Colonel William A. Phillips

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For other uses, see Charles Finch (disambiguation).

Charles Baker Finch (March 5, 1920 – July 15, 1996)[1][2] was an American businessman and lawyer. He served as President and CEO of Allegheny Power System from 1971 to 1985.[3]

Early life and education

Charles Finch was the second son of Henry Le Roy Finch and Mary Farquhar Baker[4] and the grandson of Stephen Baker, President of the Bank of the Manhattan Company.[1] He had three brothers: Henry Leroy Finch Jr., Stephen Baker Finch and John Finch.[5]

Finch grew up in Manhattan and attended the Buckley School and Phillips Academy, where he was awarded the George Lauder Prize for Excellence in English History[6] prior to his graduation in 1937.[7] He attended Yale University (B.A., 1941) and Yale Law School (L.L.B., 1944), where he was comment editor of the law review the Yale Law Journal.[8]

Career

After graduating from law school, Finch argued multiple cases before the United States Supreme Court. He eventually joined Allegheny Power System where he was elected president and chief executive officer in 1971.[3][9][10] He later also became Chairman of the Board at Allegheny. He served as CEO and Chairman until he was succeeded by Klaus Bergman as CEO in 1985.[11] Finch continued to serve as Chairman at Allegheny for several years.[12]

Charitable work and politics

Finch sat on the boards of dozens of foundations, colleges, and companies, notable among them the Josiah Macy, Jr Foundation and Cooper Union, where a lab is named after him. He was elected president of the New York City Mission in 1956 and served in that role for three years.[13] He was also involved in politics, which landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents.[14] Ironically, his first cousin, once removed, Edward Ridley Finch Cox,[15] married Nixon's daughter.

Background

Finch married Angela Havens of Hewlett, New York in 1943.[16][17] Their son Charles B. Finch, Jr., born in 1954,[18] made a brief run for the United States Congress in 1984 and also ran for New York's 15th congressional district on the East Side of Manhattan in 1986.[19] Their second son, William Finch, was born in 1956.[18] He is the grandfather of author Charles Finch.

References

  1. ^ a b "Birth Notice 1" (PDF). The New York Times. 1920-03-05. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  2. ^ "Memorials FINCH, CHARLES BAKER". The New York Times. 1997-07-15. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  3. ^ a b "Executive Changes". The New York Times. 1971-12-17. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  4. ^ "HENRY LE ROY FINCH WEDS MISS BAKER; Bishop Courtney Officiates at Marriage of Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Baker in St. James's Church" (PDF). The New York Times. 1915-10-06. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  5. ^ "Miss E. Cofiell Will Be Bride of John Finch; Mother Makes Known Troth of Ethel Walker Alumna I, to Senior at Yale". The New York Times. 1942-02-15. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
  6. ^ "AWARDS ARE MADE AT PHILLIPS ANDOVER; Prizes and Scholarships Are Given for Excellence in Many Studies". The New York Times. 1936-06-11. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  7. ^ "1936-37 Sports' Leaders" (PDF). The Phillipian. 1936-06-11. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  8. ^ Arthur Basse. "Restrictive Indorsements". Yale Law Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  9. ^ Smith, Gene (1972-05-12). "Allegheny Power Ending All Marketing Activities". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  10. ^ "Simon Adds a Twist to Meeting; People and Business". The New York Times. 1973-05-11. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  11. ^ Daniels, Lee A. (1985-01-08). "BUSINESS PEOPLE; Chief Executive Named By Allegheny Power". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  12. ^ "Rivers Behind Hydropower Dams Aren't Dead; Repeal Utilities Act". The New York Times. 1989-12-16. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  13. ^ "CITY MISSION ELECTS; Charles B. Finch Will Succeed T.N. Pfieffer as President". The New York Times. 1956-04-10. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  14. ^ Staff Report (1973-06-28). "Lists of White House 'Enemies' and Memorandums Relating to Those Named". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  15. ^ "WILL BE OCTOBER BRIDES.; Miss Helen H. Jenkins and Miss Mary F. Baker Choose Dates" (PDF). The New York Times. 1915-09-10. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  16. ^ "ANGELA HAVENS TO WED; She Will Be Bride Tomorrow in Hewlett of Charles B. Finch I". The New York Times. 1943-10-21. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  17. ^ "MISS HAVENS, BRIDE OF CHARLES FINCH; Hewlett Girl Is Married by the Rev. J. Reginald Moodey in Trinity Episcopal Church". The New York Times. 1943-10-23. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  18. ^ a b "Mrs. Charles Finch Has Son". The New York Times. 1956-05-01. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  19. ^ "A 2d Democrat Seeks East Side House Seat". The New York Times. 1986-06-12. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_B._Finch