Edwin J. Thomas*

Edwin Thomas was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1899. He began working for Goodyear in 1916 as a part-time clerk while he was a senior in high school. After graduation, he became a full-time stenographer. He took a factory training course and worked nights to complete it.

At Goodyear Industrial University, Thomas took it upon himself to learn all aspects of engineering, purchasing, costs, personnel, production, sales, and management. He was made assistant factory manager and was assigned to several Goodyear plants.

Twenty-four years after starting at Goodyear, Thomas became president. Later, as chairman of the board, he directed the world's largest rubber company, guiding Goodyear into diversified fields of chemicals and plastics, aerospace, metal, shoe, film, foam, flooring, industrial rubber goods, and defense activities.