09.06.05
John A. Howard, the long-time chief operating officer for Magruder Color Corporation, passed away on Nov. 6, 2001 in Florida. He was 80 years old.
Mr. Howard joined Magruder Color as COO in 1961, when the Weissglass family acquired the company from Robert Magruder. Allan Weissglass, Magruder Color’s president and CEO, credited Mr. Howard with much of the company’s success over the years.
“John was a truly remarkable man who helped guide us from a small dry color manufacturer in Staten Island to become an international, independent manufacturer of dry, flush and fluorescent colors,” Mr. Weissglass said. “He played very hard, and he worked very hard.” Among his hobbies were golf and gin rummy.
“He was the best salesman I ever met in my life, and a truly dynamic person,” added Frank Giasemedis, Magruder Color’s technical director. “He was very instrumental in getting us into flush color, and our company really grew after that. He was a great people person, and made the people who worked for him feel really good. He was a really good guy.”
Mr. Howard was also active in the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) and the Dry Color Manufacturers Association (DCMA), which later became the Color Pigments Manufacturers Association (CPMA).
“He was an institution at CPMA,” said Larry Robinson, CPMA president. “He chaired our program committee for many years, and he provided a very warm welcome to everyone who attended our meetings.”
Mr. Weissglass said that Mr. Howard’s interview with Magruder spoke volumes of his character. “John was with Mooney Chemical, a drier company which served the ink industry, and we were looking for someone to lead Magruder,” Mr. Weissglass recalled. “I called him, and he would only come in on a Saturday for an interview, when he wasn’t on his boss’s time. He was a very straight shooter.”
Mr. Howard was predeceased by his wife, Monta. He is survived by his daughter and son.
“He was a terrific guy,” Mr. Weissglass said. “He was a very good friend of all, and he will always be remembered.”
Mr. Howard joined Magruder Color as COO in 1961, when the Weissglass family acquired the company from Robert Magruder. Allan Weissglass, Magruder Color’s president and CEO, credited Mr. Howard with much of the company’s success over the years.
“John was a truly remarkable man who helped guide us from a small dry color manufacturer in Staten Island to become an international, independent manufacturer of dry, flush and fluorescent colors,” Mr. Weissglass said. “He played very hard, and he worked very hard.” Among his hobbies were golf and gin rummy.
“He was the best salesman I ever met in my life, and a truly dynamic person,” added Frank Giasemedis, Magruder Color’s technical director. “He was very instrumental in getting us into flush color, and our company really grew after that. He was a great people person, and made the people who worked for him feel really good. He was a really good guy.”
Mr. Howard was also active in the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) and the Dry Color Manufacturers Association (DCMA), which later became the Color Pigments Manufacturers Association (CPMA).
“He was an institution at CPMA,” said Larry Robinson, CPMA president. “He chaired our program committee for many years, and he provided a very warm welcome to everyone who attended our meetings.”
Mr. Weissglass said that Mr. Howard’s interview with Magruder spoke volumes of his character. “John was with Mooney Chemical, a drier company which served the ink industry, and we were looking for someone to lead Magruder,” Mr. Weissglass recalled. “I called him, and he would only come in on a Saturday for an interview, when he wasn’t on his boss’s time. He was a very straight shooter.”
Mr. Howard was predeceased by his wife, Monta. He is survived by his daughter and son.
“He was a terrific guy,” Mr. Weissglass said. “He was a very good friend of all, and he will always be remembered.”