Malcolm T. Stamper
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Stamper was the longest serving President in Boeing
’s history and was best known for leading 50,000 people in the race to build the 747 jetliner. Stamper grew up in Detroit and joined Boeing
in 1962 after working for General Motors
.
His first assignment at Boeing was to sell its ailing gas turbine division to Caterpillar. Following this success, Boeing president William M. Allen asked Stamper to spearhead production of the new 747
airplane on which the company's future was riding. This was a monumental engineering and management challenge, and included construction of the world's biggest factory in which to build the 747 at Everett, Washington
, a plant which is the size of 40 football fields.
In 1978, Stamper was one of only a dozen U.S. corporate executives to earn over a million dollars.
He served as president of the company and a member of the board of the directors from 1972 until 1985, when he became vice chairman of the board. During the 1969-70 recession, Stamper presided over the laying off of nearly two-thirds of its 101,000 employees. But by the late 1970s, the 747 was a huge success. By the time Stamper retired in 1990, Boeing seemed to face no serious threat from McDonnell Douglas or from European upstart Airbus. He predicted that the company would remain No. 1 for the foreseeable future.
He also served on boards at Nordstrom, Chrysler, Travelers Insurance, Pro Air
, the Seattle Art Museum and the Smithsonian Institution.
After retiring from Boeing he started a children's book publishing company.
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
’s history and was best known for leading 50,000 people in the race to build the 747 jetliner. Stamper grew up in Detroit and joined Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
in 1962 after working for General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
.
His first assignment at Boeing was to sell its ailing gas turbine division to Caterpillar. Following this success, Boeing president William M. Allen asked Stamper to spearhead production of the new 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
airplane on which the company's future was riding. This was a monumental engineering and management challenge, and included construction of the world's biggest factory in which to build the 747 at Everett, Washington
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, a plant which is the size of 40 football fields.
In 1978, Stamper was one of only a dozen U.S. corporate executives to earn over a million dollars.
He served as president of the company and a member of the board of the directors from 1972 until 1985, when he became vice chairman of the board. During the 1969-70 recession, Stamper presided over the laying off of nearly two-thirds of its 101,000 employees. But by the late 1970s, the 747 was a huge success. By the time Stamper retired in 1990, Boeing seemed to face no serious threat from McDonnell Douglas or from European upstart Airbus. He predicted that the company would remain No. 1 for the foreseeable future.
He also served on boards at Nordstrom, Chrysler, Travelers Insurance, Pro Air
Pro Air
Pro Air was an airline founded by Kevin Stamper in July 1997 to serve the centrally located Detroit City Airport in Detroit, Michigan. It had its headquarters in the Lower Queen Anne area of Seattle, Washington.- Former Code Data :...
, the Seattle Art Museum and the Smithsonian Institution.
After retiring from Boeing he started a children's book publishing company.