James B. Ammon '44

Deceased July 5, 2013

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50th Reunion Book Entry

In Memory

James Brown Ammon born June 26, 1922 in Reading , PA, son of Adam Custer and Emily Brown Ammon passed away peacefully on July 5 in Evanston, IL. Jim, who was educated at Mercersburg Academy, Amherst College and Harvard Business School, where he graduated with distinction had a successful business career having worked for Chrysler in Detroit and later for Baxter Laboratories as Corporate Vice President in charge of Finance. At that time he was listed in Who's Who in Finance and Business and Who's Who in America. Jim also served as an officer in the Army during WWII as a member of the Japanese War Crimes Division and was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Jim was a successful competitive swimmer beginning at Mercersburg, then at Amherst, where he captained the swimming team that won many awards in the Northeast Intercollegiate Division. He was inducted into the Berk's County Swimming Hall of Fame. 

In his later years, Jim was an active member of the Glenview and Park Ridge communities where he volunteered for Meals on Wheels, contributed his time at the Kenilworth Union Church,was a member of the Sunset Ridge Country Club and traveled the globe with his wife Stephanie.

Jim is survived by his sister Marjorie, brother Bob, sister-in-law Ann, daughters Sarah and Cynthia, son David, granddaughter Rosa, grandson Dan Mozdren, step-children Cathy and Jim Mozdren, Kim Evans and  Dave and Lisa Kuechenberg, nephews Steve, Jeff and Bob Ammon, Frank and Robert Carber, niece Kris Carber-White as well as many other extended family members. A memorial service was held on Wednesday July 10th in the Elliott Chapel of Presbyterian Homes in Evanston.

50th Reunion

Quite a few times in my 70 years, something significant occurred that had a major influence on the direction of my life. The first such event was when I was fourteen and won the very first swimming race I competed in. I became successful in competitive swimming which was pivotal in my life.

Swimming Jed to Amherst. Without swimming, it's doubtful that I would have even been able to go to college. I was a small town boy, naive and rough around the edges. Four golden years at Amherst widened my horizons and smoothed some edges.

In March 1943, the war intervened and I entered the Army. In August 1945, as a 2nd Lt. Field Artillery, I was on a troop ship steaming across the Pacific beaded for the invasion of Japan. En route, the bomb was dropped. Instead of combat on Japanese soil, I spent a peaceful year in Japan in the War Crimes Commission.

Back to Amherst in September 1946. Dean Porter grudgingly approved my request to take seven courses so I could finish in one semester. I graduated in February 1947. Harvard Business School was another major experience that opened my vistas to aspects of the business world unknown to me.

I spent 24 years in business. The first nine years didn't amount to mucb-a series of mediocre jobs in large corporations in Pittsburgh and Detroit. Then, in 1958, I "struck gold" with Baxter Laboratories in Chicago-a tiny but growing company with sales of only $25 million. It is significant that I would not have been hired by Baxter if I had not gone to HBS. Baxter racked up 27 consecutive years of increased earnings--a record for companies listed on the Big Board. I was with Baxter for 15 exhilarating years in various jobs, finally Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer.

On December 31, 1972, at the ripe age of 50, I resigned from Baxter and the business world. I had my fill of striving for money and "success," and was eager to ease into a totally different life, free to do things there never was time for. In the last 20 years, I travelled extensively, to about 65 countries, read widely (500 books the first ten years), played lots of golf, plus volunteer work for the church and other organizations. I've loved every bit of retirement.

I have three fine, grown children: Cynthia works for Delta Airlines in New York; Sarah lives in Poland with her husband and small daughter (my only grandchild); David is an entrepreneur in North Carolina. I was a bachelor for 12 years until I had the great fortune to meet Stephanie. We married in July 1990 and make a good team. I am grateful that my life bas bad so many blessings.