Edward Carlson
Encyclopedia
Edward "Eddie" Carlson was an American businessman and Seattle, Washington civic leader.
Carlson was born in Tacoma, Washington
and, as a youth, helped his single mother make ends meet by working as an attendant at a gas station, as well as other odd jobs. Carlson entered the University of Washington
in 1928 and, while a student, began his hotel career as a pageboy, then elevator operator, then bellhop.He dropped out of college in 1930 for financial reasons. He worked half a year as a seaman, then worked a summer job at Mount Baker
Lodge, and beginning in autumn 1931 traveled the country in an unsuccessful stint as a salesman trying to sell a machine that mechanically blocked (shaped) felt hats. Returning to Seattle, he returned to hotel work, first as a room clerk and then as assistant manager of Seattle's Roosevelt Hotel, next as manager of the President Hotel in Mount Vernon, Washington
. On June 26, 1936, he married Nell H. Cox.
In April 1937, Carlson returned to Seattle to manage the Rainier Club
, Seattle's preeminent private club." He retained that position until he left to join the Navy
in 1942; at that time, the club awarded him a military membership, which became a regular membership upon his return from World War II
.
He finished World War II
as a Lieutenant Commander
in the Navy Supply Corps, having served in Seattle and then in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Returning from the war, he took a position as assistant to S. W. Thurston, president of Western Hotels, Inc. (later Western International Hotels, then Westin Hotels
). Within a year he had been named vice president, then became successively executive vice president (1953), president (1960), and finally chairman and CEO
(1969). Westin merged with United Airlines
in 1970, and Carlson became CEO of the newly formed company, U.A.L., a position he held from 1971–1979. In his first two years, he turned the almost bankrupt airliner into a profitable one.
Carlson is credited in bringing the 1962 World's Fair
—the Century 21 Exposition
—to Seattle. His napkin sketch of tower with a revolving restaurant on top, inspired by the Stuttgart Tower
, was the origin of the Space Needle
. Harvard Business School
named Carlson one of the great business leaders of the twentieth century.
Carlson was also (along with Henry Broderick
) one of the two leaders of the successful 1948 initiative
that re-legalized the sale of liquor by the drink in Washington State.
(U.W.). "Since its inception, the Center has worked with faculty to extend classroom learning, help students make meaningful contributions to the community and promote the development of effective citizens and leaders. Through the Carlson Center each year, hundreds of U.W. students engage in public service."
even after the divorce.
Carlson was born in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
and, as a youth, helped his single mother make ends meet by working as an attendant at a gas station, as well as other odd jobs. Carlson entered the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1928 and, while a student, began his hotel career as a pageboy, then elevator operator, then bellhop.He dropped out of college in 1930 for financial reasons. He worked half a year as a seaman, then worked a summer job at Mount Baker
Mount Baker
Mount Baker , also known as Koma Kulshan or simply Kulshan, is an active glaciated andesitic stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the North Cascades of Washington State in the United States. It is the second-most active volcano in the range after Mount Saint Helens...
Lodge, and beginning in autumn 1931 traveled the country in an unsuccessful stint as a salesman trying to sell a machine that mechanically blocked (shaped) felt hats. Returning to Seattle, he returned to hotel work, first as a room clerk and then as assistant manager of Seattle's Roosevelt Hotel, next as manager of the President Hotel in Mount Vernon, Washington
Mount Vernon, Washington
Mount Vernon is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,743 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included in the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the county seat of Skagit County...
. On June 26, 1936, he married Nell H. Cox.
In April 1937, Carlson returned to Seattle to manage the Rainier Club
Rainier Club
The Rainier Club is a private club in Seattle, Washington; Priscilla Long of HistoryLink.org calls it "Seattle's preeminent private club." Its clubhouse building, completed in 1904, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was founded in 1888 in what was then the Washington Territory...
, Seattle's preeminent private club." He retained that position until he left to join the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in 1942; at that time, the club awarded him a military membership, which became a regular membership upon his return from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
He finished World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in the Navy Supply Corps, having served in Seattle and then in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Mechanicsburg is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA, eight miles west of Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Mechanicsburg was settled in 1806 and incorporated as a borough on April 12, 1828...
Returning from the war, he took a position as assistant to S. W. Thurston, president of Western Hotels, Inc. (later Western International Hotels, then Westin Hotels
Westin Hotels
Westin Hotels & Resorts are an upscale hotel chain owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. As of 2011, Westin operated over 160 hotels in 37 countries.-History:...
). Within a year he had been named vice president, then became successively executive vice president (1953), president (1960), and finally chairman and CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
(1969). Westin merged with United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
in 1970, and Carlson became CEO of the newly formed company, U.A.L., a position he held from 1971–1979. In his first two years, he turned the almost bankrupt airliner into a profitable one.
Carlson is credited in bringing the 1962 World's Fair
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
—the Century 21 Exposition
Century 21 Exposition
The Century 21 Exposition was a World's Fair held April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962 in Seattle, Washington.Nearly 10 million people attended the fair...
—to Seattle. His napkin sketch of tower with a revolving restaurant on top, inspired by the Stuttgart Tower
Fernsehturm Stuttgart
The Fernsehturm Stuttgart is the world's first TV tower built from concrete ....
, was the origin of the Space Needle
Space Needle
The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington and is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and a symbol of Seattle. Located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over...
. Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
named Carlson one of the great business leaders of the twentieth century.
Carlson was also (along with Henry Broderick
Henry Broderick
Henry Broderick was an Irish Labour Party politician. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Labour Party Teachta Dála for the Longford–Westmeath constituency at the June 1927 general election. He was re-elected at the September 1927 general election but lost his seat at the 1932 general...
) one of the two leaders of the successful 1948 initiative
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
that re-legalized the sale of liquor by the drink in Washington State.
Edward E. Carlson Leadership and Public Service Center
In 1992, a gift from the Carlson family founded the Carlson Leadership and Public Service Center at the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
(U.W.). "Since its inception, the Center has worked with faculty to extend classroom learning, help students make meaningful contributions to the community and promote the development of effective citizens and leaders. Through the Carlson Center each year, hundreds of U.W. students engage in public service."
Personal
The Carlsons had two children, Gene and Janie. Mr. Carlson remained close to his former daughter-in-law Margaret CarlsonMargaret Carlson
Margaret Carlson is an American journalist and a columnist for Bloomberg News.-Biography:She is best known for being the first female columnist at TIME magazine. Carlson joined Time in January 1988 from The New Republic, where she was managing editor; in 1994, she became the first female columnist...
even after the divorce.
External links
- Carlson Center at the University of Washington