From Poverty to President: An Unlikely Success Story

January 15, 2020

Claude Heacock may not be a name many people recognize. But his influence and vision is still felt today at Caterpillar. So how did this Kansas native – who grew up in abject poverty and with no formal education – overcome huge obstacles to become company president in 1930, leading Caterpillar through some of its most historically-significant developments? 

Corporate Archivist Lee Fosburgh digs into history with Rusty Dunn to tell the untold story of B.C. “Claude” Heacock, a man – who as you will see in this video – more than lived up to his nickname as the “colorful accountant.”

 

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B.C. Heacock, East Peoria, Illinois office, ca. 1931.

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B.C. Heacock, Caterpillar Showroom, East Peoria, ca. 1939.

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10,000th Caterpillar diesel tractor, 1935.

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20,000th Caterpillar diesel tractor, 1936.

Poverty to President
B.C. Heacock, East Peoria, Illinois office, ca. 1931.
Poverty to President
10,000th Caterpillar diesel tractor, 1935.
20,000th Caterpillar diesel tractor, 1936.