# Jon M. Huntsman Sr.

> Jon Meade Huntsman Sr. (1937-2018) was an American industrialist, founder of Huntsman Corporation’s predecessor businesses, and a philanthropist. Beginning with egg packaging and fast-food containers, he expanded into chemical manufacturing through acquisitions, led the businesses as CEO from 1970 to 2000, and later served as executive chairman and chairman emeritus. His public life also included educational giving, Armenian reconstruction projects, service in the Nixon administration, and books on business ethics and his own life.

- **Role:** Industrialist, entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and author
- **Organizations:** Huntsman Corporation, Huntsman Container Corporation, Huntsman Chemical Corporation, Dolco Packaging Corporation, Olson Brothers, Inc., Huntsman Gay Global Capital, Huntsman Foundation, University of Pennsylvania, Utah State University, United States Navy, Nixon White House
- **From:** Blackfoot, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, MBA, University of Southern California
- **Known for:** Founded the predecessor businesses of Huntsman Corporation and led their expansion from packaging into global chemicals., Developed packaging products including the McDonald’s Big Mac foam clamshell., Received the 1997 Horatio Alger Award.

## Career timeline

- **1937** — Born in Blackfoot, Idaho, on June 21.
- **1959** — Graduated from Wharton, married Karen Haight, and began naval service.
- **1961** — Joined Olson Brothers in the California egg business.
- **1963** — Co-founded Continental Productions, a Christmas-record business.
- **1966** — Earned an MBA from the University of Southern California.
- **1967** — Became president of Dolco Packaging, the Olson Brothers-Dow Chemical joint venture.
- **1970** — Founded Huntsman Container Corporation; began a period of federal government service.
- **1971** — Served as special assistant and staff secretary to President Richard Nixon.
- **1974** — Huntsman Container developed the McDonald’s Big Mac clamshell container.
- **1976** — Sold Huntsman Container to Keyes Fiber and continued running the container business for several years.
- **1982** — Formed Huntsman Chemical in Salt Lake City.
- **1986-2000** — Expanded through 36 company acquisitions.
- **1997** — The family gave $10 million to endow Penn’s international studies and business program.
- **1998** — Made a $40 million unrestricted gift to Wharton.
- **2000** — Peter R. Huntsman succeeded him as CEO.
- **2005** — Huntsman Corporation went public; Winners Never Cheat was published.
- **2007** — Utah State renamed its business college following a $26 million gift from Jon and Karen.
- **2014** — Published the autobiography Barefoot to Billionaire.
- **2015** — Received the Bower Award for Business Leadership and Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.
- **2017** — The Huntsman and Charles Koch foundations announced a joint $50 million gift to Utah State’s business school; Huntsman retired as executive chairman at year-end.
- **2018** — Died at home in Salt Lake City on February 2, aged 80.

## Achievements

- Founded the predecessor businesses of Huntsman Corporation and led their expansion from packaging into global chemicals.
- Developed packaging products including the McDonald’s Big Mac foam clamshell.
- Received the 1997 Horatio Alger Award.
- Received the 2004 Othmer Gold Medal.
- Received the 2015 Bower Award for Business Leadership.
- Received the 2015 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.
- Supported education through gifts to Penn, Utah State and student scholarships.
- Sustained reconstruction, housing and educational assistance in Armenia after the 1988 earthquake.

## Latest updates

- **2024-12** — Sigma Chi’s winter 2024-2025 issue announcement included a retrospective on Huntsman’s life and dedication to the fraternity.
- **2023-04** — Church News revisited his Armenian reconstruction work, including the concrete-factory project begun after the 1988 earthquake.
- **2018-02** — Huntsman Corporation announced his death on February 2 and memorialised his role as founder and chairman emeritus.

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jon-m-huntsman-sr
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23