William Wishnick
The information listed below is current as of the date the transcript was finalized.
Interview Details
Interview Sessions
Abstract of Interview
William Wishnick begins this interview by describing his parents' careers and the founding of the Wishnick-Tumpeer Chemical Company in 1920. His father's company, now called Witco, expanded with the acquisition of several domestic arid international companies and went public in 1958. After serving in the military and completing his education, Wishnick began working for the company in 1949. Wishnick served as vice president and treasurer, executive vice president, president, and chairman of the board and chief operating officer until his retirement in 1990. Wishnick discusses how the company grew with the addition of manufacturing and marketing, the purchase of other companies, and the diversification of product lines. Wishnick concludes the interview by discussing how the nature of doing business has changed over the years.
Education
| Year | Institution | Degree | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | University of Texas at Austin | BA | Business Administration |
Professional Experience
Witco Corporation
Honors
| Year(s) | Award |
|---|---|
| 1989 | DEng (honorary), Polytechnic University |
Table of Contents
Mother's career as schoolteacher. Father's education in chemistry and law.
Founded in 1920. Expands and goes public in 1958. Father moves to New York. Acquisition of European companies. Mineral Rubber. Perth Amboy plant.
Begins working for father at the age of twelve. Brother and sister. Early schooling.
Drafted and sent to Hawaii. Two months at the Military Academy. Returns to Carnegie Technological Institute. Attends classes at Margaret Morrison Carnegie College. Studies business at University of Texas.
Marriage. Begins working for father's company in 1949. Carbon black. Company always profitable. Addition of manufacturing.
Acquisition of Sonneborn Chemical and Refining and Kendall Oil and Refining. Purchase of Surpass Chemical in Canada. Manufacturing polybutylene. Laboratory applications. Lawsuit.
Golf injury. Power boating. Wins American and World Championships. Car racing.
Acquisitions. How carbon black built the company. How oil changed the business. Phthalic anhydride. Memories of working for father. Marketing. Future of Witco. Importance of company loyalty. Blue Thunder. Changes in financing a business.
About the Interviewer
James J. Bohning was professor emeritus of chemistry at Wilkes University, where he had been a faculty member from 1959 to 1990. He served there as chemistry department chair from 1970 to 1986 and environmental science department chair from 1987 to 1990. Bohning was chair of the American Chemical Society’s Division of the History of Chemistry in 1986; he received the division’s Outstanding Paper Award in 1989 and presented more than forty papers at national meetings of the society. Bohning was on the advisory committee of the society’s National Historic Chemical Landmarks Program from its inception in 1992 through 2001 and is currently a consultant to the committee. He developed the oral history program of the Chemical Heritage Foundation, and he was CHF’s director of oral history from 1990 to 1995. From 1995 to 1998, Bohning was a science writer for the News Service group of the American Chemical Society. In May 2005, he received the Joseph Priestley Service Award from the Susquehanna Valley Section of the American Chemical Society. Bohning passed away in September 2011.