Jon Huntsman Sr. is the founder of Huntsman Chemical Corporation, the largest manufacturer of polystyrene in the United States. Huntsman plastics are used in a wide variety of familiar objects, including burger containers. Huntsman’s philanthropic giving reached $1.2 billion and focus on the areas of cancer research. He signed the Giving Pledge, a campaign led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, to encourage the wealthiest people to make a commitment to give most of their wealth to philanthropic causes.

Jon Huntsman Sr.

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For Huntsman's son, former governor, ambassador and 2012 Republican presidential candidate, see Jon Huntsman Jr.

Jon M. Huntsman, Sr.
Jon Huntsman 2004, at Chemical Heritage Foundation
Born	Jon Meade Huntsman June 21, 1937 (age 80) Blackfoot, Idaho, U.S.
Residence	Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Alma mater	Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (BS) University of Southern CaliforniaMarshall School of Business(MBA), 13 honorary doctorate degrees
Occupation	Founder & Chairman, Huntsman Corporation
Net worth	US$3.0 billion (1998)[1]
Spouse(s)	Karen Haight
Children	9
Relatives	Jon (son), Peter (son), Christina (daughter), Kathleen (daughter), David (son), Paul (son), James (son), Jennifer (daughter), Mark (son)
Awards	Othmer Gold Medal (2004), Bower Award from the Franklin Institute (2015), Armenia's Medal of Honor (1999), Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Award (2015)

Jon Meade Huntsman Sr. (born June 21, 1937) is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder and executive chairman of Huntsman Corporation, a global manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals. Huntsman plastics are used in a wide variety of familiar objects, including (formerly) McDonald's clamshell burger containers.^[2] Huntsman Corporation also manufactures a wide variety of organic and inorganic chemicals that include polyurethanes, textiles, and pigments.^[3] Huntsman's philanthropic giving exceeds $1.5 billion, focusing on areas of cancer research, programs at various universities, and aid to Armenia.

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1Early life and education
• 2Business career
  • 2.1Dolco Packaging Corporation
  • 2.2Huntsman Container Corporation
  • 2.3Huntsman Chemical Company - Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN)
  • 2.4Huntsman Gay Global Capital
• 3Scientific awards and honors
• 4Personal life
• 5Religion
• 6Politics
  • 6.1Nixon administration
  • 6.2Presidential elections
  • 6.31988 Utah gubernatorial election
  • 6.42012 Republican presidential nomination
• 7Philanthropy
  • 7.1Cancer research
  • 7.2Education
  • 7.3Aid to Armenia
• 8Awards
• 9Controversy
• 10References
• 11External links

Early life and education[edit]

Jon Meade Huntsman was born in Blackfoot, Idaho. His mother, Sarah Kathleen (née Robison), was a homemaker, and his father, Alonzo Blaine Huntsman, was an educator.^[4] In 1950 the family moved to Palo Alto, California, where Alonzo pursued graduate studies at Stanford University, earning an M.A. and Ed.D. He then became a superintendent of schools in the Los Altos, California district.

Jon Huntsman attended Palo Alto High School, where he became student body president. He was recruited by Harold Zellerbach, chairman of Crown-Zellerbach Paper Company, to attend the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania on a Zellerbach scholarship.^[5] He graduated from Wharton in the spring of 1959, a brother of the Sigma Chi fraternity.^[6]

Huntsman married Karen Haight, daughter of David B. Haight, in June 1959. Both are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS Church. In July 1959, Huntsman left to serve for two years in the U.S. Navy as a U.S. Naval Gunnery Officer. He subsequently earned an MBA from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business.