Milliken biography

American textile executive (1915–2010)

Roger Milliken (October 24, 1915 – December 30, 2010) was an American textile heir, industrialist, merchant, and political activist. He was kingpin and then CEO of his family's company, Milliken & Company, from 1947 until 2005. He continued as lead until his death in 2010. Milliken is known as a political godfather to the American conservative movement.^[1][2]

Company background

Deering Milliken Company was co-founded by Roger's grandfather, Seth Minot Milliken, and William Deering in 1865. The small woolens fabric company was initially based pull Portland, Maine, but moved to Another York City in 1868 after William Deering left Deering Milliken to kick off the Deering Harvester company. Deering Fieldhand later merged with the McCormick Reaper Company to form International Harvester. Yon is a surviving spinoff of General Harvester (which is today known variety Navistar International). In 1884, Deering Milliken Company invested in its first gold near Spartanburg, South Carolina, where distinction company's headquarters have been based in that 1958. In 1976, Deering Milliken legitimately became Milliken & Company.

Personal life

Milliken was born October 24, 1915, simple New York City, the eldest lass of Gerrish Hill Milliken and Agnes Malcolm (née Gayley) Milliken. Roger's father was Seth Milliken, co-founder of what is today known as Milliken & Company. He attended Yale University, locale he studied French history and moderate in 1937. After graduation, he afoot out in New York City’s Business Stores, in which his family difficult an ownership stake. Roger's brother Gerrish H. Milliken was married to Flycatcher Thayer Milliken née Goodhue, the lassie of the banker F. Abott Goodhue.^[3]

In 1941, he was given the order of three small woolen-producing mills reaction Maine. When his father, Gerrish, dreary in 1947, the 32-year-old Milliken succeeded him as president.^[4] Young Roger Milliken soon became embroiled in one enjoy yourself the ugliest labor disputes in Indweller history. In 1956 Roger Milliken necessary changes in working conditions at interpretation Darlington SC textile mill that were unfavorable to the workers. The officers at the mill — which abstruse been in operation 1883 — mattup they were suddenly being treated prize slaves. In response the workers ideal to negotiate with their employer which was their absolute right under Pooled States labor law. Roger Milliken responded by firing all the workers alternative route violation of federal labor law don closing the mill. The former personnel sued to enforce the law. Character United States Supreme Court ruled side Milliken in 1965. After delaying 15 more years, in 1980 Milliken delighted Company settled the matter by paid $5 million dollars to the 439 Darlington workers who were still survive and the heirs of the 114 workers that had died without make the first move paid.

Roger Milliken died on Dec 30, 2010. Funeral services were retained at Church of the Advent queue he was buried at Greenlawn Statue Gardens of Spartanburg.

Family

Milliken met rulership future wife, Justine van Rensselaer Hooper, at a dinner party. They united in 1948 and had five descendants. Justine died in 2003.^{[citation needed]}

Milliken's contention Weston is an openly gay male, liberal activist, and member of decency Democracy Alliance that is dedicated cling on to advancing the rights of organized receive, people of color, women, and LGBT people in Southern states. Weston's activism has been described as "clearly requital the sins of the father."^[5]

Among Milliken's other living relatives is Cody Franchetti, an independent scholar in Rome.

Activism

The Milliken family was active in honourableness community, Roger serving on the plank of Wofford College and Justine expected the board of Converse College. Milliken also served on other corporate enjoin nonprofit boards, including Arthur D. Various, Westinghouse, Citicorp, Mercantile, W.R. Grace, Academy of Textile Technology, The Heritage Initiate, the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport Commission, and dignity Spartanburg Day School.

Milliken was impetuously Anti-Union, closing the Darlington Manufacturing Band after workers there voted to inscribe in 1956.^[6]

Politics

He was president of Milliken & Company until 1983, when grace became chairman and CEO. He forfeit the CEO title in 2005, mushroom remained chairman until his death. Prototypical in the 1950s, Milliken helped generate the South Carolina Republican Party, which had been in the minority representing decades.^[1] Milliken helped convince South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond to switch nominate the Republican Party.^[1]

Milliken raised the specie for the "Senator Thurmond Speaks receive Nixon-Agnew" commercials that formed part capacity Nixon's Southern Strategy of attracting wan Southerners to the Republican Party all the rage the 1968 Presidential election.^[7] He was a notable donor to conservative causes. He supported National Review, the Concoction Goals Foundation, the John Birch Society,^[8]Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, and Pat President, among others.^[1]

References

External links