Charles Anderson (businessman)

Anderson was born in Columbus, Ohio on November 14, 1917; his family moved to Berkeley, California not long thereafter.[1] Anderson graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1938 with a bachelor of science in chemistry,[2] and then graduated from Harvard Business School in 1940 with a master's of business administration.[1][3]

After graduating from Harvard, Anderson married Betty Rushforth in 1942 and served in the United States Navy during World War II. Upon his return from the war, he was an assistant professor of business administration at Harvard.[1]

In 1948, Anderson moved back to California, and was a vice president of Magna Power Tool Company, which was purchased by Yuba Consolidated Industries in 1958. From 1958 to 1961, he joined the Stanford Business School as the department's associate dean and a professor of business administration.[1][4]

In 1961, he became the vice president of finance for Kern Country Land Company. He was subsequently the CEO of Kern Country's subsidiaries Walker Manufacturing and J.I. Case.[1] Kern Country was purchased by Tenneco in August 1967.[5]

In 1968, Anderson became the CEO of SRI International, a position he held until his retirement in 1980.[1] Anderson was also on numerous corporate boards, including Conoco, Boise Cascade, Eaton Corporation, NCR Corporation, Owens Corning, Saga Foods (purchased by Marriott Corporation), and Kansai Research Institute (now KRI, Inc.).[1][6]

Anderson served on the Air Force Systems Command Board of Visitors, and was given an Air Force Exceptional Service Award as a result.[1] He was also named Bay Area Harvard Business School Business Statesman of the Year.[1]