Allen Frank Jacobson (October 7, 1926 – November 1, 2012) was an American chemical engineer and corporate executive. He was the chief executive officer of 3M and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Allen F. Jacobson
Born
Allen Frank Jacobson

October 7, 1927
DiedNovember 1, 2012(2012-11-01) (aged 86)
Other namesJake Jacobson
Alma materUniversity of Iowa
Occupation(s)CEO and Chairman
Employer3M

Early life

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"Jake" Jacobson was born in Omaha, Nebraska on October 7, 1926.[1][2][3] His parents were Ruth and Alma F. Jacobson, who worked for various telephone companies before becoming president of Northwestern Bell Telephone Companyin 1955.[4][5] His paternal grandfather was a saddle maker for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.[4] As a child, Jacobson lived in Omaha, Nebraska; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Duluth, Minnesota; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.[6]

Jacobson attended Creighton University and the University of Omaha.[3][7] He graduated with a BS in chemical engineering from Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now Iowa State University) in 1947.[8][6] While at Iowa State, he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society.[6][9]

Career

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In 1947, Jacobson joined 3M as a chemical engineer, working in the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M) tape product control laboratory in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[1][10] In 1950, he became a technical assistant to the Hutchinson, Minnesota plant manager.[10] He had the same position in Bristol, Pennsylvania starting in 1953.[10] He became the production superintendent of tape production at the Bristol plant from 1953 to October 1959.[10][11]

Jacobson became the manager of the 3M tape plant in Saint Paul in 1959 and the manager of the Bristol plant in February 1961.[12][10][11] He became the general manager of the company's industrial tape division in February 1963.[12][10]

Jacobson was promoted to vice president and general manager of 3M Canada Ltd. and vice president of 3M Europe.[7][12][13][14] He became the vice president in 1975 and executive vice president in the industrial and consumer sector at 3M in 1981.[13][14][15] On March 1, 1984, Jacobson became the president of 3M's United States operations.[13][7] In March 1986, he became the chairman and chief executive officer of 3M.[1][16][6] In this capacity, he focused on research and increased the company income by growing in new fields such as magnetic media.[1][12][17] He retired as chairman of the board and CEO of in October 1991, after a career of 44 years at 3M.[14][6]

Jacobson was elected to the board of directors of Sara Lee Corporation in May 1990.[18] In 1991, he became one of sixteen members of President George H. W. Bush's U.S. Advisory Commission on Work-Based Learning.[19] In April 1992, he became a member of the board of directors of Prudential Insurance.[20] He was also a board member of Northern States Power Company, Pillsbury, and US West.[7] He also served on the board of directors of Valmont Industries for 23 years.[21]

Honors

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Jacobson received the Marston Medal from the University of Iowa for outstanding contributions in engineering.[6] In April 1988, Jacobson was on the cover of Fortune.[12][3] In 1991, Jacobson was elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering.[14] Allen Jacobson chemical engineering lab at the Iowa State University is named after him.[8] The College of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin has the Allen F. Jacobson Endowed Scholarship for graduate students.[22]

Personal life

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Jacobson was married Barbara Jean Benidt on April 18, 1964, in Ramsey, Minnesota.[2][23][24] They had three children: Allen Jacobson Jr., Holly Jacobson, and Paul Jacobson.[2][24] His wife died in May 1993.[24]

Jacobson was the chair of the United Way of Saint Paul, was a board member of the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, and a supporter of the Boy Scouts and Habitat for Humanity.[2][25] In the 1960s, the was a director of the Bucks County Development Corporation and the Lower Bucks County Hospital.[10] In November 1989, he became the national chairman of the U.S. Savings Bonds Volunteer Committee.[26] He was a Presbyterian.[12]

In his retirement, Jacobson lived in Naples, Florida.[12][6] Jacobson died on November 1, 2012 in Naples at the age of 86.[12][2][27]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Allen F. Jacobson | Great American Business Leaders of the 20th Century". Harvard Business School. Retrieved 2025-03-07.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Allen F. Jacobson - Obituary & Service Information". Washburn-McReavy. Retrieved 2025-03-07.
  3. ^ a b c "Fortune Puts Jacobson on Cover". Omaha World-Herald. 1988-04-03. p. 109. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Horan, Judy (2007-04-01). "A Calling: The Rise of A. F. Jacobson". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 231. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Nebraska Death: A. F. Jacobson". The Grand Island Independent. 1990-02-09. p. 11. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "The Innovative Leader Beind 3M's Successes". The Des Moines Register. 1991-03-24. pp. G1, G2. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c d Gunning Jr., Thomas J. (1986-02-11). "3M Names Ex-Omahan to Top Post". Omaha World-Herald. p. 19. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b Neary, Chris (November 5, 2012). "Allen Jacobson, 2011 Iowa State distinguished alumnus, dies | College of Engineering". Iowa State University. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  9. ^ "Business Leaders". Tau Beta Pi. Archived from the original on 2017-07-28. Retrieved 2025-03-06 – via web.archive.org.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "Two are Promoted by 3M Company". Bucks County Times. Levittown, Pennsylvania. 1963-02-16. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b "Mgr. Named at 3M Plant". Bucks County Times. Levittown, Pennsylvania. 1961-02-13. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h Welbes, John (2012-11-01). "Allen Jacobson, former 3M Co. CEO, dies at 86". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Retrieved 2025-03-07.
  13. ^ a b c Gilpin, Kenneth (5 November 1984). "Business People; 3M Fills Top Post at Major Division". The New York Times.
  14. ^ a b c d "Mr. Allen F. Jacobson". National Academy of Engineering. Retrieved 2025-03-07.
  15. ^ "Visiting Executive for Business School". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 1977-03-27. p. 29. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Allen F. Jacobson Is New 3M Chairman". The Washington Post. February 10, 1986. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  17. ^ Greenhouse, Steven (12 October 1986). "An Innovator Gets Down to Business". The New York Times.
  18. ^ "Business Milestones". Winston-Salem Journal. 1990-05-07. p. 38. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Beeder, David C. (1991-02-14). "Mrs. Karnes Schools Panel Start Meetings". Omaha World-Herald. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Two Appointed Directors of Prudential". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. 1992-04-14. p. 37. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Valmont Doesn't Just Manufacture Irrigation Stuff". Omaha World-Herald. 1999-04-27. p. 17. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Allen F. Jacobson Endowed Scholarship". Fastweb. Retrieved 2025-03-07.
  23. ^ "Ramsey County Marriage License Applications". The Minneapolis Star. 1964-04-09. p. 47. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ a b c "Barbara Jacobson, Member of Many Boards". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1993-05-17. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Ryall, Gale (1999-01-29). "Contributors Honored by Habitat for Humanity". The Naples Daily News. p. 19. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "People, Et Cetera". The Atlanta Journal. 1989-11-24. p. 30. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Allen Jacobson". The Naples Daily News. 2012-11-03. p. 29. Retrieved 2025-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.