Edgar Woolard begins the interview with a description of his family and childhood years in Washington, North Carolina. Woolard's parents encouraged him to excel in both academic and social environments. As a high-school student, Woolard held an interest in mathematics. After graduation, Woolard enrolled in North Carolina State University as a nuclear engineering major. Woolard enjoyed college life and was involved in several extra-curricular activities, including serving as house manager for his fraternity. In his junior year, he switched his major to industrial engineering and received his B.S. in this field in 1956. Shortly after graduating from NC State, Woolard married his junior-high-school sweetheart and accepted a position at Alcoa in Maryville, Tennessee. Woolard left Alcoa after one year to serve a six-month term in the U.S. Army. Upon his return, he was offered a job at DuPont in industrial engineering. After two years, he was promoted into management as a supervisor, a position that Woolard relished. He quickly rose through the ranks at DuPont, gaining valuable learning experiences from each promotion. Woolard entered DuPont's Planning Division in 1976, where he oversaw many breakthroughs in DuPont polymers, especially Dacron production. Throughout his career, Woolard helped shape DuPont into a more streamlined and environmentally friendly company. In the late 1970s, DuPont responded to a spike in oil prices and high inflation by reducing senior management and combining departments. In 1983, under DuPont's new system, Woolard was given responsibility for three departments: Agricultural Chemicals Division, Medical Division, and Photo Products Division. He served in that capacity for three years before becoming Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer. Woolard became CEO in 1987 and worked to both streamline and evenly downsize DuPont for the good of the company. Although this period was difficult, his efforts proved successful for both DuPont and its employees. For his earnest reorganization of DuPont, Woolard received the Chemical Industry Medal in 1998. Woolard concluded the interview with a discussion of DuPont's major achievements during his career, retirement, and thoughts on his family.
Alcoa, Inc.
1956 - 1957
Industrial Engineering
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1957 - 1959
Industrial Engineer
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1959 - 1962
Group Supervisor, industrial engineering
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1962 - 1964
Supervisor, manufacturing section
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1964 - 1965
Planning Supervisor
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1965 - 1966
Staff Assistant to Production Manager
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1966 - 1969
Production Supervisor
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1969 - 1970
Engineering Supervisor
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1970 - 1971
Assistant Plant Manager
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1971 - 1973
Plant Manager
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1973 - 1975
Director, Product Marketing Division
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1975 - 1976
Managing Director, Textile Marketing Division
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1976 - 1977
Manager, Corporate Planning
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1977 - 1978
General Director, Products and Planning Department
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1978 - 1981
General Manager, Textile Fibers
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1981 - 1983
Vice President
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1983 - 1985
Executive Vice President
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1985 - 1987
Vice Chairman
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1987 - 1989
President and Chief Operating Officer
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1989 - 1996
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
1996 - 1998
Chairman
Title and Description Page
Early Years 1
Growing up in Washington, North Carolina. Influence of parents. Interest in mathematics. Decision to attend North Carolina State University. Majoring in nuclear engineering. Enjoying college life. Switching major to industrial engineering. Graduation from college.
Career Beginnings 6
Marriage. Moving to Maryville, Tennessee. Employment with Alcoa. Leaving Alcoa for military service. Interviewing at DuPont's new plant in North Carolina. Accepting position with DuPont in industrial engineering. Moving into management.
DuPont 11
Working shift operations. Managing people with good communication. Planning Department. Dacron® production plant. Working with scientists. Using waste materials to make products. Polyesters. Work ethic at DuPont.
Management 19
Competition. Coping with inflation. Transfer into Marketing. OPEC oil crisis. David Barnes. Reorganization. Textile Fibers Department. Streamlining departments. Management changes. Reduction of employees and management. Success of continuous improvement. New joint-ventures and innovations. Future of innovation at DuPont.
Conclusion 30
DuPont poised for future. Winning Chemical Industry Medal. Importance of teamwork and good leadership. Setting goals. Family.
Index 36
James G. Traynham
James G. Traynham is a professor of chemistry at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. He holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Northwestern University. He joined Louisiana State University in 1953 and served as chemistry department chairperson from 1968 to 1973. He was chairman of the American Chemical Society’s Division of the History of Chemistry in 1988 and is currently councilor of the Baton Rouge section of the American Chemical Society. He was a member of the American Chemical Society’s Joint-Board Council on Chemistry and Public Affairs, as well as a member of the Society’s Committees on Science, Chemical Education, and Organic Chemistry Nomenclature. He has written over 90 publications, including a book on organic nomenclature and a book on the history of organic chemistry.