Hickman Price Jr., (1911–1989) was the Assistant Secretary for Domestic Affairs in the

United States Department of Commerce The United States Department of Commerce is an executive department of the U.S. federal government concerned with creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity. Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for bu ...

from 1961 to 1963 and a business executive with

Kaiser-Frazer The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation (1947–1953 as Kaiser-Frazer) was the result of a partnership between industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and automobile executive Joseph W. Frazer.Willys Willys (pronounced , "Willis" ) was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (MBs ...

Early life

Price was born on August 14, 1911, in

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

. He attended

Taft School The Taft School is a private, coeducational school located in Watertown, Connecticut, United States. It teaches students in 9th through 12th grades and post-graduates. About three-quarters of Taft's roughly 600 students live on the school's ...

Phillips Exeter Academy (not for oneself) la, Finis Origine Pendet (The End Depends Upon the Beginning) gr, Χάριτι Θεοῦ (By the Grace of God) , location = 20 Main Street , city = Exeter, New Hampshire , zipcode ...

, and

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

. He graduated from

with the class of 1934.

Business career

From 1932 to 1934, Price assisted his father with farming wheat in the Texas Panhandle, at one point becoming the biggest wheat raiser in the state, as reported by ''Time'' magazine. However, bad weather forced him into bankruptcy. Price then moved on to become a member of the Bankers Trust Company in New York City. After leaving Texas in 1941, Price was appointed chief of the American Economic Mission to the Belgian Congo. Price returned in 1945 and was named executive assistant to the president of Graham-Paige Motors Corp. From 1945 to 1952, Price was vice president and director of the

Kaiser-Frazer The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation (1947–1953 as Kaiser-Frazer) was the result of a partnership between industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and automobile executive Joseph W. Frazer.Efraim Ilin Efraim Ilin ( he, אפרים אילין; 1912–2011) was an Israeli tycoon and security expert. He is known for founding Kaiser in Israel. Early life Ilin was born in Kharkov, Russian Empire (today Kharkiv, Ukraine). He grew up with Zionist ...

. Price put down half a million with Ilin bringing the other two million. Together they founded Kaiser in Israel. In 1952, Price became president and director of Willys Overland Export Corp., and

Willys Overland Willys (pronounced , "Willis" ) was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (MBs ...

of Canada. In 1954, Price was named be vice president of Willys Motors Inc. Price also served as president of Mercedes-Benz in São Paulo, Brazil. Price Jr. was a notable figure in the post-war automotive industry. Because of his leadership position with

Political life

Price was also an influential social and political figure. He was an active Democrat and a staunch supporter of Governor G. Mennen Williams of Michigan and of the presidential aspirations of Adlai Stevenson and

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...

. Often consulted on matters of relations between the United States and Brazil, Price shared his expertise with members of the Kennedy administration. He further served his country with his appointment as Assistant

Secretary of Commerce The United States secretary of commerce (SecCom) is the head of the United States Department of Commerce. The secretary serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all matters relating to commerce. The secretary rep ...

for Domestic Affairs, a position he held from 1961 to 1963.https://docs.wto.org/gattdocs/q/.%5CGG%5CMGT%5C62-6.PDF

Personal life

Price was a nephew of Joseph P. Frazer. He married Dorothy Hurt. They had one son, Marston, who lived in Brazil and a daughter, Patricia Geisel who lived in Pennsylvania. Price died of a heart attack at his Long Island home on August 24, 1989.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Price, Hickman 1989 deaths 1911 births People from Nashville, Tennessee Tennessee Democrats Columbia College (New York) alumni Taft School alumni Phillips Exeter Academy alumni United States Department of Commerce officials Kennedy administration personnel