Whiz Kids

The Whiz Kids were ten U.S. Army Air Force veterans of World War II who became Ford Motor Company executives in 1946.

Related Topics:
U.S. Army Air Force - World War II - Ford Motor Company - 1946

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They were led by their commanding officer, Charles B. "Tex" Thornton. The others were:

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• Wilbur Andreson
• Charles Bosworth, eventually head of purchasing.
• J. Edward Lundy, eventually chief financial officer.
• Robert S. McNamara, eventually Ford president, then Secretary of Defense.
• Arjay Miller, eventually Ford president.
• Ben Mills, eventually general manager of Lincoln-Mercury Division.
• George Moore
• Francis "Jack" Reith, the executive responsible for the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser and the Edsel, both sales failures -- Reith committed suicide a few years later.
• James Wright, eventually head of Ford division.

Thornton wrote to several corporations, offering their services as a group -- all ten, or nothing. Henry Ford II had recently taken over the company from his ailing grandfather and, needing management help badly, accepted their offer. Seven of the ten went on to senior management positions. Thornton left Ford in 1948 for Hughes Aircraft, and later was head of Litton Industries.

Related Topics:
Henry Ford II - 1948 - Litton Industries

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