Otway Hebron Chalkley

Otway Hebron Chalkley

Chairman & President of Philip Morris, Inc.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8130540/otway_hebron_chalkley

RICHMOND, Va., March 22-- Otway Hebron Chalkley, former President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Philip Morris, Inc., died here today after a brief illness. Mr. Chalkley was 72 years old. He resided on a farm in Gloucester County, Virginia.

The New York Times, March 23, 1956

"Soda Water to Shanghai. Otway Hebron Chalkley, born in Richmond some 50 years ago (he is even bashful about his exact age), was the only child of a prosperous, respected leather merchant. In Richmond he is remembered now as an expert player of bandy (a form of hockey), a proficient swimmer in the local holes—which go by such picturesque names as Soda Water, Cherry, Heaven, Hell—and a sober student. From school he went to work as an office boy for American Tobacco Company at $3 a week, began a standard up-through-the-ranks career—factory manager in Newport News, clerk in Manhattan, a two year stint in Bulgaria buying Turkish leaf tobacco. Thence he returned to Manhattan to work again for American Tobacco, later for Tobacco Products Corporation, one of whose possessions was Melachrino. There he met Rube and Mac. In 1920 with his bride, a Boston girl named Rachel Riley, lanky Mr. Chalkley shipped for China to be second in command of a Tobacco Products Export Corporation's factory in Shanghai. Twice during that period Rube Ellis journeyed to Shanghai and the two men became firm friends. In 1924 Rube took Chalkley back to Manhattan to be treasurer of Philip Morris.

By 1936 when he, too, dropped dead, Philip Morris English Blend had enjoyed gross sales of $21,000,000 — about 3,800,000,000 cigarettes. This was a puny total compared with some 35,000,000,000 each sold by Camels, Luckies, Chesterfields. But it was more than half the 5,300,000,000 of Old Gold. Presumably Lorillard Company executives, who in 1926 had spent $15,000,000 to launch Old Gold, breathed easier with Mac's death. Much of the tobacco industry laid Philip Morris' tremendous success primarily to the personalities of Rube and Mac. That Philip Morris had other assets was presently demonstrated. New President Chalkley and First Vice President Lyon increased Philip Morris sales and profits by a full 100%.

Since Rube and Mac's personal touch was so vital in Philip Morris' start, there were understandable qualms when the team of Chalkley and Lyon succeeded them. But affable Salesman Lyon soon rivaled his predecessors in cajoling dealers and salesmen ("My name is Lyon but I'm no wild animal. . . ."), and President Chalkley spurred the whole company to fresh endeavor by encouraging initiative rather than following able Mac McKitterick's policy of being a one-man arbiter of everything. He extended the bonus system to the whole company. As the only major executive in the country with leaf-buying, manufacturing and selling experience he was a logical choice as McKitterick's successor. And as the cool, careful, level-headed type he was well fitted to guide Philip Morris from a small unit with big ideas to actual bigness."

Business: A New Fourth, TIME Magazine, July 04, 1938

Executive Timeline:

1920-1924 - Otway Hebron Chalkley served as Assistant Plant Manager, Tobacco Products Export Corporation's factory, Shanghai, China
1925-1935 - Otway Hebron Chalkley served as Treasurer of Philip Morris, Inc
1936-1949 - Otway Hebron Chalkley served as President of Philip Morris, Inc.
1945-1949 - Otway Hebron Chalkley served as Chairman of the Board of Philip Morris, Inc.
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OTWAY HEBRON CHALKLEY, Richmond, Virginia (SAR # 31673). Great3·grandson of Edward Haskins, Member of the Cumberland County, Virginia Committee of Safety.