Harold McGowan
Endicott Johnson Shoe Company
Harold McGowan was born in Pennsylvania in 1920. He graduated from High School at
15. Harold McGowan began his career with Endicott Johnson in 1946 in the accounting
department at the Archibald, PA factory. After a brief stint in the army reserves
during the Korean War, Mr. McGowan returned to work with Endicott Johnson and moved
to the Southern Tier.
While in New York held many positions in EJ. He started in the accounting office. While there he standardized the forms used by each of the factories. He also worked as the company controller. As controller, Mr. McGowan was in charge of bookkeeping, costing, quarterly reports.
Mr. McGowan was president of the company from 1969 to 1985. During his tenure, he made many changes to the company. He changed the medical from company doctors to Blue Cross/Blue Shield. He realized that there were some areas where Endicott Johnson couldn’t compete with the cheaper working foreign workers. He believed that if you couldn’t compete then you needed a new idea. So he ditched a line of uppers and started making firemen’s boots. He also introduced spikeless golf shoes to the United States after seeing them in England.
As President, Mr. McGowan had two rules: 1) He answered his own phone and 2) Anyone who worked for EJ could come by and see him. He was the only president of EJ to retire. All the other presidents either died while working there or were fired. Sadly, Mr. McGowan died on December 1, 2006. He was 86 years old.
Harold P. McGowan, 86, passed away on Friday, December 1, 2006, at Wilson Regional Medical Center, following a history of heart disease. Born in Archbald, Pa., he was the son of the late Henry and Lucy McGowan. He was predeceased by six brothers and three sisters, Joseph, James, Frank, Richard, Eugene, and Robert McGowan, Florence Prendergast, Mary Callahan, and Ann McHale. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Madelyn T. McGowan; and by his children, Madge and Michael Yurko, Joyce and Edward Anguish, Lois and Charles Morgan, Paul McGowan, Ann and Ray Barnard, and Jeanne and Michael Smith. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Scott, David and Jennifer Yurko, Erin, Megan and Molly Anguish, Matthew and Jason McGowan, Lisa and Katie Barnard, Vincent, Stacey and Jill Smith. He served as a member of the U.S. Army in the 99th "Checkerboard" Division during World War II, and was in the Battle of the Bulge. He also served in the Korean Conflict in the 2nd Division 23rd Regiment from 1951-52. He was a graduate of Harpur College, where he attended evening classes while working full time at Endicott Johnson. His career at Endicott Johnson began as a factory worker in the factory in Archbald, Pa. He was promoted through the ranks of the company to positions including Plant Manager, Accountant, Controller, and Vice President. He was named President and Chief Executive Officer in 1964. In 1985, he became the only President of the company to retire from office. He was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Endicott, the Binghamton Country Club, American Legion Post 82, and the Maj. Ray H. Humphrey, D.S.C., VFW Post 1449, both of Endicott. He served on the Board of Directors of the Lourdes Foundation, Scranton University, the Boys and Girls Club of Western Broome, the Chamber of Commerce, Liberty Mutual and Hanson Trust. Harold was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend who always had a story to tell, advice to share, and hands willing to help. He touched the lives of untold people in this community, expecting nothing in return.
From the Press & Sun-Bulletin
