Leon Gorman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leon Arthur Gorman
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| Born | December 20, 1934 |
| Died | September 3, 2015 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Bowdoin College |
| Known for | Presidency & Chairmanship of L.L.Bean |
Leon Arthur Gorman (born December 20, 1934 – died September 3, 2015) was an important American businessman. He was the president and chairman of the board for L.L.Bean. This company is well-known for selling clothing and equipment for outdoor activities.
Leon Gorman's Amazing Career
Leon Gorman was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1934. After finishing college at Bowdoin College, he served in the Navy for three years. Then, he worked at a department store called Filene's.
In 1967, Leon Gorman became the president of L.L.Bean. This happened after his grandfather, Leon Leonwood Bean, who started the company, passed away.
During his time as president until 2001, Leon Gorman helped L.L.Bean grow a lot. He was a pioneer in the company's mail order business. This meant people could order products from catalogs and have them sent to their homes. The company grew by about 20% each year!
In 2001, Leon Gorman decided to become the chairman of the board. This meant he was still involved but let someone else, Christopher McCormick, become the CEO. Christopher was the first person outside the family to hold this top job. In 2013, Leon became Chairman Emeritus, and his nephew, Shawn Gorman, took over as chairman.
Beyond Business: His Personal Life
Leon Gorman was also very generous. He gave a lot of money to help public education. He was honored by Bowdoin College in 2002. In 2010, he received the Bowdoin prize. This award is given every five years to a former student who has made a big difference in the world.
By 2012 and again in 2014, Leon Gorman was the richest person living in the state of Maine. His reported net worth was $860 million.
Leon Gorman loved hiking and being outdoors. He would even organize a yearly camping trip with the top leaders of L.L.Bean. They often hiked in tough places, like the Presidential Range mountains.
Remembering Leon Gorman
Leon Gorman passed away from cancer in Yarmouth, Maine, on September 3, 2015. He was 80 years old.
To honor him, the main L.L.Bean store closed for the first time since 1967. This showed how much he meant to the company. L.L.Bean also announced a $125,000 donation. This money went to a new scholarship fund at his old college, Bowdoin College. This amount was enough to cover about two and a half years of tuition there.
