Henry Becton

Henry P. Becton
Born	Template:Birth date Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	October 25, 2009(2009-10-25) (aged 95) Blue Hill, Maine, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Business leader, philanthropist
Known for	Chairman of Becton Dickinson and Company

Henry "Hank" Prentiss Becton (September 15, 1914 – October 25, 2009) was a prominent American business leader and philanthropist, known for his role as chairman of Becton Dickinson and Company.

In recognition of his contributions, the Henry P. Becton School of Nursing & Allied Health at Fairleigh Dickinson University and the Becton Center for Engineering and Applied Science at Yale University carry his name.

Early life

Born on September 15, 1914, in Rutherford, New Jersey, Becton was the son of Valerie and industrial pioneer Maxwell Becton. He began his education at Rutherford High School before transferring to Connecticut’s Taft School. He completed his studies at Yale University in 1937, where he was affiliated with St. Anthony Hall, the Aurelian Society, and Tau Beta Phi.

During his time at Yale, Becton was actively involved in the Yale Glee Club, participating in European tours, and performed as a member of the renowned singing group The Whiffenpoofs. In 1936, he penned lyrics for Yale’s football anthem and contributed musical compositions to the Yale Songbook.

Career

Becton started his career in 1937 at Becton, Dickinson and Company, the medical device enterprise co-founded by his father in 1897. Initially working as a traveling salesman across the Midwest, he transitioned to an office position by 1939 and advanced to assistant treasurer by 1944. Subsequently, he joined the company’s board of directors and took on responsibilities as company secretary.

After Maxwell Becton's retirement in 1948, Henry Becton ascended to executive vice president. He chaired the board's executive committee from 1961 until February 1987. His tenure as chairman began in May 1972; although he briefly assumed the vice chairman role later that year, he returned to chairmanship in 1977. Under his guidance, the company went public, earned placement on the Dow Jones Sustainability and World Indexes, and achieved status as a Fortune 500 firm. The organization expanded significantly during his leadership, with revenues increasing from $2.5 million and a workforce of 600 employees to $7 billion and 29,000 staff members. He stepped down as chairman in 1980 but continued as vice chairman until February 1987 before becoming director emeritus.

Outside his primary business endeavors, Becton served as director and vice chairman of National Community Bank (now part of Bank of New York Mellon) from 1947 until 1993. He also held directorships within the Bergen County and New Jersey Chambers of Commerce, where he chaired the aviation committee.

Honors

The Henry P. Becton School of Nursing & Allied Health at Fairleigh Dickinson University and the Henry P. Becton Regional High School located in East Rutherford, New Jersey were named to honor him. In 1974, Yale University awarded him the prestigious Yale Medal. Additionally, Yale’s Becton Center for Engineering and Applied Science bears his name, and its Engineering and Applied Science Department bestows the Henry Prentiss Becton Prize in recognition of his legacy.

Personal life

On June 16, 1942, Becton wed Jean Sprague Coggan; they resided in Rutherford. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II, serving as a technical sergeant and leading the combat intelligence section at the 8th Air Force Fighter Wing Headquarters in England.

The couple had five children: Henry, Jean, Jeffery, Cynthia, and Elizabeth. Their family spent summers in Blue Hill, Maine, where Becton pursued sailing and held the position of Commodore at the Kollegewidgwok Yacht Club. Following retirement, they continued summering in Maine while maintaining residences in Naples and Vero Beach, Florida.

Becton's hobbies included singing, sailing, and piloting aircraft. He was a director at Hackensack Golf Club and served on Rutherford’s borough council. His civic involvement extended to serving as president of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, being a founding commissioner for the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority, and helping establish the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Furthermore, he chaired the Standing Committee for Clinical Thermometers at the U.S. Bureau of Standards.

From 1948 through 1994, Becton acted as vice chair and trustee of Fairleigh Dickinson University. After a fire destroyed East Rutherford’s high school building, he donated land for its reconstruction; this new facility was named the Henry P. Becton Regional High School. He was also instrumental as a founding director of Bergen County’s Community Chest (now United Way) and contributed significantly to Yale's Becton Center for Engineering and Applied Science—whose architectural design incorporates elements symbolizing his fraternity affiliation with St. Anthony Hall.

Becton passed away on October 25, 2009, due to congestive heart failure in Blue Hill, Maine at age 95.