William
G. McGowan (1927-1992), an American entrepreneur with a pioneering
spirit was the motivating force behind the success and innovation of
MCI. Born in the small coal mining and railroad town of Ashley,
Pennsylvania, he grew up as one of five children in a family of
modest means. After serving in the U.S. Army, he attended Kings
College in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania where he received his B.S. in
Chemical Engineering, and then received an MBA from Harvard
University, where he was a Baker Scholar for academic excellence.
McGowan joined MCI in 1968 and immediately pushed for the company to
go nationwide with microwave telecommunications services at low
prices. To do so, he took on the AT&T monopoly, mainly through a
series of regulatory and legal battles. Successful antitrust
litigation against AT&T transformed the previously regulated
telecommunications industry into a business open to competition. MCI
adapted to industry changes to become one of the largest providers of
telecommunications services in the world. McGowan was known as the
face of MCI and as the man who took on Ma Bell and won.
In
1986, Mr. McGowan suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with
end-stage heart failure. He received a heart transplant in April of
1987, and returned to his duties as CEO after six months. He
remained with MCI until his death on June 8, 1992 from another heart
attack.
Mr.
McGowan’s interests stretched well beyond the confines of business.
He believed that every child had the potential to achieve if
provided opportunities. Recognizing the importance of education in
reaching one’s potential, he supported efforts to find ways in
which to advance low-income children and youth. Through his own
experience during his illness, he saw the potential to improve
patients’ quality of life through innovative medical research.
Following
his death in 1992, the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund was
established to provide financial support to organizations that
reflected the visions, concerns, and life experiences of its’
benefactor and today continues to preserve the legacy and advance the
mission of Mr. McGowan.
|
|
