Romeo J. Ventres*

Born in 1924 in Massachusetts, Romeo Ventres was the fifth of six children and the first in his family to be born in the United States. His father had come to America at age 14 to work in the coal mines of Pennsylvania but went back to Italy to marry. He later returned and found work as a plasterer. Two years later, he sent for his wife and children.

Getting an education was paramount to Ventres' parents. Ventres was allowed to work each summer in factories or construction jobs, but during the school year, he had to concentrate on his studies. He worked at a local foundry to earn his tuition at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He was the first in the family, as well as in his neighborhood, to attend college. In 1944, Ventres joined the U.S. Navy, and following World War II, he returned to Worcester with the help of the GI bill. He graduated in 1948 with a degree in chemical engineering.

After working seven years as an engineer for Atlantic Refining Company, Ventres took his wife and three children to Baghdad, where for two years he trained Iraqis to operate their oil refineries under a U.S. government program. Upon returning to the United States in 1957, Ventres joined Borden, Inc. as assistant chief engineer.

Seventeen years later, he became executive vice president of a specialty chemical company, rejoining the dairy company five years later as a vice president. Within six years, after serving as a division president and corporate executive vice president, Ventres was elected president and COO of Borden, Inc. He became CEO in 1986 and chairman in 1987. Under his direction, Borden strengthened its position as the world's largest dairy company. He led Borden in a spurt of targeted acquisitions that boosted sales by more than 50 percent. Ventres stayed on as CEO until 1991 and as chairman until 1992, at which time he retired at age 67.

Ventres has met many successful people who rose from the humblest occupations to positions of power. In all cases, he says, their success was a result of doing the best with what life presented them, working hard, keeping faith, and having integrity. "Successful people glow with the courage, confidence, and inner peace that follow when you do your best with what you're given," he says. "They have a hunger to live a meaningful life."

Of his Horatio Alger Award, Ventres says, "This award is most satisfying because it recognized not only me, but also all those who helped me achieve in life, my parents, my siblings, my wonderful wife and family, and my friends."