Charles Thomas Ireland Jr.

Background

Charles Thomas was born on April 14, 1921 in Boston, Massachussets, United States, the son of Charles T. Ireland, Sr. , and Margaret Keough. His father was a chiropodist and moved the family to Portland, Maine, when Charles was a child.

Education

In 1938, Ireland graduated from Portland High School and was voted the most likely to succeed. He received a B. A. from Bowdoin College in 1942, where he majored in history and was an editor of the college newspaper and a member of the basketball and tennis teams.

Ireland entered Yale Law School in 1945, graduating in 1947.

Career

After leaving college, Ireland enlisted in the United States Marine Corps for service in World War II. He was a captain when he left the marines three years later.

He joined the Wall Street law firm of White and Case as a research clerk and soon moved to the tax department. When one of the firm's clients, the Alleghany Corporation, mentioned that they were looking for a new general counsel, a senior White and Case partner suggested Ireland, who accepted the post.

Soon after joining Alleghany, Ireland found himself offering important advice and guidance during a bitter and complicated proxy fight to gain control of the New York Central Railroad. Once Alleghany assumed control of the railroad in 1954, Ireland became secretary of the New York Central and remained there until 1959. In 1939, Chick Ireland returned to Alleghany as executive vice-president. Two years later he was elected president of Alleghany.

Meanwhile, in 1959 Harold Geneen became head of the International Telephone and Telegraph Company (ITT) and proceeded to remold it as a conglomerate by purchasing scores of other companies that produced a variety of goods and services and made profits for the parent company. In 1965, Ireland joined the board of directors of ITT, and in 1968 he joined Geneen and ITT on a full-time basis. Before the year was out Ireland had convinced Geneen that ITT should acquire the Hartford Fire Insurance Company. Geneen followed Ireland's advice on that acquisition, and on others to follow, including Avis, Sheraton Corporation of America, and five mutual funds. Ireland had overall operations responsibility for these new ITT subsidiaries. By 1971, Ireland had risen to senior vice-president of ITT, but he was anxious to find a job where he would be in control.

On September 10, 1971, Ireland was named president of CBS. His appointment took many by surprise, since Ireland knew little about the broadcasting industry and seldom watched television. But CBS head William S. Paley was attracted to Ireland's training under Harold Geneen and his ability to manage a diversified company. Ireland shunned the spotlight while at CBS.

He died at his home in Chappaqua, New York.

Achievements

• As the president of Columbia Broadcasting System, Charles Thomas Ireland stimulated purchasing of record stores and two sports magazines, he also announced plans to buy the piano manufacturer Steinway and Sons. Besides, he fought in the vicious Pacific battles on Iwo Jima, Saipan, and Tinian during World War II, and he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.

Personality

Ireland worked long hours but always made time to spend summer weekends and vacations at his farm in Maine. His nononsense style and focus on financial details often was at odds with the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry.

Connections

By 1953, Ireland had married Dorothy Schwebel Gardner, who had two children from a previous marriage. The couple had two children.

Father:

Charles T. Ireland, Sr.

Mother:

Margaret Keough

Spouse:

Dorothy Schwebel Gardner

colleague:

Harold Geneen