Chemical group lauds Huntsman

Jon M. Huntsman, founder and chairman of the Salt Lake-based Huntsman Corp., will receive the 2004 Othmer Gold Medal in June from the Chemical Heritage Foundation.

"With imagination, daring and determination, he has built a $9.5 billion global business," said Arnold Thackray, foundation president. "As a citizen and statesman, he has served several U.S. presidents; as a philanthropist he has funded cancer research and higher education; and he has been personally involved in famine and disaster relief both in the United States and around the world. He truly embodies the multifaceted spirit recognized by the Othmer Gold Medal and lends further luminosity to its distinguished list of recipients."

Huntsman built his corporation and has served as a director of the American Chemistry Council and founding director of the American Plastics Council. He established several institutions, including the Huntsman Cancer Institute, the Huntsman Award for Excellence in Education and the Huntsman World Senior Games.

In 1970, President Richard Nixon appointed him to serve in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and from 1971 to 1972 he served as special assistant and staff secretary to Nixon. He was Utah's Republican Party national committeeman from 1976 to 1980, and in 1977 he was chairman of the Western States Republican Leaders.

He served as vice chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is the current chairman of the Board of Overseers of the Wharton School of Finance and vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania.

Huntsman established the Huntsman Cancer Foundation in 1995 with a pledge of $151 million, $100 million of which came directly from the Huntsman family to fund the Huntsman Cancer Institute. In April 2000 Huntsman gave an additional $125 million toward the building of a new cancer hospital.

The Othmer Gold Medal honors people who have made multifaceted contributions to chemical and scientific heritage through outstanding activity in innovation, entrepreneurship, research, education, public understanding, legislation or philanthropy. It is presented annually and is co-sponsored by the foundation and four affiliated organizations.