Juozas Kazickas
Encyclopedia
Juozas Petras Kazickas or Joseph P. Kazickas (April 16, 1918 in Chernaya Padina, Saratov Oblast
, Russia
) is a Lithuanian-American businessman, self-made
multi-millionaire
and philanthropist
. With assets estimated worth over 1 billion litas
, he was considered to be the wealthiest Lithuanian in 2006.
, were deported to interior of Russia, where he was born. The family returned to Lithuania in 1922. Kazickas studied economics at Vytautas Magnus University
(1937–1940) and Vilnius University
(1941–1942). In Vilnius he worked at Vilnius municipality and was involved in resistance movements. In 1944, as Soviet Union
was winning the war against Nazi Germany
, he retreated to Germany, where he lived in displaced person
camps and attended University of Tübingen. In 1947, he was admitted on a scholarship to post-graduate program at Yale University
. In 1951, Kazickas defended his thesis about sovietization
of Czechoslovakia
and was awarded Ph.D.
He turned down professorship at Georgetown University
to establish Neris International, Inc. with fellow Lithuanian refugee Juozas Valiūnas. The Manhattan-based firm became a major exporter of coal to post-war Germany and Italy.
. He has consulted many international corporations, including Exxon
, El Paso Natural Gas
, Columbia Gas, Rockwell International
, Philip Morris
, Coca-Cola
, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
. He was a board
member and trustee of many other enterprises, including Astrotech Corporation and Cosmos Bank
. He also advised John J. McCloy
during the Cuban Missile Crisis
in 1962. Kazickas was involved in Lithuanian activities abroad and supported Lithuanian declaration of independence in 1990
. He advised the Lithuanian governmental on economic affairs, transition to free market economy, and worked to establish commercial ties with the West. Kazickas brought Lawrence Summers
to Lithuania to advise on the economic reforms. Using his wide network of business and political contacts, he helped to arrange meetings of Prime Minister Kazimiera Prunskienė with leaders of western nations and encouraged American companies (including Philip Morris, Coca-Cola, Motorola
) to invest in Lithuania. In 1991, he established the first private capital communication company in Lithuania Litcom (now Omnitel
). Kazickas was also involved in the sale of Mažeikių Nafta
, a major oil refinery in Lithuania, to American Williams Companies
. In 2002, Kazickas published a biography Vilties kelias (ISBN 998616236X), translated in English as Odyssey of Hope (ISBN 9986165059) in 2006.
. In his memory, Kazickas sponsored construction of the Church of the Assumption, a Roman Catholic church in Kathmandu. In 1998, he established Kazickas Family Foundation, a private foundation
. For year ended December 2008, it reported assets of US$11.5 million. The foundation donates to other foundations, grants scholarships, funds Baltic studies at Yale University
and Washington University, supports reconstruction of the Royal Palace of Lithuania
and Pažaislis Monastery
, and sponsors Lithuanian cinema. For example, it supported retrospective of Lithuanian cinema at the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) and funded prizes at the Vilnius Documentary Film Festival.
Saratov Oblast
Saratov Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , located in the Volga Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Saratov. Population: -Demographics:Population:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
) is a Lithuanian-American businessman, self-made
Self-Made Man
Self-Made Man: My Year Disguised as a Man is a book written by lesbian journalist Norah Vincent, recounting an 18-month experiment in which she disguised herself as a man—"Ned"—and then integrated into traditionally male-only venues, such as a bowling league and a monastery...
multi-millionaire
Millionaire
A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...
and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. With assets estimated worth over 1 billion litas
Lithuanian litas
The Lithuanian litas is the currency of Lithuania. It is divided into 100 centų...
, he was considered to be the wealthiest Lithuanian in 2006.
Early life
Kazickas' grandparents, due to their involvement in the Uprising of 1863January Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
, were deported to interior of Russia, where he was born. The family returned to Lithuania in 1922. Kazickas studied economics at Vytautas Magnus University
Vytautas Magnus University
Vytautas Magnus University ) is a public university in Kaunas, Lithuania. The university was founded in 1922 during the interwar period as an alternate national university...
(1937–1940) and Vilnius University
Vilnius University
Vilnius University is the oldest university in the Baltic states and one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. It is also the largest university in Lithuania....
(1941–1942). In Vilnius he worked at Vilnius municipality and was involved in resistance movements. In 1944, as Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
was winning the war against Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, he retreated to Germany, where he lived in displaced person
Displaced person
A displaced person is a person who has been forced to leave his or her native place, a phenomenon known as forced migration.- Origin of term :...
camps and attended University of Tübingen. In 1947, he was admitted on a scholarship to post-graduate program at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. In 1951, Kazickas defended his thesis about sovietization
Sovietization
Sovietization is term that may be used with two distinct meanings:*the adoption of a political system based on the model of soviets .*the adoption of a way of life and mentality modelled after the Soviet Union....
of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and was awarded Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
He turned down professorship at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
to establish Neris International, Inc. with fellow Lithuanian refugee Juozas Valiūnas. The Manhattan-based firm became a major exporter of coal to post-war Germany and Italy.
Business career
Since 1980, Kazickas has been active in venture capitalVenture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
. He has consulted many international corporations, including Exxon
Exxon
Exxon is a chain of gas stations as well as a brand of motor fuel and related products by ExxonMobil. From 1972 to 1999, Exxon was the corporate name of the company previously known as Standard Oil Company of New Jersey or Jersey Standard....
, El Paso Natural Gas
El Paso Natural Gas
El Paso Natural Gas is a system of natural gas pipelines that brings gas from the Permian Basin in Texas and the San Juan Basin in New Mexico and Colorado to West Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, California and Arizona. It also exports some natural gas to Mexico. It is owned by El Paso Corporation...
, Columbia Gas, Rockwell International
Rockwell International
Rockwell International was a major American manufacturing conglomerate in the latter half of the 20th century, involved in aircraft, the space industry, both defense-oriented and commercial electronics, automotive and truck components, printing presses, valves and meters, and industrial automation....
, Philip Morris
Philip Morris International
Philip Morris International is an international tobacco company, with products sold in over 160 countries. In 2007, it held a 15.6% share of the international cigarette market outside of the USA and reported revenues net of excise taxes of $22.8 billion and operating income of $8.9 billion.Until...
, Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
. He was a board
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
member and trustee of many other enterprises, including Astrotech Corporation and Cosmos Bank
COSMOS Bank
The Cosmos Co-operative Bank Ltd. , established in 1906, is one of the oldest Urban Co-operative Bank in India, celebrated its centenary on 18 January 2005. It is one of the first co-operative banks in the country to go live with the core banking solution across the entire network of its 119...
. He also advised John J. McCloy
John J. McCloy
John Jay McCloy was a lawyer and banker who served as Assistant Secretary of War during World War II, president of the World Bank and U.S. High Commissioner for Germany...
during the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
in 1962. Kazickas was involved in Lithuanian activities abroad and supported Lithuanian declaration of independence in 1990
Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania
The Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania or Act of March 11 was an independence declaration by the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted on March 11, 1990...
. He advised the Lithuanian governmental on economic affairs, transition to free market economy, and worked to establish commercial ties with the West. Kazickas brought Lawrence Summers
Lawrence Summers
Lawrence Henry Summers is an American economist. He served as the 71st United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He was Director of the White House United States National Economic Council for President Barack Obama until November 2010.Summers is the...
to Lithuania to advise on the economic reforms. Using his wide network of business and political contacts, he helped to arrange meetings of Prime Minister Kazimiera Prunskienė with leaders of western nations and encouraged American companies (including Philip Morris, Coca-Cola, Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
) to invest in Lithuania. In 1991, he established the first private capital communication company in Lithuania Litcom (now Omnitel
Omnitel
Omnitel is one of the largest telecommunication companies in the Baltics, member of TeliaSonera group. It provides services of carrying and packaging of voice, images, data, information, transactions and entertainment....
). Kazickas was also involved in the sale of Mažeikių Nafta
Mažeikiu Nafta
ORLEN Lietuva is a company centered around the Mažeikiai oil refinery and oil-processing plant in Lithuania. It includes the only refinery in the Baltic States.- Refinery :...
, a major oil refinery in Lithuania, to American Williams Companies
Williams Companies
The Williams Companies, Inc. is an energy company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its core business is natural gas exploration, production, processing, and transportation, with additional petroleum and electricity generation assets...
. In 2002, Kazickas published a biography Vilties kelias (ISBN 998616236X), translated in English as Odyssey of Hope (ISBN 9986165059) in 2006.
Philanthropy
In 1976, Kazickas' son Kęstutis was found dead in a hotel in Kathmandu, NepalNepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. In his memory, Kazickas sponsored construction of the Church of the Assumption, a Roman Catholic church in Kathmandu. In 1998, he established Kazickas Family Foundation, a private foundation
Private foundation
A private foundation is a legal entity set up by an individual, a family or a group of individuals, for a purpose such as philanthropy. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest private foundation in the U.S. with over $38 billion in assets...
. For year ended December 2008, it reported assets of US$11.5 million. The foundation donates to other foundations, grants scholarships, funds Baltic studies at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Washington University, supports reconstruction of the Royal Palace of Lithuania
Royal Palace of Lithuania
The Royal Palace of Lithuania was a palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, built in the 15th century for the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Royal Palace in the Lower Castle evolved over the years and prospered during the 16th and mid-17th centuries. For four centuries the Palace was the...
and Pažaislis Monastery
Pažaislis Monastery
Pažaislis monastery and church form the largest monastery complex in Lithuania, and the most magnificent example of Italian baroque architecture in the country...
, and sponsors Lithuanian cinema. For example, it supported retrospective of Lithuanian cinema at the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) and funded prizes at the Vilnius Documentary Film Festival.
Awards
- Order of the Rifleman's Society (1973)
- Memorial Medal of January the 13th (1992)
- Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke GediminasOrder of the Lithuanian Grand Duke GediminasThe Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas is the Lithuanian Presidential Award which was re-instituted to honour the citizens of Lithuania for outstanding performance in civil and public offices. Foreign nationals may also be awarded this Order. The Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke...
(1995, 1998) - Ellis Island Medal of HonorEllis Island Medal of HonorThe Ellis Island Medal of Honor was founded by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations and intended to pay homage to the immigrant experience. The medals honor the contribution made to America by immigrants and the legacy they left behind in the successes of their children and grand-children...
(USA) (1996) - Order for Merits to LithuaniaOrder for Merits to LithuaniaThe Order for Merits to Lithuania is an award, presented by the President of Lithuania, which may be conferred on the citizens of Lithuania and foreign nationals for distinguished services promoting name of Lithuania, expanding a develop international relationships, for distinguished merits in...
(2008)