George Hall Dixon
Encyclopedia
George Hall Dixon, Jr. served as President of First National Bank of Minnesota and First Bank Systems (now US Bank), and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury under Gerald Ford
.
on October 7, 1920, oldest of two children. Though his father died in debt during his teens, Dixon managed to keep the family together and graduated from John Marshall High School
in 1938. As a young man, Dixon played tennis and earned the rank of Eagle Scout
. As a Boy Scout
, he travelled to the World Jamboree in Holland in 1937. He enrolled in the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
, graduating with a degree in business in 1942.
, Dixon enrolled in the United States Army
as a private. He soon became a lieutenant and served first as a riflery instructor. He was later sent over to the European theater and served under General Omar Bradley
in the quartermaster corps, head of a segregated unit of supply vehicles that played an integral part in the campaign against the Nazis, including at the Battle of the Bulge
. He remained in Europe
with the Army for a year after the war ended, and was eventually discharged as a captain.
and began what was to be a long and distinguished career in the private sector. He worked first for Brown Brothers Harriman in Boston, Massachusetts, then for Davis and Davis, a stock broker
in Providence, Rhode Island
, and then for Sperry and Hutchinson, the New York City
creators of S&H Green Stamps
.
While in Providence, Dixon met Marjorie "Peggy" Ellen Freeman (granddaughter of the prominent engineer John Ripley Freeman
), whom he would later marry. They had three children; identical twin boys George Elliott Dixon and Andrew Taft Dixon, and a daughter, Candis Hall Dixon.
Meanwhile, Dixon was making a name for himself in the business world, and First National Bank of Minnesota, taking notice, recruited him to serve as President in the mid-1960s. Dixon accepted and held the position until 1974, at which point Gerald Ford
became the 38th President of the United States of America. Ford asked Dixon to serve as his Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, working with Treasury Secretary William E. Simon
to manage financial policy, along with the Secret Service
, ATF
, and the Customs Service. While serving as the Deputy Secretary, Dixon often attended cabinet meetings that included such political figures as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
and Secretary of State
Henry Kissinger
.
When Ford's term ended, Dixon returned to Minneapolis to assume the role of chairman and president of First Bank Systems. While in Minnesota
, Dixon became involved with Carleton College
, a small liberal arts college
in nearby Northfield, Minnesota
. He served on the college's board of trustees, including a term as chairman in the 1990s. While chairman, Dixon recruited Stephen R. Lewis to take the post of president of the college. In 2000, Carleton awarded Dixon a PhD for Lifetime achievement.
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
.
Early life
Dixon was born in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
on October 7, 1920, oldest of two children. Though his father died in debt during his teens, Dixon managed to keep the family together and graduated from John Marshall High School
John Marshall High School (New York)
John Marshall High School is located on 180 Ridgeway Ave in Rochester, New York located near Kodak Park.The school was opened in 1936 and the school population was made up of a white population. The school's population is now mostly African American...
in 1938. As a young man, Dixon played tennis and earned the rank of Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
. As a Boy Scout
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, he travelled to the World Jamboree in Holland in 1937. He enrolled in the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, graduating with a degree in business in 1942.
Military service
Following the declaration of war on JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Dixon enrolled in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as a private. He soon became a lieutenant and served first as a riflery instructor. He was later sent over to the European theater and served under General Omar Bradley
Omar Bradley
Omar Nelson Bradley was a senior U.S. Army field commander in North Africa and Europe during World War II, and a General of the Army in the United States Army...
in the quartermaster corps, head of a segregated unit of supply vehicles that played an integral part in the campaign against the Nazis, including at the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. He remained in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with the Army for a year after the war ended, and was eventually discharged as a captain.
Career and family life
Upon returning home, Dixon attended and graduated from Harvard Business SchoolHarvard 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...
and began what was to be a long and distinguished career in the private sector. He worked first for Brown Brothers Harriman in Boston, Massachusetts, then for Davis and Davis, a stock broker
Stock broker
A stock broker or stockbroker is a regulated professional broker who buys and sells shares and other securities through market makers or Agency Only Firms on behalf of investors...
in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, and then for Sperry and Hutchinson, the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
creators of S&H Green Stamps
S&H Green Stamps
S&H Green Stamps were trading stamps popular in the United States from the 1930s until the late 1980s. They were distributed as part of a rewards program operated by the Sperry and Hutchinson company , founded in 1896 by Thomas Sperry and Shelly Hutchinson...
.
While in Providence, Dixon met Marjorie "Peggy" Ellen Freeman (granddaughter of the prominent engineer John Ripley Freeman
John Ripley Freeman
John Ripley Freeman was an American civil and hydraulic engineer. Freeman was born in West Bridgton, Maine and received his undergraduate degree from MIT in 1876...
), whom he would later marry. They had three children; identical twin boys George Elliott Dixon and Andrew Taft Dixon, and a daughter, Candis Hall Dixon.
Meanwhile, Dixon was making a name for himself in the business world, and First National Bank of Minnesota, taking notice, recruited him to serve as President in the mid-1960s. Dixon accepted and held the position until 1974, at which point Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
became the 38th President of the United States of America. Ford asked Dixon to serve as his Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, working with Treasury Secretary William E. Simon
William E. Simon
William Edward Simon was a businessman, a Secretary of Treasury of the U.S. for three years, and a philanthropist. He became the 63rd Secretary of the Treasury on May 8, 1974, during the Nixon administration. He was reappointed by President Ford and served until 1977. Outside of government, he was...
to manage financial policy, along with the Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
, ATF
ATF
- Places :* ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country code of French Southern and Antarctic Lands* Chachoan Airport , Ambato, Ecuador- Organizations :...
, and the Customs Service. While serving as the Deputy Secretary, Dixon often attended cabinet meetings that included such political figures as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
and Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
.
When Ford's term ended, Dixon returned to Minneapolis to assume the role of chairman and president of First Bank Systems. While in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, Dixon became involved with Carleton College
Carleton College
Carleton College is an independent non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. The college enrolls 1,958 undergraduate students, and employs 198 full-time faculty members. In 2012 U.S...
, a small liberal arts college
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
in nearby Northfield, Minnesota
Northfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,452.2 people per square mile . There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 732.1 per square mile...
. He served on the college's board of trustees, including a term as chairman in the 1990s. While chairman, Dixon recruited Stephen R. Lewis to take the post of president of the college. In 2000, Carleton awarded Dixon a PhD for Lifetime achievement.