President Wippman’s Writings & Remarks

James L. Ferguson ’49

October 4, 2016

Tags In Memoriam

Dear Members of the Hamilton Community,

I am writing to share news that Life Trustee James L. Ferguson’49 died last Wednesday following a brief illness. He was 90.

After graduating from Hamilton in 1949 with a degree in English literature, Mr. Ferguson served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Pacific Theater. He earned an M.B.A. from Harvard University in 1951 and joined Procter & Gamble before beginning a long career with General Foods, for which he served as president, chief operating officer and director. He became chief executive officer of the company in 1973 and retired in 1989 as chairman of the Executive Committee. In 1986, to honor his service to the company, General Foods established the James L. Ferguson Professorship at Hamilton. Associate Dean of Faculty and Professor of Music Sam Pellman is the current holder of that prestigious chair.

An avid traveler and outdoorsman, Mr. Ferguson was chairman of the South Carolina Aquarium and was a trustee of the Aspen Institute, among other community and civic organizations. He wrote in his 50th Reunion Yearbook that he was “eternally grateful for the opportunity to spend four years being intellectually broadened before heading into more ‘practical’ circumstances. I have had some opportunities later in life” he said, “to endorse strongly, to anyone who would listen, the virtues of a liberal arts education as preparation for a very complex and changing world.”

Sincerely,

David