Walter Paepcke
| Walter Paepcke | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 29, 1896 |
| Died | April 13, 1960 |
| Education | Latin School of Chicago |
| Occupation | Businessman, philanthropist |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Paepcke |
| Relatives | Paul Nitze (brother-in-law) |
Walter Paepcke (June 29, 1896 – April 13, 1960) was a U.S. industrialist and philanthropist prominent in the mid-20th century. A longtime executive of the Chicago-based Container Corporation of America, Paepcke is best noted for his founding of the Aspen Institute and the Aspen Skiing Company in the early 1950s, both of which helped transform the town of Aspen, Colorado into an international resort destination and popularize the sport of skiing in the United States.
Walter was born to Hermann, an immigrant from Mecklenburg, and Paula (Wagner) Paepcke, the daughter of German immigrants, in Chicago, Illinois. Hermann owned a lumber mill and box-making company, and young Paepcke grew up in an upper-middle class home. He was a 1913 graduate of the Latin School of Chicago. He then began working for his father, and eventually took over the company, the Chicago Mill & Lumber, Co. After his father's death in 1922, Paepcke began producing cardboard containers and paper.
After acquiring several other manufacturing and box companies, Paepcke formed the Container Corporation of America in 1926. The company was highly successful and made boxes for Procter & Gamble, Sears Roebuck, and General Electric, among others. CCA emphasized quality products and artistry, making their boxes stand out.
Paepcke's wife, Elizabeth Paepcke, was the sister of American diplomatic figure Paul Nitze.
In 1949 Paepcke made Aspen the site for a celebration of the 200th birthday of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Albert Schweitzer, Jose Ortega y Gasset, Thornton Wilder, and Artur Rubinstein all attended the celebration. The next year, Paepcke created what is now the Aspen Institute. Walter and Elizabeth founded the Aspen Music Festival and School in 1949, and Walter served as the festival's director until 1954 when he appointed baritone Mack Harrell to take over.
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