EDGAR F. KAISER DIES AT AGE 73; HEADED VAST FAMILY CORPORATION
Edgar F. Kaiser, who took the reins of the industrial company founded by his father, Henry J. Kaiser, and directed the empire toward international expansion, died Friday at the University of California's Moffitt Hospital after a long illness. He was 73 years old.
Mr. Kaiser was chairman emeritus and honorary director of the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation, the Kaiser Cement Corporation and the Kaiser Steel Corporation. He was vice-chairman and trustee of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals.
The Kaiser Foundation Medical Care Program, the largest private, prepaid medical plan in the country, grew from an innovative health care program Mr. Kaiser designed in the 1930's for laborers and their families working on the Bonneville Dam project in Washington.
Edgar Fosburgh Kaiser was born July 29, 1908, in Seattle. As the son of Henry J. Kaiser, who often had his family live in the camps of his construction projects, young Edgar began learning the business of engineering and construction as a youngster. Edgar and his brother, Henry J. Kaiser Jr., attended schools near the camps.
By the time he was 12 years old, he was working in the summer on construction projects, as a waterboy, a messenger and a clerk. When he entered the University of California, the younger Mr. Kaiser felt that the engineering side of construction was not for him. He studied economics. In 1930, one semester short of graduation, he quit college with his father's blessing and headed for Texas where he had been offered a chance to work as a pipeline construction superintendent.
''I talked it over with my father.'' he once recalled, ''and we agreed that I had learned about as much as I could in college, and that two months more of class work would not matter.''
Although he expected to return for his degree the following year, the pipeline job lasted until 1932. When it was completed, he joined the construction team building Boulder Dam, one of his father's projects.
Starting as a shovel foreman, Mr. Kaiser was quickly made superintendent of canyon excavation. From that project, he went on to become administrative manager of the main spillway on the Columbia River's Bonneville Dam. That dam was completed in four years - 12 months ahead of schedule.
At 34, Mr. Kaiser was named vice president and general manager of the company's World War II shipbuilding program in the Pacific Northwest. From 1941 to 1945, with the use of prefabricated parts, the Kaisers turned out ships at the rate of one every four and a half days.
In 1937 Edgar Kaiser was named general manager of the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation in Willow Run, Mich., a branch of the Kaiser company devoted to automobile production. The plant turned out, among other models, a compact car, the Henry J. But the venture was never a success, and the Kaisers lost about $52 million before they dropped it.
In 1954 Edgar Kaiser returned to California to take over the Kaiser empire. He became president of the Kaiser Industries Corporation in 1956, but his father remained active in the decision-making of the vast Kaiser holdings.
During his father's prominent career, Edgar Kaiser's skills and drive often went unnoticed. But in 1959 he was named chairman of the board of the Kaiser Steel Corporation, and broke ranks with the other major steel producers by making a pact with the striking United Steelworkers. His father died in 1967.
At the peak of his career in the 1950's and 60's, Edgar Kaiser devoted much of his time to civic work. He served on a wide range of councils, including the Business Leadership Advisory Council of the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Urban League and the National Industrial Conference.
Mr. Kaiser served four Presidential administrations. President Kennedy appointed him to the President's Missile Sites Labor Commission and to the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. He served on the Committee on Urban Housing and the Committee on Labor-Management Policy under President Johnson. President Ford named him to the Advisory Committee on Refugees, and President Carter appointed him to the National Health Insurance Issues.
In 1969 Mr. Kaiser was awarded the Medal of Freedom for his efforts to expand the amount of low and moderate-income housing. Mr. Kaiser's first wife, the former Susan Mead, died in 1974. He is survived by his wife, Nina, three sons, Edgar F. Kaiser Jr., Henry, Kim, three daughters, Carlyn Stark, Becky Drobac and Gretchen Gudgell, and 20 grandchildren.
The New York Times, Dec 13, 1981, Section 1, Page 54 by Shawn G. Kennedy
Edgar F. Kaiser, who took the reins of the industrial company founded by his father, Henry J. Kaiser, and directed the empire toward international expansion, died Friday at the University of California's Moffitt Hospital after a long illness. He was 73 years old.
Mr. Kaiser was chairman emeritus and honorary director of the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation, the Kaiser Cement Corporation and the Kaiser Steel Corporation. He was vice-chairman and trustee of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals.
The Kaiser Foundation Medical Care Program, the largest private, prepaid medical plan in the country, grew from an innovative health care program Mr. Kaiser designed in the 1930's for laborers and their families working on the Bonneville Dam project in Washington.
Edgar Fosburgh Kaiser was born July 29, 1908, in Seattle. As the son of Henry J. Kaiser, who often had his family live in the camps of his construction projects, young Edgar began learning the business of engineering and construction as a youngster. Edgar and his brother, Henry J. Kaiser Jr., attended schools near the camps.
By the time he was 12 years old, he was working in the summer on construction projects, as a waterboy, a messenger and a clerk. When he entered the University of California, the younger Mr. Kaiser felt that the engineering side of construction was not for him. He studied economics. In 1930, one semester short of graduation, he quit college with his father's blessing and headed for Texas where he had been offered a chance to work as a pipeline construction superintendent.
''I talked it over with my father.'' he once recalled, ''and we agreed that I had learned about as much as I could in college, and that two months more of class work would not matter.''
Although he expected to return for his degree the following year, the pipeline job lasted until 1932. When it was completed, he joined the construction team building Boulder Dam, one of his father's projects.
Starting as a shovel foreman, Mr. Kaiser was quickly made superintendent of canyon excavation. From that project, he went on to become administrative manager of the main spillway on the Columbia River's Bonneville Dam. That dam was completed in four years - 12 months ahead of schedule.
At 34, Mr. Kaiser was named vice president and general manager of the company's World War II shipbuilding program in the Pacific Northwest. From 1941 to 1945, with the use of prefabricated parts, the Kaisers turned out ships at the rate of one every four and a half days.
In 1937 Edgar Kaiser was named general manager of the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation in Willow Run, Mich., a branch of the Kaiser company devoted to automobile production. The plant turned out, among other models, a compact car, the Henry J. But the venture was never a success, and the Kaisers lost about $52 million before they dropped it.
In 1954 Edgar Kaiser returned to California to take over the Kaiser empire. He became president of the Kaiser Industries Corporation in 1956, but his father remained active in the decision-making of the vast Kaiser holdings.
During his father's prominent career, Edgar Kaiser's skills and drive often went unnoticed. But in 1959 he was named chairman of the board of the Kaiser Steel Corporation, and broke ranks with the other major steel producers by making a pact with the striking United Steelworkers. His father died in 1967.
At the peak of his career in the 1950's and 60's, Edgar Kaiser devoted much of his time to civic work. He served on a wide range of councils, including the Business Leadership Advisory Council of the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Urban League and the National Industrial Conference.
Mr. Kaiser served four Presidential administrations. President Kennedy appointed him to the President's Missile Sites Labor Commission and to the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. He served on the Committee on Urban Housing and the Committee on Labor-Management Policy under President Johnson. President Ford named him to the Advisory Committee on Refugees, and President Carter appointed him to the National Health Insurance Issues.
In 1969 Mr. Kaiser was awarded the Medal of Freedom for his efforts to expand the amount of low and moderate-income housing. Mr. Kaiser's first wife, the former Susan Mead, died in 1974. He is survived by his wife, Nina, three sons, Edgar F. Kaiser Jr., Henry, Kim, three daughters, Carlyn Stark, Becky Drobac and Gretchen Gudgell, and 20 grandchildren.
The New York Times, Dec 13, 1981, Section 1, Page 54 by Shawn G. Kennedy
EDGAR F. KAISER DIES AT AGE 73; HEADED VAST FAMILY CORPORATION
Edgar F. Kaiser, who took the reins of the industrial company founded by his father, Henry J. Kaiser, and directed the empire toward international expansion, died Friday at the University of California's Moffitt Hospital after a long illness. He was 73 years old.
Mr. Kaiser was chairman emeritus and honorary director of the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation, the Kaiser Cement Corporation and the Kaiser Steel Corporation. He was vice-chairman and trustee of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals.
The Kaiser Foundation Medical Care Program, the largest private, prepaid medical plan in the country, grew from an innovative health care program Mr. Kaiser designed in the 1930's for laborers and their families working on the Bonneville Dam project in Washington.
Edgar Fosburgh Kaiser was born July 29, 1908, in Seattle. As the son of Henry J. Kaiser, who often had his family live in the camps of his construction projects, young Edgar began learning the business of engineering and construction as a youngster. Edgar and his brother, Henry J. Kaiser Jr., attended schools near the camps.
By the time he was 12 years old, he was working in the summer on construction projects, as a waterboy, a messenger and a clerk. When he entered the University of California, the younger Mr. Kaiser felt that the engineering side of construction was not for him. He studied economics. In 1930, one semester short of graduation, he quit college with his father's blessing and headed for Texas where he had been offered a chance to work as a pipeline construction superintendent.
''I talked it over with my father.'' he once recalled, ''and we agreed that I had learned about as much as I could in college, and that two months more of class work would not matter.''
Although he expected to return for his degree the following year, the pipeline job lasted until 1932. When it was completed, he joined the construction team building Boulder Dam, one of his father's projects.
Starting as a shovel foreman, Mr. Kaiser was quickly made superintendent of canyon excavation. From that project, he went on to become administrative manager of the main spillway on the Columbia River's Bonneville Dam. That dam was completed in four years - 12 months ahead of schedule.
At 34, Mr. Kaiser was named vice president and general manager of the company's World War II shipbuilding program in the Pacific Northwest. From 1941 to 1945, with the use of prefabricated parts, the Kaisers turned out ships at the rate of one every four and a half days.
In 1937 Edgar Kaiser was named general manager of the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation in Willow Run, Mich., a branch of the Kaiser company devoted to automobile production. The plant turned out, among other models, a compact car, the Henry J. But the venture was never a success, and the Kaisers lost about $52 million before they dropped it.
In 1954 Edgar Kaiser returned to California to take over the Kaiser empire. He became president of the Kaiser Industries Corporation in 1956, but his father remained active in the decision-making of the vast Kaiser holdings.
During his father's prominent career, Edgar Kaiser's skills and drive often went unnoticed. But in 1959 he was named chairman of the board of the Kaiser Steel Corporation, and broke ranks with the other major steel producers by making a pact with the striking United Steelworkers. His father died in 1967.
At the peak of his career in the 1950's and 60's, Edgar Kaiser devoted much of his time to civic work. He served on a wide range of councils, including the Business Leadership Advisory Council of the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Urban League and the National Industrial Conference.
Mr. Kaiser served four Presidential administrations. President Kennedy appointed him to the President's Missile Sites Labor Commission and to the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. He served on the Committee on Urban Housing and the Committee on Labor-Management Policy under President Johnson. President Ford named him to the Advisory Committee on Refugees, and President Carter appointed him to the National Health Insurance Issues.
In 1969 Mr. Kaiser was awarded the Medal of Freedom for his efforts to expand the amount of low and moderate-income housing. Mr. Kaiser's first wife, the former Susan Mead, died in 1974. He is survived by his wife, Nina, three sons, Edgar F. Kaiser Jr., Henry, Kim, three daughters, Carlyn Stark, Becky Drobac and Gretchen Gudgell, and 20 grandchildren.
The New York Times, Dec 13, 1981, Section 1, Page 54 by Shawn G. Kennedy
Edgar F. Kaiser, who took the reins of the industrial company founded by his father, Henry J. Kaiser, and directed the empire toward international expansion, died Friday at the University of California's Moffitt Hospital after a long illness. He was 73 years old.
Mr. Kaiser was chairman emeritus and honorary director of the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation, the Kaiser Cement Corporation and the Kaiser Steel Corporation. He was vice-chairman and trustee of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals.
The Kaiser Foundation Medical Care Program, the largest private, prepaid medical plan in the country, grew from an innovative health care program Mr. Kaiser designed in the 1930's for laborers and their families working on the Bonneville Dam project in Washington.
Edgar Fosburgh Kaiser was born July 29, 1908, in Seattle. As the son of Henry J. Kaiser, who often had his family live in the camps of his construction projects, young Edgar began learning the business of engineering and construction as a youngster. Edgar and his brother, Henry J. Kaiser Jr., attended schools near the camps.
By the time he was 12 years old, he was working in the summer on construction projects, as a waterboy, a messenger and a clerk. When he entered the University of California, the younger Mr. Kaiser felt that the engineering side of construction was not for him. He studied economics. In 1930, one semester short of graduation, he quit college with his father's blessing and headed for Texas where he had been offered a chance to work as a pipeline construction superintendent.
''I talked it over with my father.'' he once recalled, ''and we agreed that I had learned about as much as I could in college, and that two months more of class work would not matter.''
Although he expected to return for his degree the following year, the pipeline job lasted until 1932. When it was completed, he joined the construction team building Boulder Dam, one of his father's projects.
Starting as a shovel foreman, Mr. Kaiser was quickly made superintendent of canyon excavation. From that project, he went on to become administrative manager of the main spillway on the Columbia River's Bonneville Dam. That dam was completed in four years - 12 months ahead of schedule.
At 34, Mr. Kaiser was named vice president and general manager of the company's World War II shipbuilding program in the Pacific Northwest. From 1941 to 1945, with the use of prefabricated parts, the Kaisers turned out ships at the rate of one every four and a half days.
In 1937 Edgar Kaiser was named general manager of the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation in Willow Run, Mich., a branch of the Kaiser company devoted to automobile production. The plant turned out, among other models, a compact car, the Henry J. But the venture was never a success, and the Kaisers lost about $52 million before they dropped it.
In 1954 Edgar Kaiser returned to California to take over the Kaiser empire. He became president of the Kaiser Industries Corporation in 1956, but his father remained active in the decision-making of the vast Kaiser holdings.
During his father's prominent career, Edgar Kaiser's skills and drive often went unnoticed. But in 1959 he was named chairman of the board of the Kaiser Steel Corporation, and broke ranks with the other major steel producers by making a pact with the striking United Steelworkers. His father died in 1967.
At the peak of his career in the 1950's and 60's, Edgar Kaiser devoted much of his time to civic work. He served on a wide range of councils, including the Business Leadership Advisory Council of the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Urban League and the National Industrial Conference.
Mr. Kaiser served four Presidential administrations. President Kennedy appointed him to the President's Missile Sites Labor Commission and to the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. He served on the Committee on Urban Housing and the Committee on Labor-Management Policy under President Johnson. President Ford named him to the Advisory Committee on Refugees, and President Carter appointed him to the National Health Insurance Issues.
In 1969 Mr. Kaiser was awarded the Medal of Freedom for his efforts to expand the amount of low and moderate-income housing. Mr. Kaiser's first wife, the former Susan Mead, died in 1974. He is survived by his wife, Nina, three sons, Edgar F. Kaiser Jr., Henry, Kim, three daughters, Carlyn Stark, Becky Drobac and Gretchen Gudgell, and 20 grandchildren.
The New York Times, Dec 13, 1981, Section 1, Page 54 by Shawn G. Kennedy
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