14 Facts About Brooks McCormick

Brooks McCormick was an American philanthropist and equestrian from the McCormick family that ran International Harvester.

Brooks McCormick was the chief executive officer of International Harvester in the 1970s, and was the family's final member to lead the company that they had founded.

Brooks McCormick's father, Chauncey McCormick, was a cousin of Chicago Tribune publisher Robert R McCormick, and his mother, Marion Deering, was a daughter of Charles Deering.

Brooks McCormick graduated from Yale University in 1940 with a degree in English.

Brooks McCormick joined International Harvester out of Yale, working for the company from 1940 until retiring in 1980.

Brooks McCormick was groomed for executive positions his entire career, and he became president and chief operating officer in 1968.

Brooks McCormick was promoted to be chief executive officer from 1971 until January 1978.

Brooks McCormick stepped down as the chairman of International Harvester's executive committee on October 31,1980, ending almost 150 years of his family's active management in the company.

Brooks McCormick had no interest in nepotism, and saw little reason to be sad about the passing of the McCormicks' role in the company.

Brooks McCormick took possession of the property after his father's death in September 1954 and significantly expanded it, holding an annual steeplechase event on the property to raise money for charity.

In 2000, Brooks McCormick sold the farm for $43 million to the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, with the stipulation that it would take possession of the farm upon Brooks McCormick's death.

Brooks McCormick had been president of the Art Institute's board from 1944 until 1954.

Brooks McCormick willed his collection of rare bird books and paintings to the International Crane Foundation, which reaped more than $2.7 million from their sale after his death.

Brooks McCormick had four children, two of whom died before him.