Leo C. Beebe

1917-2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leo C. Beebe’s remarkable life in business began with Ford Motor Company, where during his career he was loaned to the Federal Government three different times--first to  run the Hungarian and Cuban refugee camps and then to organize and run the National Alliance of Business.  His assignments with Ford to resurrect and run the Ford Racing Team, direct Philco Ford, and close the Edsel business, making him the last person on the Edsel payroll, are legendary.

Leo went on to become first a Professor of Marketing, and then the first Dean of the Business School at Glassboro State College. His passion for helping students be the best they could be was contagious. He teamed with faculty members at Glassboro State College to form an innovative marketing program known as The Management Institute. Leo’s old friend Henry Ford II keynoted the launching of the program.

In 1985, at the age of 69, Leo retired from Glassboro State, to take on the challenge of turning around K-Tron International,  providing  leadership to a company plunging very quickly towards bankruptcy. Today, K-Tron is one of the most successful businesses in South Jersey.

Leo’s involvement with organizations such as the United Way, Rotary International, Reading Is Fundamental, Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey, The Coriell Institute For  Medical Research, and other citizen committees promoted business, health care, goodwill, charity and voluntary service in our communities.

Following his death in 2001, Beebe's papers, which included many historical documents, were donated by his family to Rowan University and are now housed in the Stewart Room of the Rowan Campbell Library

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Historical Papers Collection

 

Final Lecture and Papers

Publication

 

Photo Album

 

Donations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quotes about Leo

 He always goes that extra step….He leads by example -  Ron Jaworski

 Leo was a man for all seasons…..He was a very good people personPhilip Caldwell, Former Chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Company

He gave rebirth to K-Tron…. We were on the border of disaster -  Norman Cohen, Former K-Tron Board Director