Francis Levien
Francis Levien | |
---|---|
Born | 1905 |
Died | June 15, 1995 | (aged 89–90)
Nationality | American |
Other names | Francis S. Levien |
Alma mater | Columbia University (BA, LLB) |
Occupation | lawyer, industrialist |
Employer | Gulf and Western |
Known for | namesake of Levien Gymnasium |
Francis S. Levien (1905 – June 15, 1995) was an American lawyer and industrialist specialized in the creation of conglomerates. He was a director of Gulf and Western Industries.[1]
Biography[]
Born in 1905, Levien graduated from Columbia College in 1926 and Columbia Law School in 1928.[2] He began a law practice named Levien, Singer & Neuberger and made a small fortune during the 1930s, when he and his partner, Herbert M. Singer, won a case in Delaware, resulting in the formation of PepsiCo.[3][4][5] He was also a shareholder of the company.[6][7]
He also formed a partnership with the New England paper merchant Harry E. Gould and turned a marginal steelmaker, the Steel Materials Corporation, into a thriving money-maker from World War II military contracts.[8][9]
In 1950, Levien bought a defunct steel mill in Ohio and put it back in operation as the Ohio River Steel Company.[9] In 1951, Levien and Gould traded their stake in the steel company for control of a printing-ink business, Universal Laboratories. They changed the name of the holding company into Universal American Corporation, which was then merged into Gulf and Western Industries.[10] Levien subsequently became a director of Gulf and Western Industries until his retirement in 1985.[11] He was also a director of several companies, including Kansas City Southern Industries and 20th century Fox.[12][13]
In 1962, he donated $1 million towards building a new gymnasium at Columbia University that was named in his honor.[2][14]
Personal life[]
Levien married Janice L. Currick in 1936 at the Savoy-Plaza Hotel.[15] He died on June 15 at Mount Sinai Hospital and was survived by his wife, a daughter, Lorna Lubash, and two grandchildren.
References[]
- ^ Saxon, Wolfgang (1995-06-15). "Francis Levien, 90, Industrialist Known For Conglomerates". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
- ^ a b "Facilities". Columbia University Athletics. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
- ^ Ying, Jennifer (2009). "Guth v. Loft: The Story of Pepsi-Cola and the Corporate Opportunity Doctrine". SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.1414478. ISSN 1556-5068. S2CID 107061882.
- ^ Nemy, Enid (1996-10-08). "Herbert M. Singer, 89, Dies; Lawyer and Philanthropist". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
- ^ "Loft, Inc. v. Guth, 23 Del. Ch. 138 (1938) | Legal Calculators". calculators.law. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
- ^ New York Supreme Court.
- ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1954-10-30). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
- ^ "HARRY E. GOULD; STRICKEN AT FIGHT". The New York Times. 1971-03-10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
- ^ a b National Geographic. National Geographic Society. July 1976.
- ^ Reckert, Clare M. (1967-10-11). "GULF & WESTERN TO TRY NEW FIELD; Will Buy Block of Universal American Merger Ahead COMPANIES PLAN MERGER ACTIONS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ Judiciary, United States Congress House Committee on the (1970). Hearings.
- ^ "Altman v. Deramus, 342 F. Supp. 72 (S.D.N.Y. 1972)". Justia Law. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Zanuck Is New Prexy At 20th Century Fox" (PDF). World Radio History. August 4, 1962. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "University Record 12 December 1974 — Columbia Record". curecordarchive.library.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "JANICE L. CURRICK BECOMES A BRIDE; Married at the Savoy-Plaza to Francis S. Levien, Member of a Brooklyn Family". The New York Times. 1936-08-24. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- 1905 births
- 1990 deaths
- Gulf and Western Industries
- Columbia College (New York) alumni
- Columbia Law School alumni
- American philanthropists
- American industrialists
- Lawyers from New York City