Raymond A. Rich Papers, 1916 – 1998

Summary

Creator:

Raymond A. Rich

Abstract:

The Raymond A. Rich Papers document the professional life of Mr. Rich. Mr. Rich was a leader in corporate America for over five decades and held multiple positions as CEO or chairman of companies in the following industries: oil, gas exploration and production, publishing, glass, banking, environmental engineering, and production facilities.

Extent:

23 Linear Feet

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

[Description of item, date, location of item in order of series, box number, folder number ], in the Raymond A. Rich Collection, Archives and Special Collections, James A. Cannavino Library, Marist College.

Background

Scope and content:

The Raymond A. Rich Papers document the professional life of Mr. Rich. Mr. Rich was a leader in corporate America for over five decades and held multiple positions as CEO or chairman of companies in the following industries: oil, gas exploration and production, publishing, glass, banking, environmental engineering, and production facilities. The collection includes papers, photographs, newspaper articles, magazine articles, business annual reports, and audiovisual materials concerning his education, professional life, military career, and his interests in art and real estate. Also includes is correspondence and documentation of Mr. Rich’s purchase and maintenance of the Oliver Hazard Payne Estate.

Biographical / historical:

Raymond A. Rich was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1912, the son of Arthur and Lucy Baker Rich. He was raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and started his career by hiring on to a tramp freighter for a job in the engine room at age 18. After receiving a double engineering degree from Iowa State University, he was hired in the midst of the Great Depression by General Electric Co. and became its youngest national sales manager at that time. He was awarded the rare "E Award" for overseeing GE's multiple war production plant facilities.

Mr. Rich then was asked to lead the federal Northeast District for the Council for Economic Development. He volunteered for active duty in World War II in the Navy and Marines, serving in the South Pacific Islands and in Tokyo after the Japanese surrender. He received numerous decorations for his distinguished service. After the war, Mr. Rich became vice president and director of Philco Corp. and then accepted the presidency and directorship of Avco Corp. From there his career escalated, and he went on to hold multiple, simultaneous CEO and chairman positions in numerous companies. The sectors ranged from oil and gas exploration and production, publishing, glass containers, and banking to environmental engineering and production facilities. He led U.S. Filter Corp. as chairman and CEO to a significant role in its field, increasing revenues twenty-fold in the 1970s.

Upon retiring from active corporate life, Mr. Rich focused on acquiring various real estate properties. In addition to his primary residence in Boca Grande, Florida, and his estate in Esopus, he owned at various times in his life cattle ranches in Arizona and Oklahoma, corn and soybean farms in Iowa, townhouses in New York City, homes in Maine, a castle in the Scottish Highlands, a 12th-century castle in Austria, and a chateau in France. Mr. Rich was a member of the University Club for more than 60 years and the Union Club, both in New York City, as well as the Boca Grande Club and Gasparilla Inn Club of Florida.

Raymond A. Rich Work History

Date	Event
1929	Theodore Roosevelt High School, Des Moines, Iowa
1935	Iowa State College - B.S., Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
1935 - 1941	Drake University - Studied Law and Business
1935 - 1941	University of Arizona - Studied Engineering and Geology
1935 - 1941	Additional Sales Training and Engineering courses, General Electric Co., Schenectady, N.Y.
1935 - 1941	General Electric Company, Began in engineering and subsequently served in personnel, manufacturing and national sales executive capacities, and defense operations. He became their youngest National Sales Manager at that time. He was awarded the rare "E Award" for overseeing GE's multiple war production plant facilities.
1942	War-time Activities: Smaller War Plants Corporation (Washington, D.C.) Advisor to the Chairman
1942 -1944	War-time Activities: Committee for Economic Development Mr. Rich was active in the establishment and administration of the Committee for Economic Development in the Second and Third Federal Reserve Districts.
1944 - 1946	War-time Activities: Active Duty Volunteered for active duty in World War II and served as an officer with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific for two years. He held the rank of Lieutenant, U.S.N.R.
1946 - 1947	Van Doren, Nowland & Schladermundt (New York, NY) Mr. Rich became a partner in this consulting firm, which specialized in the fields of engineering, market research, and product development.
1948 - 1956	Philco Corporation: Mr. Rich joined Philco in an executive capacity in 1948.
1948 - 1956	Philco Corporation: Appointed Vice President in 1950.
1948 - 1956	Philco Corporation: Appointed to the Board of Directors in 1954. Mr. Rich was General Manager of the Philco Appliance Division for three years before resigning from the firm. He also played an important part in the expansion of Philco's operations during his eight years with the company.
1956 - 1957	AVCO Manufacturing Corporation Appointed President in 1956. Mr. Rich was also elected a director and a member of the executive committee upon being named president. AVCO manufactured home appliances, farm equipment, and defense and industrial products.
1958 - 1961	Canadian Hydrocarbons Limited Elected Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO in 1958
1967	Patagonia Corporation, Chairman of the Board and CEO.
1971	United States Filter Corporation, Chairman of the Board and CEO.
1972	Filtrol Corporation, Chairman of the Board. Filtrol merged with the United States Filter Corporation in 1979.
1973	American Stock Exchange Listed Company Advisory Committee Chairman.
1956 - 1957	Crosley Broadcasting Corp. Director Moffats Ltd. Director AVCO Canada Director Crosley Distributing Corp. President Carrollton Furniture Co. President
1957 - 1980	Knox Glass, Inc. Chairman and CEO McCall Corporation Chairman and CEO Hunt Foods & Industries, Inc. Director Crucible Steel Corporation Director Mutual Fund Concern of Waddell & Reed (United Fund) Director Canadian Homestead Oils Limited Director Fort St. John Petroleums Limited Director Elwill Development Limited Director Thunderbird Petroleums, Inc. Director Canadian Propane Oil & Gas Limited Director Great Northern Gas Utilities Ltd. of Calgary Chairman
Lifetime	Clubs: University Club (New York City) Mr. Rich was a member of the University Club for over 50 continuous years. Cotton Bay Club (Bahamas, B.W.I.) Pinnacle Club (New York City) Nantucket Yacht Club

Acquisition information:

The Raymond A. Rich Papers were donated to Marist College by the Raymond A. Rich Estate in 2009.

Arrangement:

These records are organized into four series: 1) Textual Materials, with eleven subseries, 2) Ephemera, with two subseries, 3) Photographic Materials, with eight subseries, and 4) Audiovisual Materials, with three subseries

Physical location:

Please contact the Marist College Archives and Special Collections for information regarding use and access of this collection.

Rules or conventions:

DACS Describing Archives: A Content Standard. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2013.

Restrictions:

Restricted collection. Permission must be granted to view the materials.

Terms of access:

Individuals requesting reproductions expressly assume the responsibility for compliance with all pertinent provisions of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. ss101 et seq. Patrons further agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Marist College Archives & Special Collections and its staff in connection with any disputes arising from the Copyright Act, over the reproduction of material at the request of patrons. For more information please visit the following website:

Preferred citation:

[Description of item, date, location of item in order of series, box number, folder number ], in the Raymond A. Rich Collection, Archives and Special Collections, James A. Cannavino Library, Marist College.

Location of this collection:

Marist College

3399 North Road

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, United States

Link to repository site

Contact:

845-575-3364

library.archives@marist.edu