic chemicals that include polyurethanes, textiles, and pigments.[3] Huntsman's philanthropic giving exceeded $1.5 billion, focusing on areas of cancer research, programs at various universities, and aid to Armenia.

Early life and education

Jon Meade Huntsman was born in Blackfoot, Idaho, into a poor family.[4] His mother, Sarah Kathleen (née Robison; 1910–1969),[5] was a homemaker, and his father, Alonzo Blaine Huntsman Sr. (1910–1990),[6] was a school educator.[4][7] In 1950, the family moved to Palo Alto, California, where Alonzo pursued graduate studies at Stanford University, earning an M.A. and Ed.D. He then became a superintendent of schools in the Los Altos district.

Jon Huntsman attended Palo Alto High School, where he became student body president. He was recruited by Harold Zellerbach, chairman of Crown-Zellerbach Paper Company, to attend the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania on a Zellerbach scholarship.[8] He graduated from Wharton in the spring of 1959, a brother of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

Huntsman married Karen Haight, daughter of David B. Haight, in June 1959, just weeks after he graduated.[4] Both are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In July 1959, Huntsman left to serve for two years in the U.S. Navy as an officer aboard the USS Calvert.[4] He subsequently earned an MBA from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business in 1966.[10]

Business career

Dolco Packaging Corporation

In 1961, Huntsman was employed by Olson Brothers, Inc., an egg-producing company in Los Angeles.[11] There he rose through the ranks to the position of vice president of Operations. Recognizing that the company sustained substantial losses due to poor packaging, Huntsman became interested in developing a better alternative. His leadership was key in developing the first plastic egg carton. In 1965 he established contact with the polystyrene operations of the Dow Chemical Company. In 1967 he became president of a joint venture between Olson Brothers, Inc., and Dow Chemical, the Dolco Packaging Corporation.

Huntsman Container Corporation

Seeing an opportunity to create packaging for the emerging fast-food industry, Huntsman left Dolco in 1970 to form the Huntsman Container Corporation with his brother, Alonzo Blaine Jr. (1936–2012),[12][4] and others in Fullerton, California.[11][13] Plants were constructed in Fullerton, California, in 1971 and in Troy, Ohio, in 1972.[13] Since cash flow was an issue for the new company, Huntsman mortgaged his house and borrowed heavily from banks. In 1973 the company nearly collapsed when an Arab oil embargo cut off supplies of polystyrene, used to make expandable/expanded polystyrene (or EPS).

In 1974, Huntsman Container Corporation created the "clamshell" container for McDonald's Big Mac.[11] The company also developed other popular products, including the first plastic plates, bowls and fast-food containers.[8][13] In 1976, after completion of its first international plant at Skelmersdale, England, a stock deal was arranged to sell Huntsman Container Corporation to Keyes Fiber Company. Huntsman continued to serve as CEO of the container business for four more years and held a directorship of Keyes Fiber Company.

Huntsman Chemical Company – Huntsman Corporation

In 1982, after serving as a mission president for the LDS Church in Washington, DC for three years, Huntsman continued his plastics and petrochemical pursuits with the formation of a new company, Huntsman Chemical Company, in Salt Lake City, Utah.[15] In his capacity as CEO and Chairman, he grew the business into a multibillion-dollar company, in part by acquiring a number of businesses in the polystyrene, styrene, and polypropylene industry when they were not seen as profitable. Between 1986 and 2000 Huntsman acquired 36 companies, 35 of which turned out to be hugely profitable.

In 1994, the Huntsman Chemical Company was renamed the Huntsman Corporation. In 1996, Peter R. Huntsman became President and COO of Huntsman Corporation. In 2000 he replaced his father as the company's CEO. Jon M. Huntsman continued to be involved in the company as Chairman.

During the 2000s, Huntsman continued its pattern of expansion, both in America and around the world, and reorganization. Huntsman Corporation became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005.[17] As of 2014, Huntsman reported that it operated 80 manufacturing and R&D facilities in 30 countries and employed approximately 12,000 associates.

Huntsman Gay Global Capital

In 2007 Huntsman co-founded an additional new private equity firm, Huntsman Gay Global Capital (now known as HGGC), with two former Bain Capital executives Robert C. Gay (1989–2004, managing director) and Greg Benson (executive vice president in London), former Sorenson Capital co-founder and managing director Rich Lawson, and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young to focus on investments in middle market companies.

Scientific awards and honors

Huntsman has been awarded thirteen honorary doctorate degrees at various universities.[21] In 2004 he received the Othmer Gold Medal, awarded by the Chemical Heritage Foundation in recognition of contributions in research, innovation, legislation or philanthropy.[22][23] In 2013 he received the Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Chemical Marketing and Economics (CM&E) group.[24] In 2015, he received the Bower Award from the Franklin Institute.

Personal life and death

Huntsman and his wife, Karen, were married for over 58 years and had nine children: Jon Jr., Peter, Christena, Kathleen (d. 2010), David, Paul, James, Jennifer, and Mark. At the time of Huntsman's death, they had 56 grandchildren, two of whom were adopted from China and India, and 19 great-grandchildren.

Huntsman's eldest son, Jon Jr., also served as a Huntsman Corporation executive. He was elected Governor of Utah in 2004 and was a candidate in the Republican Party presidential primaries in 2012.[26] He has also served in other governmental positions, including as Ambassador of the United States to Singapore, China, and (as of 2017) Russia.

Huntsman's second eldest son, Peter, took over as CEO of the Huntsman Corporation in July 2000 and as chairman in January 2018.

On December 8, 1987, Huntsman's son, James, then age 16, was kidnapped and held for $1 million ransom by Nicholas Hans Byrd, a former classmate. FBI agents traced the kidnapper and rescued James unharmed, but agent Al Jacobsen was stabbed in the chest during the arrest.

Huntsman has published a book about his life experience, communicating moral lessons. Titled Winners Never Cheat: Everyday Values We Learned as Children (But May Have Forgotten), it was published by Wharton School Publishing in 2005. A second edition, titled Winners Never Cheat: Even in Difficult Times, made the Wall Street Journal's best-sellers list.

Huntsman was a four-time cancer survivor.[33] He died on February 2, 2018 at his home in Salt Lake City.

Courtesy – Wikipedia
- Jon Huntsman Sr

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