Rocky Mountain News (CO) - December 22, 1995
PHILANTHROPIST KING DAVID SHWAYDER DIES AT 85
King David Shwayder, who ran Samsonite Corp. from 1960 until 1975, died Thursday at his Denver home. He was 85.
"He was one of the most honest men I ever knew," his wife, Rose, said. ''He was the last of the gentlemen."
A noted philanthropist and business leader, Shwayder insisted on an integrated workforce long before the civil rights movement spurred other companies to do likewise.
In Detroit, where he ran the company's operations from 1935 to 1960, he backed the appointment of a black foreman over the objections of white workers, his wife said.
"At the time, he said to me, 'We may be in great danger,' " she said. ''All the white workers walked out. But they came back a month later."
And when the company built a plant in Tennessee, Shwayder insisted it not have separate drinking fountains or washrooms for white and black workers, she said.
He was born in Denver on Aug. 21, 1910, the same year his father, Jesse, started Samsonite, naming the company after the biblical strongman Samson.
He also gave his children biblical names.
He loved playing golf and taking photographs of nature scenes or sailboats, she said. He had his own darkroom.
His philanthropy left its mark across Denver. Shwayder was among the big contributors to the expansion of what became Mile High Stadium. His contributions to the University of Denver led to the creation of a campus art museum. He was also a major donor to the Denver Art Museum.
He was a director of Beatrice Foods Co., Pizza Hut Inc., Public Service Co. of Colorado and the United Bank of Denver. He was a past chairman of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry.
He also served on the boards of the University of Denver, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Boy Scouts of America, the United Negro College Fund and the Rotary Club of Colorado.
A memorial service will be held at Temple Emanuel at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
He is survived by his wife; son Keith; daughter Jessie Harsham; grandchildren Mary Shwayder, Jo Anne Shwayder and Bret Harsham; and sisters Faye Shwayder, Dorothy Heitler and Norma Degan.
PHILANTHROPIST KING DAVID SHWAYDER DIES AT 85
King David Shwayder, who ran Samsonite Corp. from 1960 until 1975, died Thursday at his Denver home. He was 85.
"He was one of the most honest men I ever knew," his wife, Rose, said. ''He was the last of the gentlemen."
A noted philanthropist and business leader, Shwayder insisted on an integrated workforce long before the civil rights movement spurred other companies to do likewise.
In Detroit, where he ran the company's operations from 1935 to 1960, he backed the appointment of a black foreman over the objections of white workers, his wife said.
"At the time, he said to me, 'We may be in great danger,' " she said. ''All the white workers walked out. But they came back a month later."
And when the company built a plant in Tennessee, Shwayder insisted it not have separate drinking fountains or washrooms for white and black workers, she said.
He was born in Denver on Aug. 21, 1910, the same year his father, Jesse, started Samsonite, naming the company after the biblical strongman Samson.
He also gave his children biblical names.
He loved playing golf and taking photographs of nature scenes or sailboats, she said. He had his own darkroom.
His philanthropy left its mark across Denver. Shwayder was among the big contributors to the expansion of what became Mile High Stadium. His contributions to the University of Denver led to the creation of a campus art museum. He was also a major donor to the Denver Art Museum.
He was a director of Beatrice Foods Co., Pizza Hut Inc., Public Service Co. of Colorado and the United Bank of Denver. He was a past chairman of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry.
He also served on the boards of the University of Denver, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Boy Scouts of America, the United Negro College Fund and the Rotary Club of Colorado.
A memorial service will be held at Temple Emanuel at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
He is survived by his wife; son Keith; daughter Jessie Harsham; grandchildren Mary Shwayder, Jo Anne Shwayder and Bret Harsham; and sisters Faye Shwayder, Dorothy Heitler and Norma Degan.
Rocky Mountain News (CO) - December 22, 1995
PHILANTHROPIST KING DAVID SHWAYDER DIES AT 85
King David Shwayder, who ran Samsonite Corp. from 1960 until 1975, died Thursday at his Denver home. He was 85.
"He was one of the most honest men I ever knew," his wife, Rose, said. ''He was the last of the gentlemen."
A noted philanthropist and business leader, Shwayder insisted on an integrated workforce long before the civil rights movement spurred other companies to do likewise.
In Detroit, where he ran the company's operations from 1935 to 1960, he backed the appointment of a black foreman over the objections of white workers, his wife said.
"At the time, he said to me, 'We may be in great danger,' " she said. ''All the white workers walked out. But they came back a month later."
And when the company built a plant in Tennessee, Shwayder insisted it not have separate drinking fountains or washrooms for white and black workers, she said.
He was born in Denver on Aug. 21, 1910, the same year his father, Jesse, started Samsonite, naming the company after the biblical strongman Samson.
He also gave his children biblical names.
He loved playing golf and taking photographs of nature scenes or sailboats, she said. He had his own darkroom.
His philanthropy left its mark across Denver. Shwayder was among the big contributors to the expansion of what became Mile High Stadium. His contributions to the University of Denver led to the creation of a campus art museum. He was also a major donor to the Denver Art Museum.
He was a director of Beatrice Foods Co., Pizza Hut Inc., Public Service Co. of Colorado and the United Bank of Denver. He was a past chairman of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry.
He also served on the boards of the University of Denver, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Boy Scouts of America, the United Negro College Fund and the Rotary Club of Colorado.
A memorial service will be held at Temple Emanuel at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
He is survived by his wife; son Keith; daughter Jessie Harsham; grandchildren Mary Shwayder, Jo Anne Shwayder and Bret Harsham; and sisters Faye Shwayder, Dorothy Heitler and Norma Degan.
PHILANTHROPIST KING DAVID SHWAYDER DIES AT 85
King David Shwayder, who ran Samsonite Corp. from 1960 until 1975, died Thursday at his Denver home. He was 85.
"He was one of the most honest men I ever knew," his wife, Rose, said. ''He was the last of the gentlemen."
A noted philanthropist and business leader, Shwayder insisted on an integrated workforce long before the civil rights movement spurred other companies to do likewise.
In Detroit, where he ran the company's operations from 1935 to 1960, he backed the appointment of a black foreman over the objections of white workers, his wife said.
"At the time, he said to me, 'We may be in great danger,' " she said. ''All the white workers walked out. But they came back a month later."
And when the company built a plant in Tennessee, Shwayder insisted it not have separate drinking fountains or washrooms for white and black workers, she said.
He was born in Denver on Aug. 21, 1910, the same year his father, Jesse, started Samsonite, naming the company after the biblical strongman Samson.
He also gave his children biblical names.
He loved playing golf and taking photographs of nature scenes or sailboats, she said. He had his own darkroom.
His philanthropy left its mark across Denver. Shwayder was among the big contributors to the expansion of what became Mile High Stadium. His contributions to the University of Denver led to the creation of a campus art museum. He was also a major donor to the Denver Art Museum.
He was a director of Beatrice Foods Co., Pizza Hut Inc., Public Service Co. of Colorado and the United Bank of Denver. He was a past chairman of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry.
He also served on the boards of the University of Denver, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Boy Scouts of America, the United Negro College Fund and the Rotary Club of Colorado.
A memorial service will be held at Temple Emanuel at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
He is survived by his wife; son Keith; daughter Jessie Harsham; grandchildren Mary Shwayder, Jo Anne Shwayder and Bret Harsham; and sisters Faye Shwayder, Dorothy Heitler and Norma Degan.
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