Edson White Spencer (June 4, 1926 – March 25, 2012) was an American executive who served as head of Honeywell from 1974 to 1987.
Edson W. Spencer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1926-06-04)June 4, 1926 |
| Died | March 25, 2012(2012-03-25) (aged 85) |
| Education | Williams College (BA '48)Oxford University (BA '50, MA '50) |
| Spouse | Harriett McClure Stuart (m. 1950) |
Early life and education
Spencer was born in 1926 in Chicago, Illinois.[1][2] His father, William Spencer, was chairman of the North American Car Corporation, and his grandfather, F. Edson White, was president of Armour & Company.[1][2] He served in the U.S. Navy before graduating from Williams College and later studied at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.[1][3]
Career
Spencer joined Honeywell in 1954 as an aeronautical engineer.[1][2] He became its chief executive officer in 1974.[1] As chief executive, he oversaw Honeywell's shift away from computers and focused instead on aeronautics and industrial technology.[2] This restructuring included purchasing Sperry Aerospace Group for $1 billion, which expanded Honeywell's aerospace business.[1][2]
After retiring, Spencer dedicated himself to philanthropy, serving on the boards of the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Mayo Foundation, and Carleton College.[1][4] He also served on the U.S.-Japan Business Council and the Trilateral Commission.[3] He and his wife, Harriet, co-founded the Yellowstone Park Foundation and contributed to projects within Yellowstone National Park.[1]
References
- ^ abcdefgh"Edson W. Spencer, Who Turned Honeywell's Attention to the Skies, Dies at 85 (Published 2012)". March 31, 2012.
- ^ abcde"Edson Spencer, former CEO of Morristown-based Honeywell, dies at 85". nj.com. Bloomberg News. April 2, 2012.
- ^ ab"Edson Spencer, Honeywell CEO who refocused company's direction, dies at 85 - The Washington Post". Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^"Edson White Spencer | American Academy of Arts and Sciences". www.amacad.org. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
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