Amo Houghton
Amory Houghton Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 August 1926 Corning, New York, U.S. |
| Died | 4 March 2020 (aged 93) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, politician |
| Years active | 1951–2005 |
| Known for | U.S. Representative from New York; Chairman and CEO of Corning Glass Works |
Amory Houghton Jr. (August 7, 1926 – March 4, 2020) was a Republican politician from New York who served in the United States House of Representatives. He belonged to the notable Houghton family, well-known for their influence in business and politics throughout upstate New York.
Early life
Houghton was born in Corning, New York, the son of Amory Houghton and Laura DeKay Richardson, and the grandson of Alanson B. Houghton. He completed his secondary education at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, graduating in 1945. Later in life, he contributed to the school as a member of its board of trustees.
Military service
During World War II, Houghton enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1944. His assignments included service aboard the USS Macon as well as at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, where he took part in operations connected to the Battle of the Caribbean. He achieved the rank of private first class before his discharge in 1946.
Business career
Houghton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1950, followed by a Master of Business Administration from Harvard in 1952.
He devoted his professional life to Corning Glass Works (now known as Corning Incorporated), a company established by his great-great-grandfather Amory Houghton in 1851. Beginning his tenure there in 1951, he worked in various capacities including accountant, process engineer, manufacturing foreman, and sales manager. He joined Corning’s board of directors in 1955, advanced to vice president by 1957, became president in 1961, and held the roles of chairman and CEO from 1964 until 1983.
In addition to his leadership at Corning, Houghton served on the boards of several major corporations such as IBM, First National City Bank (which later became Citigroup), Procter & Gamble, Genentech, and B. F. Goodrich.
U.S. Congress
Houghton was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a member of the Republican Party in 1986. At that time, he was considered one of the wealthiest representatives, with an estimated net worth around $475 million.
Voting record
Known for his moderate stance, Houghton founded the Republican Main Street Partnership, which aimed to encourage centrist policies within the Republican Party. He frequently served as an intermediary between Democrats and Republicans on significant legislative matters and championed bipartisan cooperation. While typically aligning with Republican fiscal policies, he often voted with Democrats on issues related to environmental conservation, civil rights legislation, and funding for cultural and educational programs.
Committee memberships
His committee assignments included membership on both the International Relations Committee and the Ways and Means Committee.
Issues
In 1998, Houghton was among four Republicans who voted against every article of impeachment brought against President Clinton.
In 2001, he was one of only three Republicans opposing the permanent repeal of the estate tax.
On October 10, 2002, he stood with five other House Republicans against the resolution that authorized military action leading to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Houghton also opposed an early version of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 but ultimately supported its final passage.
Reputation
Amos Houghton held a distinguished and influential role within the political landscape of Upstate New York, consistently securing re-election with margins exceeding 65 percent. Despite his alignment with the Republican Party, he sometimes found himself at odds with its growing Southern influence and socially conservative stance, standing out as one of the few outspoken pro-choice Republicans in the legislative body.
Later life and death
On April 7, 2004, Houghton declared that he would not pursue a tenth term in Congress. His tenure concluded on January 3, 2005, when John R. "Randy" Kuhl succeeded him. He was actively involved in the ReFormers Caucus under Issue One and took a public stance against President Donald Trump during both the 2016 and 2018 election cycles, endorsing initiatives aimed at his removal from office.
Corning Inc. announced on March 5, 2020, that Houghton had passed away the day prior at the age of 93.
Personal life
In 1950, Houghton wed Ruth Frances West from Waccabuc, New York. Together they had four children: Amory, Robert, Sarah, and Quincy. Following their divorce in 1988, he remarried in 1989 to Priscilla B. Dewey (1924–2012).
As a devoted Christian, Amos was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church located in Corning, New York, where he contributed as a Sunday School teacher during the 1950s. Additionally, he served as a trustee for Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which later became part of Episcopal Divinity School.
See also
External links
- Joyce K. Mcintyre, Harvard Crimson, New York State of Mind: After Running Family Business, Amory Houghton Serves as Renegade U.S. Representative, June 5, 2000
- Jeffrey Smith, The Evening Tribune (Hornell, N.Y.), Wife of Former Congressman Amo Houghton Dies, July 10, 2012