Eastman Kodak Co. broke its tradition oftechnically trained presidents last week, switched instead to a lawyer:young (49), handsome, Nebraska-born Thomas Jean Hargrave. As vicepresident and general counsel, Lawyer Hargrave has been known as ashrewd, steady, retiring executive who got along equally well withobscure employes and socialite friends. Rochester guessed two reasonsfor his promotion: 1) Eastman’s new policy of pushing younger men tothe top; 2) a decision by Eastman directors that — in times when warand Government were big factors in corporate affairs — a lawyer woulddo better than a technical or production man.
Hargrave’s election was Eastman’s second big personnel change in sevenyears.
In 1934 Frank William Lovejoy (who started as superintendent of the filmdepartment in 1897) was elected president; William G. Stuber ( hiredas a film emulsion expert in 1894) shifted from presidency tochairmanship of the board. Last week Lovejoy, 69, moved on to the boardchairmanship; for Stuber, 77, the directors created the new post ofhonorary chairman.