Charles Harting “Chuck” Percy (1919–2011) was an American businessperson and a Republican Party politician.
Born in Pensacola, Florida, Percy grew up in Chicago. While attending the University of Chicago, he took summer jobs at Bell & Howell, a manufacturer of projectors, cameras, and other motion-picture equipment.
Percy joined Bell & Howell full time after graduation in 1941. During World War II, he joined the Navy in 1943 and training aviation personnel in the use of his company’s movie cameras.
After the war, Percy rose through the company’s ranks quickly and became its president at age 29. He held that position until 1964 and led his company’s rapid growth.
Percy served as a Republican party U.S. senator from Illinois 1966–85. Percy concentrated on business and foreign relations during his Senate career and was often a leading aspirant to the Republican Party’s nominee for president.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Charles H. Percy
In our democracy we must have a partnership of labor, of business and of government.
—Charles H. Percy
Topics: Democracy
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