Kaiser, Edgar Fosburgh

Biography: 

(1908–81), vice pres., gen. mgr., Ore. Shipbuilding Corp., Kaiser Co., Portland, Ore., Vancouver, Wash. (1941–45); during the war his firm imported many workers from New York, other eastern cities. Submission of whites-only employment orders, supposedly in deference to segregated unions, and failure to keep training and upgrading promises made to black workers brought about formation of Shipyard Negroes Organization for Victory and complaints to FEPC. Testified for his firm at FEPC hearings in Portland, Nov. 1943. Pres., dir., Kaiser Motors Corp. (1945–56); pres. Kaiser Industries Corp. (1956–67); chairman, dir. of the various affiliated Kaiser companies. Medal of Freedom (1969) as backer of low-, moderate-income housing programs, various labor-mgmt. innovations. Son of Henry J. Kaiser, founder of Kaiser companies.

Birth: 
1908 July 29
Death: 
1981 December 11
Gender: 
Male