Howard E. Coffin
Encyclopedia
Howard Earle Coffin was an American engineer and industrialist. He was one of the founders of the Hudson Motor Car Company
with Roy D. Chapin
. He was a charter member of The Society of Automotive Engineers
and president in 1910, and as one of the "dollar-a-year men"
served as chairman of the Aircraft Board
which organized aircraft production and industrial mobilization during World War I. He retired from the Hudson company in 1930 but acted as a consultant. He died accidentally in 1937.
Born in West Milton, Ohio
, Coffin studied mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan
. On graduation in 1902 he worked for the Oldsmobile
Company as chief experimental engineer and later as chief engineer. In 1906 he was one of the founders of Hudson Motor Car Company and became vice-president of that company.
A millionaire by age 30, Coffin purchased extensive real estate in Georgia such as Sapelo Island
, and Sea Island
, turning it into a resort. Coffin married Matilda V. Allen of Battle Creek, Michigan
in 1907. He and his wife are buried at Christ Church at St. Simons Island.
Hudson Motor Car Company
The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors. The Hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was dropped.- Company strategy...
with Roy D. Chapin
Roy D. Chapin
Roy Dikeman Chapin was an American industrialist and automaker. He also served as the United States Secretary of Commerce from August 8, 1932, to March 3, 1933, in the last months of the administration of President Herbert Hoover.Chapin was born in 1880 in Lansing, Michigan, and attended the...
. He was a charter member of The Society of Automotive Engineers
SAE International
SAE International is an organization for engineering professionals in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries. The Society is a standards development organization for the engineering of powered vehicles of all kinds, including cars, trucks, boats, aircraft, and others.SAE...
and president in 1910, and as one of the "dollar-a-year men"
One-dollar salary
Several top executives in large businesses receive a salary of one dollar. In place of a salary, the executives receive stock options. In the United States, this approach impacts personal tax liability because although stock and option grants are taxed at federal income rates, they are exempt from...
served as chairman of the Aircraft Board
Aircraft Board
The Aircraft Board was a United States federal government organization created from the Aircraft Production Board on October 1, 1917, by Act of Congress to provide statutory authority to the APB, which had been created by a resolution of the Council of National Defense on May 16, 1917. Chaired by...
which organized aircraft production and industrial mobilization during World War I. He retired from the Hudson company in 1930 but acted as a consultant. He died accidentally in 1937.
Born in West Milton, Ohio
West Milton, Ohio
West Milton is a village in Miami County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,630 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:West Milton is located at ....
, Coffin studied mechanical engineering 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...
. On graduation in 1902 he worked for the Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
Company as chief experimental engineer and later as chief engineer. In 1906 he was one of the founders of Hudson Motor Car Company and became vice-president of that company.
A millionaire by age 30, Coffin purchased extensive real estate in Georgia such as Sapelo Island
Sapelo Island
Sapelo Island is a state-protected island located in McIntosh County, Georgia. The island is reachable only by airplane or boat, with the primary ferry coming from the Sapelo Island Visitors Center in McIntosh County, Georgia, a seven mile , twenty-minute trip.Approximately 97 percent of the...
, and Sea Island
Sea Island, Georgia
Sea Island is an affluent resort island located in the barrier islands just off the Atlantic coast of southern Georgia in the United States. The resort complex is located in an unincorporated Glynn County....
, turning it into a resort. Coffin married Matilda V. Allen of Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
in 1907. He and his wife are buried at Christ Church at St. Simons Island.