Jon Huntsman Sr.
The Utah-based chemicals entrepreneur whose family gifts built the Huntsman Cancer Institute and put his name on buildings at the University of Utah and Utah State.
| Born | June 21, 1937, in Blackfoot, Idaho. Wikipedia |
|---|---|
| Died | February 2, 2018, in Salt Lake City, at 80. KSL · Wikipedia |
| Business | Founded Huntsman Chemical Company in Salt Lake City in 1982; renamed Huntsman Corporation in 1994. Wikipedia |
| Philanthropy | With his wife, Karen, founded the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. Medal of Philanthropy |
Business career
Huntsman worked in the Nixon White House from 1970 and served as White House staff secretary from February 1971 to the start of 1972. Wikipedia
He formed Huntsman Container Corporation in 1970 and sold it to Keyes Fiber Company in 1976, then formed Huntsman Chemical Company in Salt Lake City in 1982. It took the name Huntsman Corporation in 1994. Wikipedia
The Huntsman Cancer Institute
The Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah grew out of the Huntsman family's giving. Wikipedia dates its founding to a $10 million family gift in 1993 and a further $100 million in 1995, and reports that the family and associates have since given more than $656 million. Other outlets describe the founding gift in different terms, so treat the totals as reported figures. Wikipedia · FOX13
KSL noted that Huntsman himself survived four bouts of cancer. KSL
Universities and public life
The Jon M. Huntsman Center, the University of Utah's arena, opened in 1969. In 2007 Utah State University renamed its business school for Huntsman after a $26 million gift. Wikipedia
In 2017 Huntsman was involved in the departure of University of Utah Health's CEO after saying he might withhold $250 million in donations to the institute, as reported by Wikipedia. We have not checked the primary reporting on that episode, so we do not characterize it here. Wikipedia
The state History office summarizes his career and the family's civic roles. Utah State History
Related
Not yet verified
The institute's exact founding year and lifetime giving total, which sources describe differently; the 2017 University of Utah episode; and the family's current business holdings. Family details stay out of this profile.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jon Huntsman Sr., secondary source for dates and honors
- KSL: Jon Huntsman Sr., philanthropist and global business mogul, dies at 80 (Feb. 2018)
- Utah Division of State History: Jon Huntsman
- FOX13: Jon Huntsman Sr., remembering a giant of charity (Feb. 2, 2018)
- Medal of Philanthropy: Jon M. Huntsman Sr.