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John Searle (businessman)

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John G. Searle
Born(1901-03-18)March 18, 1901
Sabula, Iowa, U.S.
DiedMarch 21, 1978(1978-03-21) (aged 77)
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BS)
OccupationsBusinessman, philanthropist
ChildrenDaniel C. Searle
ParentClaude Howard Searle
RelativesGideon Daniel Searle (paternal grandfather)

John Gideon Searle (19011978) was an American heir, businessman and philanthropist.[1][2][3][4]

Early life

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John Gideon Searle was born March 18, 1901, in Sabula, Iowa.[5] His paternal grandfather was Gideon Daniel Searle, founder of G. D. Searle & Company in 1888.[1][4] His father, Claude Howard Searle, served as president of the family business after his grandfather's death in 1917.[1] He began working for the family business at the age of fourteen, working every summer through high school and college.[1] He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy.[1][4]

Business career

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At Searle, he worked as a buyer in 1923, and then was appointed office manager and treasurer.[1] In 1931, he became vice president and general manager of Searle, up until 1966.[1] To remain competitive during the Great Depression, he reduced its product lines and focused on successful products such as Aminophyllin, Metamucil and Dramamine.[1] He also launched the first oral contraceptive drug Enovid in 1957.[2][3] He moved its headquarters to Skokie, Illinois, in 1942.[4]

In 1966, his son Daniel C. Searle became president of Searle.[1] His other son, William L. Searle, as well as his son-in-law, Wes Dixon, also worked for the company.[4]

Philanthropy

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In 1964, he set up the Searle Fund at the Chicago Community Trust.[3] The Searle Family Trust later created the Searle Scholars Program.[3][4]

He was inducted in the American National Business Hall of Fame.[1] Northwestern University and Yale University have endowed professorships named for him.[6][7] The John G. Searle Chair at the American Enterprise Institute, named in his honor, is currently held by Michael R. Strain.[8] Assistant professorships named after Searle exist in all departments at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Death

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John G. Searle died on March 21, 1978, in Hobe Sound, Florida.[5]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 American National Business Hall of Fame biography Archived 2010-08-13 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 Harvard Business School: John G. Searle
  3. 1 2 3 4 The Chicago Community Trust biography
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Searle Scholars Program
  5. 1 2 "Searle, John Gideon ("Jack")". encyclopedia.com.
  6. Northwestern University
  7. Yale University
  8. American Enterprise Institute