Edward G. Harness was born in 1918 in Ohio. Upon his graduation from Marietta College he began working for Procter & Gamble in 1940. Harness started his career working in the advertising department, but he served in the air force from 1942 until 1946, taking a military leave of absence. By the time he left the air force he had attained the rank of Major. Back at P&G Harness also rose through the ranks, becoming vice president of the paper products division in 1963, and then president in 1971. In 1974 Harness became chairman of the board and CEO, stepping down from the CEO position in 1981 to become the head of the executive committee. With Harness at the helm P&G doubled its sales, becoming the world’s largest producer of consumer products.
Harness was a trustee of the American Fund for Dental Education, the Cincinnati chapter of the American National Red Cross, the Cincinnati area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Children’s Home of Cincinnati.
Harness died on November 1, 1984/
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