Edward I. Schalon
Encyclopedia
Edward Irvin Schalon was a corporate executive who served as the chairman of board and chief executive officer of SPX Corporation
, a Fortune 500
global company. He was also a Naval pilot in World War II
and a champion golfer who won two Big Ten Conference
individual championships while a student at the University of Michigan
. He was also a benefactor of Grand Valley State University
and has been inducted into the Grand Valley Hall of Fame, as well as the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
.
. Schalon began golfing at age 14 and became captain of the St. Joseph High School golf team. He was later inducted into the St. Joseph High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
After graduating from St. Joseph High School, Schalon worked for Industrial Rubber Co. When the United States entered World War II
, Schalon enlisted in the U.S. Naval Air Corps, where he served as a carrier-based bomber escort pilot with squadron VC-65 in the Pacific Theater
.
after his military service and was a member of the university’s golf team. Schalon twice won the Big Ten Conference
golf championship in 1947 (at West Lafayette, Indiana
) and again in 1949 (playing on the University of Michigan golf course). He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1950 with a B.S. in chemistry.
In 1982, Schalon was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
. He was also a member of the University of Michigan Victors Club and the Michigauma honor society.
, as a sales engineer and chemist. In 1952, he joined Paramount Die Casting in St. Joseph, Michigan
. In 1954, Schalon and four partners formed Consolidated Die Casting in Dowagiac, Michigan
. Schalon was elected president of Consolidated Die Casting in 1965, and was the company's president when it was acquired in 1968 by Sealed Power Corp.
(now known as SPX) of Muskegon, Michigan
. In 1970, Schalon became group vice president of Sealed Powers' general products division. And in December 1973, he was elected president and chief executive officer of Sealed Power. At the time, Sealed Power was the world's largest producer of piston rings and a producer of cylinder sleeves and other precision engine parts for the automotive and other industries. He was president of Sealed Power during its "heyday" in the 1970s and 1980s, when it was a Fortune 500
company. He served as the company’s chief executive officer until December 1983 and as its chairman of the board until his retirement in 1989.
Foundation and a long-time benefactor of the western Michigan university. Schalon provided major support for Grand Valley’s Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing. The Mr. and Mrs. Edward I. Schalon Plastics and Metal Forming Lab was named in honor of Schalon and his wife. Grand Valley President Thomas J. Haas
called Schalon "one of the real titans in the history of Grand Valley State University." He was inducted into Grand Valley's Hall of Fame in 1984. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Grand Valley in 1985.
Schalon also supported Grand Valley’s Lake Michigan Center, which houses the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute in downtown Muskegon. He also sought to foster economic development in the Muskegon area as chairman of the "New Muskegon" economic recovery campaign in the 1980s. Upon Schalon’s death, Grand Valley President Haas said: “Ed Schalon made a mark on Muskegon, and his family made a mark on Grand Valley. His leadership helped strengthen Grand Valley’s regional perspective, and he was very supportive of our efforts in engineering and with the Lake Michigan Center in Muskegon. Ed will be missed; our hearts go out to his wife Marcie and their family.”
Schalon was also a former trustee of the Michigan Colleges Foundation and the Citizen’s Research Council of Michigan.
in December 2008 after an extended illness. He was survived by his wife, his daughter, Susan Schalon, and his son, Scott Schalon.
SPX Corporation
SPX Corporation is a Fortune 500 multi-industry manufacturing firm. SPX's business segments serve developing and emerging end markets, such as global infrastructure, process equipment, and diagnostic tool industries. With corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, they have operations in...
, a Fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
global company. He was also a Naval pilot in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and a champion golfer who won two Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
individual championships while a student at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He was also a benefactor of Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
and has been inducted into the Grand Valley Hall of Fame, as well as the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
.
Early years
Schalon was the ninth of eleven children born in 1920 to a German Lutheran family in St. Joseph, MichiganSt. Joseph, Michigan
St. Joseph is a city in the US state of Michigan. It was incorporated as a village in 1834 and as a city in 1891. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,789. It lies on the shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, about east-northeast of Chicago. It is the county...
. Schalon began golfing at age 14 and became captain of the St. Joseph High School golf team. He was later inducted into the St. Joseph High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
After graduating from St. Joseph High School, Schalon worked for Industrial Rubber Co. When the United States entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Schalon enlisted in the U.S. Naval Air Corps, where he served as a carrier-based bomber escort pilot with squadron VC-65 in the Pacific Theater
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
.
University of Michigan
He enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
after his military service and was a member of the university’s golf team. Schalon twice won the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
golf championship in 1947 (at West Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 29,596 people, 12,591 households, and 3,588 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,381.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 74.3% White, 17.3% Asian, 2.7% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.03% Pacific...
) and again in 1949 (playing on the University of Michigan golf course). He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1950 with a B.S. in chemistry.
In 1982, Schalon was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
. He was also a member of the University of Michigan Victors Club and the Michigauma honor society.
Business career
In 1950, Schalon joined Corduroy Rubber Co. of Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, as a sales engineer and chemist. In 1952, he joined Paramount Die Casting in St. Joseph, Michigan
St. Joseph, Michigan
St. Joseph is a city in the US state of Michigan. It was incorporated as a village in 1834 and as a city in 1891. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,789. It lies on the shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, about east-northeast of Chicago. It is the county...
. In 1954, Schalon and four partners formed Consolidated Die Casting in Dowagiac, Michigan
Dowagiac, Michigan
Dowagiac is a city in Cass County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,147 at the 2000 census. It is part of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Schalon was elected president of Consolidated Die Casting in 1965, and was the company's president when it was acquired in 1968 by Sealed Power Corp.
SPX Corporation
SPX Corporation is a Fortune 500 multi-industry manufacturing firm. SPX's business segments serve developing and emerging end markets, such as global infrastructure, process equipment, and diagnostic tool industries. With corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, they have operations in...
(now known as SPX) of Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
. In 1970, Schalon became group vice president of Sealed Powers' general products division. And in December 1973, he was elected president and chief executive officer of Sealed Power. At the time, Sealed Power was the world's largest producer of piston rings and a producer of cylinder sleeves and other precision engine parts for the automotive and other industries. He was president of Sealed Power during its "heyday" in the 1970s and 1980s, when it was a Fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
company. He served as the company’s chief executive officer until December 1983 and as its chairman of the board until his retirement in 1989.
Grand Valley State University
Schalon was a founding member of the Grand Valley State UniversityGrand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
Foundation and a long-time benefactor of the western Michigan university. Schalon provided major support for Grand Valley’s Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing. The Mr. and Mrs. Edward I. Schalon Plastics and Metal Forming Lab was named in honor of Schalon and his wife. Grand Valley President Thomas J. Haas
Thomas J. Haas
Thomas Joseph Haas is the fourth and current president of Grand Valley State University. He also serves as a chemistry professor. Prior to coming to GVSU, Haas served as president of the State University of New York at Cobleskill from 2003 to 2006.-Education:Haas graduated with honors in 1973...
called Schalon "one of the real titans in the history of Grand Valley State University." He was inducted into Grand Valley's Hall of Fame in 1984. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Grand Valley in 1985.
Schalon also supported Grand Valley’s Lake Michigan Center, which houses the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute in downtown Muskegon. He also sought to foster economic development in the Muskegon area as chairman of the "New Muskegon" economic recovery campaign in the 1980s. Upon Schalon’s death, Grand Valley President Haas said: “Ed Schalon made a mark on Muskegon, and his family made a mark on Grand Valley. His leadership helped strengthen Grand Valley’s regional perspective, and he was very supportive of our efforts in engineering and with the Lake Michigan Center in Muskegon. Ed will be missed; our hearts go out to his wife Marcie and their family.”
Schalon was also a former trustee of the Michigan Colleges Foundation and the Citizen’s Research Council of Michigan.
Family and death
Schalon married Marcella (Marcie) Gast in 1950. The two remained married for 58 years. Schalon died at his home in St. Joseph, MichiganSt. Joseph, Michigan
St. Joseph is a city in the US state of Michigan. It was incorporated as a village in 1834 and as a city in 1891. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,789. It lies on the shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, about east-northeast of Chicago. It is the county...
in December 2008 after an extended illness. He was survived by his wife, his daughter, Susan Schalon, and his son, Scott Schalon.