John R. (Jack) Beckett
Encyclopedia
John R. Beckett (1918-2010), an American businessman, president and chairman of the board of Transamerica Corp. from 1960 to 1983. He was born on February 26, 1918 in San Francisco, California
, and died on June 17, 2010 in Atherton, California
.
He became president and chairman of the board of Transamerica Corporation
in 1960 when it was a little-known holding company. He was CEO of Transamerica Corp. for 23 years, until 1983, he transformed it from an anonymous holding company into a major, diversified, operating company that became a household name.
He embarked the company on an aggressive advertising campaign that propelled the Transamerica brand name into a household name to the general public. He increased Transamerica's earnings by 20-fold during his tenure as president and chairman. It grew to be one of the 100 largest companies in the United States
. He was instrumental in the purchases of motion picture distributor United Artists
, Transamerica Airlines, Budget Rent-a-Car Co., De Laval Turbine and Occidental Life Insurance.
He commissioned the building of the Transamerica Pyramid
, a landmark building in the San Francisco Financial District. Construction of the Transamerica Pyramid
began in 1969. The 853-foot pyramid-shaped skyscraper designed by architect William Pereira
was intended to become the San Francisco's tallest building. The building of this pyramid
created instant controversy, which helped create public awareness of Transamerica. The Transamerica Pyramid
is located in the heart of the San Francisco Financial District at 600 Montgomery Street in San Francisco, California. It is a part of Transamerica Center (a complex that includes Two Transamerica Center and Transamerica Redwood Park) and encompasses nearly one city block.
He was named "Best Chief Executive Officer" of all U.S. financial organizations for the years 1977 and 1978 by Financial World
.
; and, Belinda Beckett of Sacramento
, California. He also had two stepsons: Ted of Los Angeles; and Donald Abenheim of Menlo Park. Two grand-daughters: Diana Beckett-Hile of Mill Valley
and Sarah Beckett-Hile of San Francisco.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and died on June 17, 2010 in Atherton, California
Atherton, California
Atherton is an incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, United States. Its population was 6,914 at the 2010 census. In September 2010, Forbes magazine placed Atherton's zip code of 94027 at #2 on its annual list of America's most expensive zip codes, with a median home price of $4,010,200...
.
He became president and chairman of the board of Transamerica Corporation
Transamerica Corporation
Transamerica Corporation is a holding company for various life insurance companies and investment firms doing business primarily in the United States. It was acquired by the Dutch financial services conglomerate AEGON in 1999.-History:...
in 1960 when it was a little-known holding company. He was CEO of Transamerica Corp. for 23 years, until 1983, he transformed it from an anonymous holding company into a major, diversified, operating company that became a household name.
He embarked the company on an aggressive advertising campaign that propelled the Transamerica brand name into a household name to the general public. He increased Transamerica's earnings by 20-fold during his tenure as president and chairman. It grew to be one of the 100 largest companies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was instrumental in the purchases of motion picture distributor United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
, Transamerica Airlines, Budget Rent-a-Car Co., De Laval Turbine and Occidental Life Insurance.
He commissioned the building of the Transamerica Pyramid
Transamerica Pyramid
The Transamerica Pyramid is the tallest skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline and one of its most iconic. Although the building no longer houses the headquarters of the Transamerica Corporation, it is still strongly associated with the company and is depicted in the company's logo...
, a landmark building in the San Francisco Financial District. Construction of the Transamerica Pyramid
Transamerica Pyramid
The Transamerica Pyramid is the tallest skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline and one of its most iconic. Although the building no longer houses the headquarters of the Transamerica Corporation, it is still strongly associated with the company and is depicted in the company's logo...
began in 1969. The 853-foot pyramid-shaped skyscraper designed by architect William Pereira
William Pereira
William Leonard Pereira was an American architect from Chicago, Illinois, of Portuguese ancestry who was noted for his futuristic designs of landmark buildings such as the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco...
was intended to become the San Francisco's tallest building. The building of this pyramid
Pyramid
A pyramid is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge at a single point. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, meaning that a pyramid has at least three triangular surfaces...
created instant controversy, which helped create public awareness of Transamerica. The Transamerica Pyramid
Transamerica Pyramid
The Transamerica Pyramid is the tallest skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline and one of its most iconic. Although the building no longer houses the headquarters of the Transamerica Corporation, it is still strongly associated with the company and is depicted in the company's logo...
is located in the heart of the San Francisco Financial District at 600 Montgomery Street in San Francisco, California. It is a part of Transamerica Center (a complex that includes Two Transamerica Center and Transamerica Redwood Park) and encompasses nearly one city block.
He was named "Best Chief Executive Officer" of all U.S. financial organizations for the years 1977 and 1978 by Financial World
Financial World
Financial World was the United States' oldest business magazine before going out of business in 1998. In the magazine's later years of publication, its signature issue was the "Sports Franchise Valuation Issue".- History :...
.
Family
He was married first to Dian Calkin Beckett (who died before him) and then to Marjorie Beckett, his wife of 41 years. He had two daughters Brenda Beckett of Friday Harbor, WashingtonFriday Harbor, Washington
Friday Harbor is a town in San Juan County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,162 at 2010 Census. Located on San Juan Island, Friday Harbor is the major commercial center of the San Juan Islands archipelago and is the county seat of San Juan County.-History:In 1845 the Hudson's Bay...
; and, Belinda Beckett of Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, California. He also had two stepsons: Ted of Los Angeles; and Donald Abenheim of Menlo Park. Two grand-daughters: Diana Beckett-Hile of Mill Valley
Mill Valley, California
Mill Valley is a city in Marin County, California, United States located about north of San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge. The population was 13,903 at the 2010 census.Mill Valley is located on the western and northern shores of Richardson Bay...
and Sarah Beckett-Hile of San Francisco.
External links
- http://groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries/browse_thread/thread/fbb6b7dce5c18df9?pli=1
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=53982984
- http://www.transamerica.com/about_us/about_the_pyramid/index.asp