- Great American Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century
Thornton A. Wilson
Boeing Company
1969 - 1986
Automotive & Aerospace
b. 1921
| Education |  |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Iowa State University |
| Graduate | MA, California Institute of Technology |
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Born-Died | 1921 - 1999 |
| Birthplace | Missouri (MO) |
| Race | White |
| Father | Farmer / Rancher |
Wilson took over the struggling Boeing Company during the recession of the early 1970s. A radical cost cutter, Wilson slashed two thirds of the work force and made the company profitable again. During his 17-year tenure, Wilson pushed Boeing to move into more fuel-efficient commercial aircraft. By the end of his tenure, Boeing had achieved a 55% share of the commercial jet market.