H. Naylor Fitzhugh facts for kids

Howard Naylor Fitzhugh (born 1909, died 1992) was an important American teacher and business expert. He was one of the very first African-American people to graduate from Harvard Business School. Fitzhugh is known for creating the idea of "target marketing."

Growing Up and Education

Howard Naylor Fitzhugh was born in Washington, D.C. on October 31, 1909. When he was just sixteen, he received a full scholarship to Harvard University. He was still a student at Dunbar High School at the time.

Fitzhugh first wanted to become a doctor. He studied science at Harvard and graduated with honors in 1930. Three years later, in 1933, he earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Harvard Business School.

Fitzhugh's Career

After finishing his studies, Fitzhugh found it hard to get a job in his field. He went back to Washington, D.C., and started teaching business at Howard University. This was meant to be a short-term job. However, Fitzhugh ended up teaching marketing and management at Howard University for 31 years.

Developing Marketing Programs

At Howard University, Fitzhugh created the university's marketing program. He also helped set up its Small Business Center. For many years, he advised the student marketing association.

Work at Pepsi-Cola Company

In 1965, Fitzhugh took a marketing job at the Pepsi-Cola Company. He worked to show that the African-American community was a large and important market. He created the idea of target marketing for big companies in America. This means focusing marketing efforts on specific groups of people. Eventually, he became the Vice President for Special Markets at Pepsi.

Awards and Recognition

In 1974, a magazine called Black Enterprise named him the "Dean of Black Business." The next year, Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller gave Fitzhugh a special award for his achievements in black enterprise.

Fitzhugh was also a founder and former president of the National Association of Market Developers. This group focused on black consumers. He also advised many large companies. From 1975 to 1981, he worked as a consultant for the United States Census Bureau. In 1978, he helped create the Black Alumni Association at Harvard Business School and became its first chairman.

Death and Legacy

Howard Naylor Fitzhugh passed away on July 26, 1992, at the age of 82. He died at the New York University Medical Center.

After his death, Harvard Business School created a special teaching position in his name. Pepsi also started a scholarship at Harvard University. This scholarship helps students from Howard University and other historically black colleges and universities attend Harvard Business School.

See also

• PepsiCo
• Target market
• Lillian Lincoln