Vincent A. Calarco
The information listed below is current as of the date the transcript was finalized.
Interview Details

Interview Sessions
Abstract of Interview
Vincent Calarco begins the interview with a discussion of his childhood years in New York City. Calarco was an ambitious and hard-working student who enjoyed chemistry and had a firm desire to attend college. After graduation from New York High School, Calarco attended Polytechnic University of New York, receiving his BS in chemical engineering in 1963. While excelling in the intense environment at Polytechnic University, Calarco worked as a draftsman for Syska and Hennessey during the summers. In the summer of 1962, Calarco accepted an internship at Proctor & Gamble's Port Ivory facility on Staten Island. After graduating from Polytechnic, Calarco spent the summer in Europe before returning to work for Proctor & Gamble in September 1963. Proctor & Gamble relocated Calarco to St. Louis in January 1964, where he remained for two years. From 1966 to 1968, Calarco served in the US Army at the Ballistics Research Laboratory in Aberdeen, Maryland. After his military service, he briefly worked for Johnson & Johnson before attending Harvard University Graduate School of Business. Calarco received his MBA in 1970 and began a new career at NL Industries that same year. After eight years with NL, Calarco decided to join Uniroyal Chemical Company as General Manager of chemicals and polymers. The next year, 1979, Calarco became President of Uniroyal at the age of thirty-six. Calarco set high-standards for employees at Uniroyal and enjoyed the challenges of his position. In 1985 Calarco left Uniroyal and became the CEO of Crompton & Knowles (Crompton Corporation), where he is currently Chairman of the Board. Calarco performed a major reorganization and restructure to Crompton upon his arrival. His efforts advanced Crompton from a seven hundred million-dollar company the 3.1 billion-dollar corporation that exists today. Calarco concludes the interview with a discussion about his role in the chemical industry community and thoughts on his family and future endeavors.
Education
Year | Institution | Degree | Discipline |
---|---|---|---|
1963 | Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, New York | BS | Chemical Engineering |
1970 | Harvard University | MBA | Graduate School of Business Administration |
Professional Experience
NL Industries
Uniroyal, Inc.
Crompton Corporation
Honors
Year(s) | Award |
---|---|
1995 to 1996 | Chairman, Chemical Manufacturers Association |
1998 | Management Excellence Award, Chemical Marketing Research Association |
1998 to 1999 | President, Society of Chemical Industry (American Section) |
1998 to 2000 | World President, Society of Chemical Industry, London |
2000 | Achievement Award, Commercial Development Association |
2000 | Chemical Industry Award, Society of Chemical Industry (American Section) |
Table of Contents
Growing up on Staten Island. Parents and family. Academic drive. Interest in chemistry in high school. Decision to attend Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute (Polytechnic University of New York).
Environment at Brooklyn Poly. Chemical engineering program. Working for Syska and Hennessey. Summer internship at Proctor & Gamble. Spending summer after graduation in Europe. Position at Proctor & Gamble. Move to St. Louis. Return to New York in 1966. Military draft. Officer Candidate School. Serving at Aberdeen Ballistics Research Laboratory. Johnson & Johnson. Attending Harvard University Graduate School of Business. Working in Admissions Department.
Position with NL Industries. Marriage to Linda in 1971. Accepting the position to run the Industrial Chemical Division. Lead oxide business. Decision to leave NL Industries for Uniroyal Chemical Company. Uniroyal Chemical and Polymers Division. Becoming president of Uniroyal. Challenges of the position as president.
Becoming CEO of Crompton Corporation. Restructuring and reorganization. Consolidation with Witco. Pressures on the American chemical industry. Setting strong goals for communication and development. Kirkpatrick Award. Comparing U. S. industry to European industry.
Involvement in chemical industry community. American Chemical Council. Responsible Care. Society of Chemical Industry. Chemists' Club. Influential leaders in chemical industry. Sons: David and Christopher. Future career visions.
About the Interviewer
Arnold Thackray founded the Chemical Heritage Foundation and served the organization as president for 25 years. He is currently CHF’s chancellor. Thackray received MA and PhD degrees in history of science from Cambridge University. He has held appointments at Cambridge, Oxford University, and Harvard University, the Institute for Advanced Study, the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
In 1983 Thackray received the Dexter Award from the American Chemical Society for outstanding contributions to the history of chemistry. He served for more than a quarter century on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was the founding chairman of the Department of History and Sociology of Science and is currently the Joseph Priestley Professor Emeritus.