Walter A. Haas, Jr.

Walter A. Haas, Jr.
Born January 24, 1916
San Francisco, California
Died September 20, 1995 (aged 79)
San Francisco, California
Residence San Francisco, California
Nationality United States
Ethnicity German American
Alma mater University of California, 1937
Harvard University, MBA 1939
Occupation businessman
philanthropist
Known for president and CEO,
Levi Strauss & Co
Religion Judaism
Spouse(s) Evelyn Danzig Haas
Children Robert D. Haas
Betsy Haas Eisenhardt
Walter J. Haas
Parent(s) Elise Stern
Walter A. Haas

Walter A. Haas, Jr. (January 24, 1916 – September 20, 1995) was a president and CEO (19581976) and chairman (1970–1981) of Levi Strauss & Co, succeeding his father Walter A. Haas (1889–1979).[1] He led the company in its growth from a regional manufacturer and wholesaler of work clothes to one of the world’s leading apparel companies.[2] In 1953, together with his wife, Evelyn, he founded the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, a private family foundation based in San Francisco, California.

Biography

Born in San Francisco, Haas was the great-grandnephew of company founder Levi Strauss, and graduated from the University of California in Berkeley in 1937. His father, Walter Sr., was a prominent supporter of the university; the Haas School of Business was named in his honor. Junior followed in his father’s footsteps and gave generously to his alma mater; he also attended the Harvard Business School and earned an MBA in 1939.[3] Haas married Evelyn Danzig Haas in 1940 and had three children with her. He became a devoted philanthropist, supporting a variety of causes later in life.

Oakland Athletics

Haas was the owner of the Oakland Athletics baseball club, acquiring the team from Charles O. Finley in August 1980 for less than $13 million.[4][5] The acquisition was to prevent the team from moving, as Finley had wanted to sell to industrialist Marvin Davis, who planned to move the team to Denver.[4][6] Under Haas' ownership, the Athletics won five American League West Division titles (the first in 1981 and the last in 1992, advancing to three consecutive World Series between 1988 and 1990, defeating the cross-bay rival San Francisco Giants in 1989 in a sweep marred only by the infamous Loma Prieta earthquake.

Social responsibility and philanthropy

Walter A. Haas, Jr. brought a commitment to fairness and equality to his professional life, strengthening Levi Strauss & Co.’s position as a socially responsible international corporation.[7] During the 1950s, Haas, along with his brother, Peter E. Haas, oversaw racial integration of the company’s plants. He also led the creation of Community Involvement Teams for Levi Strauss & Co. employees worldwide through which thousands of employees became volunteers and active members of their communities.[8]

Haas served on the boards of the Ford Foundation and the National Park Foundation while leading Levi Strauss & Co. He also devoted substantial energy and philanthropy to other nonprofit institutions such as the Hunter’s Point Boys’ Club and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Season of Sharing Fund.

Together with his wife, Haas established the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund in 1953 as a private family foundation. As its mission statement describes, the Fund “seeks to fulfill (its) founders’ vision of a just and caring society that provides fundamental rights and opportunities so that all people can live, work and raise their families with dignity.”[9] Of his family’s long tradition of giving, starting with Levi Strauss himself, Haas used to say, "It's in the genes."[10]

Personal life

He had three children with his wife Evelyn: Robert D. Haas, former chairman and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. who is married to Colleen Gershon Haas; philanthropist Betsy Haas Eisenhardt who is married to Roy Eisenhardt; and Walter J. Haas, co-chairman of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund and former chairman and CEO of the Oakland Athletics, who is married to Julie Salles Haas.[11] Haas died at age 79 from prostate cancer at his San Francisco residence.[3] Funeral services were held at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco.[7]

See also

References

  1. "Former Levi Strauss & Co. chairman Walter Haas dies". Lodi News-Sentinel. UPI. December 8, 1979. p. 13.
  2. "Levi Strauss & Co. News". Levi Strauss & Co. website.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Haas, team owner, Levi's heir, dies". Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA). Associated Press. September 21, 1995. p. C4.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Finley sells Oakland A's". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. August 24, 1980. p. 1C.
  5. "Finley sells A's to Levi Strauss". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. August 24, 1980. p. D11.
  6. "New Finley proves savvy with Athletics". Times Daily (Florence, AL). Associated Press. October 19, 1988. p. 4B.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Walter A. Haas, Jr. Recalled for Generosity". Jewish Weekly. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  8. "Community Engagement, Levi Strauss & Co.". Levi Strauss company website. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  9. "Mission Statement". Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  10. "Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, Co-Founders". Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  11. San Francisco Gate: "Philanthropist, arts patron Evelyn Haas dies" by Michael Cabanatuan February 4, 2010