Age at death: 70y, 5m, 30d
----
Article: The Milwaukee Journal, Wednesday, September 27, 1972, page 1 & page 9
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19720927&id=zsYdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qSgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3802,4951668
Conger Dies; Headed Kohler Co.
by Leon Hughes of The Journal Staff
Kohler, Wis. -- Lyman C Conger, a national symbol of tough management during the Kohler Co. strike of the 1950s, died at his home here Tuesday.
His death was attributed to a heart attack.
Conger, 70, was chairman of the board when he retired Jun 30 after 50 years with the plumbing ware firm. He was in key management positions for 28 years ad led the company's long battle with the United Auto Workers.
The bitter six and one-half year strike and a stubborn legal battle that lasted four and one-half years more than made him a national hero among conservative businessmen.
Cordial Terms
By the time of is retirement, much of the bitterness of the strike had faded and Conger was on cordial terms with the UAW officials who led the strike.
Conger was born March 27, 1902, in the rural town of Forest in Fond du Lac County and spent his boyhood in western Sheboygan County.
He studied chemistry at Oshkosh State College, now the University of Wisconsin -- Oshkosh.
Conger began his career as a factory worker in the company's enamel shop. He moved next to a laboratory job and then to the industrial engineering department.
He was admitted to the bar in 1928 after studying law in law offices and through correspondence courses.
Conger joined the company's legal staff that year and began his climb through the executive ranks. He became chairman in 1968 after the death of Herbert V. Kohler, who had been the top executive for 28 years.
Conger was the first person outside the Kohler family to hold the top office. He was as loyal to the company's traditions as the Kohlers themselves.
Conger was fond of quoting the late Walter Kohler Sr. on the company's policy toward its workers:
"The worker is entitled not only to bread but to roses as well."
Although union leaders accused the company of despotic paternalism, Conger insisted that the firm was promoting the interests of its employees off the job as well as in the factory.
Planned Community
The plant is adjacent to a planned community, and an extensive recreational program is available to workers and their families.
In an interview just before his retirement, Conger said the firm's policies were the same as they had always been, although he did acknowledge that the company and the UAW had adopted more of "live and let live" attitude.
Conger was active in the Boy Scouts for 56 years and had many hobbies. "He lies to do everything for himself," a colleague said recently.
Answered Own Phone
Conger liked to answer his own office telephone even while he was chairman of the large corporation. Kohler is second only to American Standard in the plumbing ware field and also produces internal combustion engines and power plants.
He is survived by his wife, Cecilia; two sons, Lyman, Jr. of Burlington, Vt., and Kenneth, of Kohler, and a daughter, Mrs. Patricia Dasso of Eugene, Ore. Kenneth is director of labor relations at Kohler.
Funeral arrangements were not complete.
----
----
Article: The Milwaukee Journal, Wednesday, September 27, 1972, page 1 & page 9
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19720927&id=zsYdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qSgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3802,4951668
Conger Dies; Headed Kohler Co.
by Leon Hughes of The Journal Staff
Kohler, Wis. -- Lyman C Conger, a national symbol of tough management during the Kohler Co. strike of the 1950s, died at his home here Tuesday.
His death was attributed to a heart attack.
Conger, 70, was chairman of the board when he retired Jun 30 after 50 years with the plumbing ware firm. He was in key management positions for 28 years ad led the company's long battle with the United Auto Workers.
The bitter six and one-half year strike and a stubborn legal battle that lasted four and one-half years more than made him a national hero among conservative businessmen.
Cordial Terms
By the time of is retirement, much of the bitterness of the strike had faded and Conger was on cordial terms with the UAW officials who led the strike.
Conger was born March 27, 1902, in the rural town of Forest in Fond du Lac County and spent his boyhood in western Sheboygan County.
He studied chemistry at Oshkosh State College, now the University of Wisconsin -- Oshkosh.
Conger began his career as a factory worker in the company's enamel shop. He moved next to a laboratory job and then to the industrial engineering department.
He was admitted to the bar in 1928 after studying law in law offices and through correspondence courses.
Conger joined the company's legal staff that year and began his climb through the executive ranks. He became chairman in 1968 after the death of Herbert V. Kohler, who had been the top executive for 28 years.
Conger was the first person outside the Kohler family to hold the top office. He was as loyal to the company's traditions as the Kohlers themselves.
Conger was fond of quoting the late Walter Kohler Sr. on the company's policy toward its workers:
"The worker is entitled not only to bread but to roses as well."
Although union leaders accused the company of despotic paternalism, Conger insisted that the firm was promoting the interests of its employees off the job as well as in the factory.
Planned Community
The plant is adjacent to a planned community, and an extensive recreational program is available to workers and their families.
In an interview just before his retirement, Conger said the firm's policies were the same as they had always been, although he did acknowledge that the company and the UAW had adopted more of "live and let live" attitude.
Conger was active in the Boy Scouts for 56 years and had many hobbies. "He lies to do everything for himself," a colleague said recently.
Answered Own Phone
Conger liked to answer his own office telephone even while he was chairman of the large corporation. Kohler is second only to American Standard in the plumbing ware field and also produces internal combustion engines and power plants.
He is survived by his wife, Cecilia; two sons, Lyman, Jr. of Burlington, Vt., and Kenneth, of Kohler, and a daughter, Mrs. Patricia Dasso of Eugene, Ore. Kenneth is director of labor relations at Kohler.
Funeral arrangements were not complete.
----
Age at death: 70y, 5m, 30d
----
Article: The Milwaukee Journal, Wednesday, September 27, 1972, page 1 & page 9
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19720927&id=zsYdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qSgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3802,4951668
Conger Dies; Headed Kohler Co.
by Leon Hughes of The Journal Staff
Kohler, Wis. -- Lyman C Conger, a national symbol of tough management during the Kohler Co. strike of the 1950s, died at his home here Tuesday.
His death was attributed to a heart attack.
Conger, 70, was chairman of the board when he retired Jun 30 after 50 years with the plumbing ware firm. He was in key management positions for 28 years ad led the company's long battle with the United Auto Workers.
The bitter six and one-half year strike and a stubborn legal battle that lasted four and one-half years more than made him a national hero among conservative businessmen.
Cordial Terms
By the time of is retirement, much of the bitterness of the strike had faded and Conger was on cordial terms with the UAW officials who led the strike.
Conger was born March 27, 1902, in the rural town of Forest in Fond du Lac County and spent his boyhood in western Sheboygan County.
He studied chemistry at Oshkosh State College, now the University of Wisconsin -- Oshkosh.
Conger began his career as a factory worker in the company's enamel shop. He moved next to a laboratory job and then to the industrial engineering department.
He was admitted to the bar in 1928 after studying law in law offices and through correspondence courses.
Conger joined the company's legal staff that year and began his climb through the executive ranks. He became chairman in 1968 after the death of Herbert V. Kohler, who had been the top executive for 28 years.
Conger was the first person outside the Kohler family to hold the top office. He was as loyal to the company's traditions as the Kohlers themselves.
Conger was fond of quoting the late Walter Kohler Sr. on the company's policy toward its workers:
"The worker is entitled not only to bread but to roses as well."
Although union leaders accused the company of despotic paternalism, Conger insisted that the firm was promoting the interests of its employees off the job as well as in the factory.
Planned Community
The plant is adjacent to a planned community, and an extensive recreational program is available to workers and their families.
In an interview just before his retirement, Conger said the firm's policies were the same as they had always been, although he did acknowledge that the company and the UAW had adopted more of "live and let live" attitude.
Conger was active in the Boy Scouts for 56 years and had many hobbies. "He lies to do everything for himself," a colleague said recently.
Answered Own Phone
Conger liked to answer his own office telephone even while he was chairman of the large corporation. Kohler is second only to American Standard in the plumbing ware field and also produces internal combustion engines and power plants.
He is survived by his wife, Cecilia; two sons, Lyman, Jr. of Burlington, Vt., and Kenneth, of Kohler, and a daughter, Mrs. Patricia Dasso of Eugene, Ore. Kenneth is director of labor relations at Kohler.
Funeral arrangements were not complete.
----
----
Article: The Milwaukee Journal, Wednesday, September 27, 1972, page 1 & page 9
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19720927&id=zsYdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qSgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3802,4951668
Conger Dies; Headed Kohler Co.
by Leon Hughes of The Journal Staff
Kohler, Wis. -- Lyman C Conger, a national symbol of tough management during the Kohler Co. strike of the 1950s, died at his home here Tuesday.
His death was attributed to a heart attack.
Conger, 70, was chairman of the board when he retired Jun 30 after 50 years with the plumbing ware firm. He was in key management positions for 28 years ad led the company's long battle with the United Auto Workers.
The bitter six and one-half year strike and a stubborn legal battle that lasted four and one-half years more than made him a national hero among conservative businessmen.
Cordial Terms
By the time of is retirement, much of the bitterness of the strike had faded and Conger was on cordial terms with the UAW officials who led the strike.
Conger was born March 27, 1902, in the rural town of Forest in Fond du Lac County and spent his boyhood in western Sheboygan County.
He studied chemistry at Oshkosh State College, now the University of Wisconsin -- Oshkosh.
Conger began his career as a factory worker in the company's enamel shop. He moved next to a laboratory job and then to the industrial engineering department.
He was admitted to the bar in 1928 after studying law in law offices and through correspondence courses.
Conger joined the company's legal staff that year and began his climb through the executive ranks. He became chairman in 1968 after the death of Herbert V. Kohler, who had been the top executive for 28 years.
Conger was the first person outside the Kohler family to hold the top office. He was as loyal to the company's traditions as the Kohlers themselves.
Conger was fond of quoting the late Walter Kohler Sr. on the company's policy toward its workers:
"The worker is entitled not only to bread but to roses as well."
Although union leaders accused the company of despotic paternalism, Conger insisted that the firm was promoting the interests of its employees off the job as well as in the factory.
Planned Community
The plant is adjacent to a planned community, and an extensive recreational program is available to workers and their families.
In an interview just before his retirement, Conger said the firm's policies were the same as they had always been, although he did acknowledge that the company and the UAW had adopted more of "live and let live" attitude.
Conger was active in the Boy Scouts for 56 years and had many hobbies. "He lies to do everything for himself," a colleague said recently.
Answered Own Phone
Conger liked to answer his own office telephone even while he was chairman of the large corporation. Kohler is second only to American Standard in the plumbing ware field and also produces internal combustion engines and power plants.
He is survived by his wife, Cecilia; two sons, Lyman, Jr. of Burlington, Vt., and Kenneth, of Kohler, and a daughter, Mrs. Patricia Dasso of Eugene, Ore. Kenneth is director of labor relations at Kohler.
Funeral arrangements were not complete.
----
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