Verne M. Willaman (August 20, 1928 – June 9, 2012[1]) was a business executive and philanthropist. He was chairman and president of pharmaceutical firm Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation and director and member of the executive committee of Johnson & Johnson.
Verne M. Willaman | |
|---|---|
 Verne Willaman, pictured in 1999 | |
| Born | August 13, 1928 |
| Died | June 9, 2012 (aged 83) |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | Pennsylvania State University |
| Occupation(s) | Business executive, philanthropist |
Early life and education edit
Willaman was born in Greenville, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Fredonia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1951 with a degree in biological chemistry, and then served a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War aboard the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42).
Career edit
Willaman began his career as a pharmaceutical sales representative for Ortho Pharmaceutical and rose through the executive ranks to president in 1969 and chairman in 1976. He became a director and member of the executive committee of Johnson & Johnson in 1977 and retired in 1988. Among his other professional activities was service on the board of directors and the executive committee of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and the board of directors of the American Federation of Pharmaceutical Education.[2]
He was a trustee of the Somerset County Medical Center, a founding member of the Middlesex County Multiple Sclerosis Society and also served on the National Council of Crime and Delinquency and as a trustee of Marcus J. Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Arizona.
Philanthropy edit
Willaman is among the largest individual donors to Pennsylvania State University having donated more than $27 million to the university.[3] His gifts to Penn State included endowed positions in the Eberly College of Science including the dean's chair, faculty chairs and professorships in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mathematics, Biology and Statistics. He also provided support for graduate fellowships and a range of projects and programs.[4]
Penn State honored Willaman as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1993. In 2004, the university named the Willaman Gateway to the Sciences in his honor.[5]
In honor of his parents, he established the Prescott and Mary Willaman Scholarships to assist undergraduates with financial need and a proven academic record. Willaman also provided substantial financial support to numerous other charitable causes supporting the arts, sciences, veterans, churches, libraries and school programs.
In 1999 Slate magazine included Willaman in its annual Slate60 which profiles the 60 largest American charitable contributions for the year.[6]
Personal life edit
Willaman had two children, a son Mark M. Willaman and a daughter Wendy Willaman.
References edit
- ^ "Obituary of Verne M. Willaman, 83". Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ^ "Gateway Named for Verne Willaman". Alumni and Philanthropy News. The Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved 2005-06-01.
- ^ Gibb, Tom (April 25, 1999). "Grateful graduate gives Penn State $20 million". Post-Gazette News. Post-Gazette.
- ^ "Holders of Endowed Positions in the Eberly College of Science". The Pennsylvania State University.
- ^ Bezilla, Michael (September 15, 2004). "$3 million Willaman gift supports new science complex".
- ^ Castle, Ann (December 31, 1999). "The 1999 Slate 60: The 60 largest American charitable contributions of 1999". SLATE Magazine.