14 Facts About Clarence Dillon

Clarence Dillon's parents were Bertha Stenbock and Samuel Lapowski, who emigrated to the United States.

Clarence Dillon's father died in San Francisco, California, on June 23,1912, and his mother died in New York City, on January 1,1951.

Clarence Dillon graduated from Worcester Academy, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and one of the country's oldest day-boarding schools, and then Harvard University in 1905.

Clarence Dillon joined Read's Chicago office in that year, later moving to the firm's New York office in 1914.

In 1921, Clarence Dillon focused on the beleaguered Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company which was in receivership.

Clarence Dillon succeeded in crafting a settlement with Goodyear's bankers, creditors, and stockholders as well as raising more than $100 million in funding in an extremely difficult credit market.

In 1925, only four years later, Clarence Dillon bought the Dodge Brothers Company for $146 million in cash which was the largest such transaction in industrial history at the time.

Clarence Dillon was a Francophile both because he had French origins and for his own personal tastes.

Clarence Dillon negotiated for months to purchase Chateau Haut-Brion from Bordeaux businessman Andre Gibert who had controlled the French wine producer since 1923.

Clarence Dillon ultimately made the acquisition on May 13,1935, for 2,300,000 francs.

Clarence Dillon is said to have purchased Chateau Haut-Brion because it was his favorite wine.

Clarence Dillon purchased miniature poodle show dog Fontclair Festoon from Dody Jenkins.

On February 4,1908, Clarence Dillon married Anne McEldin Douglass in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Clarence Dillon died on April 14,1979, at his home in Far Hills, New Jersey.