Malcolm Fraser (philanthropist)
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Hough Fraser was an American philanthropist
and businessman. He founded the Genuine Parts Company
with his brother in 1928 and the Stuttering Foundation of America
in 1947, giving the latter most of its $10 million endowment
. He was the recipient of the fourth annual National Council on Communicative Disorders' (NCCD's) Distinguished Service Award and posthumous recipient of the NCCD's Charles Van Riper
Award, and a book he authored, Self-Therapy for the Stutterer, has been called a "classic".
in 1924.
In 1928, Fraser and his older brother, Carlyle, founded the Genuine Parts Company in Atlanta. The former became the president of the company's Memphis
warehouse
, trained many of the employees who now manage the company, and would remain a director
of the company until his death. As of 2000, the company was the "industry leading distributor of automotive, industrial, office and electrical/electronic replacement parts".
In 1947, Fraser, at age 44 and with significant stuttering problems, set up the Stuttering Foundation of America and made his first donation to the foundation, US$2,500, a significant amount at the time. He subsequently contacted Charles Van Riper
, an expert in the field, who would eventually receive research grants
from the foundation and work on various projects including a study on the effect of avoidance on stuttering, and a conference of experts that attempted to reach some agreement on general guidelines for a comprehensive program on stuttering. During the early years of the foundation, Frasers wife, Charlotte, was its entire staff. Fraser would eventually give the foundation most of its US$10 million endowment, and write Self-Therapy for the Stutterer, first published in 1978, a book that has been called a classic, and has been translated into eight languages.
In 1984, Fraser received the fourth annual NCCD's Distinguished Service Award. The NCCD, a council of 32 United States
organizations, recognized the foundation's efforts in adding to stutterers', parents', clinicians', and the public's awareness and ability to deal constructively with stuttering. In 1989, Hamilton College presented him with the honorary degree
of Doctor of Humane Letters
for his outstanding work on behalf of those who stutter.
Fraser died of congestive heart failure
on February 1994, at the age of 91, at his home in Memphis, and is survived by his daughter, Jane Fraser Fulcher, and two grandchildren. In 1997, he was honored posthumously with the Charles Van Riper Award, presented by James Earl Jones
at the 16th Annual NCCD Awards Ceremony, for his "outstanding commitment to people who stutter".
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and businessman. He founded the Genuine Parts Company
Genuine Parts Company
-Overview:Founded in 1928 , the company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and employs 31,700 people. It specializes in replacement parts for cars and other industrial machines and is the parent company of National Automotive Parts Association...
with his brother in 1928 and the Stuttering Foundation of America
Stuttering Foundation of America
The Stuttering Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization working toward the prevention and improved treatment of stuttering. A 501 nonprofit organization, The Stuttering Foundation was established by Malcolm Fraser in 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee...
in 1947, giving the latter most of its $10 million endowment
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
. He was the recipient of the fourth annual National Council on Communicative Disorders' (NCCD's) Distinguished Service Award and posthumous recipient of the NCCD's Charles Van Riper
Charles Van Riper
Charles Gage Van Riper was a renowned speech therapist who became internationally known as a pioneer in the development of speech pathology...
Award, and a book he authored, Self-Therapy for the Stutterer, has been called a "classic".
Biography
Malcolm Fraser was born in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, in 1903, and stuttered severely from an early age. He had his first formal speech therapy session with Dr. Frederick Martin, Superintendent of Speech Correction for the New York City Schools, who succeeded in helping him become fluent in the clinic. However, when instructed to speak on stage in a presentation to a group of eminent physicians, he "couldn't utter a single syllable"; he would remember that experience for many years, "even at age 90". Subsequently, he attended Hamilton College for two years, before graduating from the University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
in 1924.
In 1928, Fraser and his older brother, Carlyle, founded the Genuine Parts Company in Atlanta. The former became the president of the company's Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
warehouse
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
, trained many of the employees who now manage the company, and would remain a director
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the company until his death. As of 2000, the company was the "industry leading distributor of automotive, industrial, office and electrical/electronic replacement parts".
In 1947, Fraser, at age 44 and with significant stuttering problems, set up the Stuttering Foundation of America and made his first donation to the foundation, US$2,500, a significant amount at the time. He subsequently contacted Charles Van Riper
Charles Van Riper
Charles Gage Van Riper was a renowned speech therapist who became internationally known as a pioneer in the development of speech pathology...
, an expert in the field, who would eventually receive research grants
Research funding
Research funding is a term generally covering any funding for scientific research, in the areas of both "hard" science and technology and social science. The term often connotes funding obtained through a competitive process, in which potential research projects are evaluated and only the most...
from the foundation and work on various projects including a study on the effect of avoidance on stuttering, and a conference of experts that attempted to reach some agreement on general guidelines for a comprehensive program on stuttering. During the early years of the foundation, Frasers wife, Charlotte, was its entire staff. Fraser would eventually give the foundation most of its US$10 million endowment, and write Self-Therapy for the Stutterer, first published in 1978, a book that has been called a classic, and has been translated into eight languages.
In 1984, Fraser received the fourth annual NCCD's Distinguished Service Award. The NCCD, a council of 32 United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
organizations, recognized the foundation's efforts in adding to stutterers', parents', clinicians', and the public's awareness and ability to deal constructively with stuttering. In 1989, Hamilton College presented him with the honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
of Doctor of Humane Letters
Doctor of Humane Letters
The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is always conferred as an honorary degree, usually to those who have distinguished themselves in areas other than science, government, literature or religion, which are awarded degrees of Doctor of Science, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, or Doctor of...
for his outstanding work on behalf of those who stutter.
Fraser died of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
on February 1994, at the age of 91, at his home in Memphis, and is survived by his daughter, Jane Fraser Fulcher, and two grandchildren. In 1997, he was honored posthumously with the Charles Van Riper Award, presented by James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
at the 16th Annual NCCD Awards Ceremony, for his "outstanding commitment to people who stutter".