Hicks B. Waldron*

Born in 1923 in Amsterdam, New York, Hicks Waldron was the quarterback of his high school football team, which won him a small scholarship to Green Mountain College in Vermont. To pay for his expenses, he waited tables in the student dining room. After two years, he transferred to the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering and then spending two years in the U.S. Navy before returning home to work for General Electric (GE).

His first assignment was cleaning grooves in the factory floor. It was a dirty job, but Waldron was determined to do the best job possible. He earned a reputation as the best cleaner in the factory. His zeal and determination led to promotions in purchasing, materials management, shipping, inventory control, marketing, and, finally, to general management. In 1971, he was made executive vice president for consumer goods.

In 1973, after 27 years with GE, Waldron became president of Heublein, Inc., a producer of food and alcoholic beverages. Shortly thereafter, his wife died of cancer. A year later, his son was killed in a car accident. Waldron fell seriously ill and was hospitalized for six months with pancreatitis.

Buoyed by his faith and the positive attitude of his second wife, Evelyn, he recovered and resumed his corporate career. He revitalized Heublein and served as chairman and CEO of Avon Products, Inc., before retiring in 1988. He then went on to co-found and chair Boardroom Consultants.

Waldron advises young people to "keep your options open, and take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Concentrate on whatever assignment you have, and commit yourself to doing it better than anyone else."