Ralph Orton Glendinning, founder of Glendinning Co

Ralph Orton Glendinning (right)

November 19, 1923 – January 5, 2017 (Age 93)

Hobe Sound, Florida

Extract from his Obituary

Ralph Orton Glendinning was Promoted to Glory on January 5, 2017. He was born in Rahway, New Jersey on November 19, 1923 to John Edmond Glendinning and Mildred Potter Rowe Glendinning. He was an amazing self-made man with numerous accomplishments and interests. After one year of college at Rensselaer Polytechnic, where he attended on a scholarship, WW11 started and he enlisted in the navy. After some training, he switched to the Marines becoming a combat pilot on the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill from which he flew 87 missions, including the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. His plane was hit by enemy fire on a raid over Tokyo, and he crashed off the coast of Japan with a leaky life raft. A plane from his squadron dropped a raft, and the first wave brought it to him. During his time in the raft, he made a promise to God that, if he would save him, he would spend his life helping others. God granted his wish, and he fulfilled that promise for his remaining life.

After leaving the service he married his sweetheart, Ruth Langmack in Santa Barbara, CA. They moved to New Jersey where he applied to Princeton University. He graduated summa cum laude in two and one half years. He did this on the G.I. Bill, and worked seven jobs during that time. His son, Randall was the first baby born at Princeton.

He went to work for Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati, learning all aspects of their business, brands and mass media. He and Ruth had two more children, Scott and Janet. He planned to stay at Proctor & Gamble forever, but, after twelve years on the job, he was told by his superiors that he was too creative to ever be in top management. He had no choice but to leave.

He moved his family to CT, and started Glendinning Company on $1,000 savings. He got three clients, and as he got three more he would hire a friend from Proctor and Gamble. He ended up hiring around 100 people from them. People were eager to work for him, and the company grew as a consulting and marketing firm working for over 250 major companies.He retired from Glendinning Co. in 1985. He was inducted into the marketing Hall of Fame in 1979, and is recognized as starting the First Marketing Promotion Company in the World.

He was a cofounder of MBI, Inc. Its divisions included The Danbury Mint, Postal Commemorative Society, Easton Press, and The Heritage Book Club.

After retirement he actively pursued looking for the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine, along with his longtime friend, Rick Peck. Neither of them found it, but had fun looking for it. Ralph also wrote a couple of novels, and became active in The Salvation Army becoming a member of the National Advisory Board. He was one of the three first life members on that board. In later years he became a Director of AVX Aircraft Company. This company fascinated him.

SOURCE

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