Arthur H. White

Arthur Henry White (March 30, 1924 – August 25, 2014) was an American businessman. He was a co-founder and vice chairman of Yankelovich Partners, Inc., a research and consulting firm, and founder of Jobs for the Future, a non-profit organization which analyzes and develops responses to current job education and training needs.

Education

After graduating from Boston Latin School in 1941, White attended Harvard University. He volunteered for the U.S.A.A.F. (United States Army Air Forces) at the beginning of his 4th semester of college. Three years later he returned to Harvard, graduating magna cum laude on June 5, 1947 with an A.B. in Government.

White then worked as a research scientist under Douglas McGregor and Mason Haire at the MIT Sloan School of Management. White found his calling in business, graduating with an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business in 1951.

Career

In 1964 he co-founded the marketing and research firm Yankelovich, Skelly, & White, along with Daniel Yankelovich and Florence Skelly, serving as Vice Chairman. White co-founded Reading Is Fundamental with Margaret McNamara in 1966.

From 1986 to 1992, White was president and CEO of WSY Consulting Group, a management consulting firm.

In 1994, he was appointed to the National Commission for Employment Policy, an independent agency which advises the President and Congress on national employment and training issues.

In December 1997, he was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the Federal Prison Industries Commission. White served as Chairman of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, and Chairman of the City of Stamford’s Planning Board.

White also served on the board of the Institute for Educational Leadership, WAVE, Inc., Community Services Society, and Volunteer Consulting Group.

Personal life

White married Vivien Karatz on June 19, 1949. They had one child, Joe White, born 1961.

On August 25, 2014, White died at the age of 90 after a stroke.