Business school namesake dies at 95


By
 in ,

USC Trustee and namesake of the Marshall School of Business Gordon S. Marshall died on Tuesday at the age of 95.

A World War II veteran, Marshall graduated from USC with an accounting degree in 1946 before starting Marshall Industries, an electronic distribution company, in 1953. Marshall Industries grew into a $3 billion company and one of the top five largest distributors of industrial electronic components in the United States.

In a video released by USC to celebrate Marshall’s 94th birthday in November 2013, Marshall said that no matter what venture he took on, he always gave everything he had.

“In my opinion, when you decide what you’re going to do, whatever that happens to be, try to be the best at it,” Marshall said.

Though a successful entrepreneur, Marshall used his newfound wealth for charitable work, both within the university and in the outside community. He was named one of the top 10 philanthropists in the United States by Slate magazine in 1996.

The same year, Marshall broke records with a $35 million donation to the USC Marshall School of Business. The gift was both the largest donation ever made to an American business school and the second largest donation in USC history.

Over the years, Marshall gave back in various ways to the USC community. In 1968, he was elected to the Board of Trustees, and in 2005 he earned the Asa V. Call Alumni Achievement Award, the most prestigious award offered by the Alumni Association.

Marshall Dean James Ellis spoke to the Daily Trojan at the School’s celebration of Marshall’s 94th  birthday and said that Marshall set a positive example for all business students.

“He was an entrepreneur, was a philanthropist, he has very high values and standards and is the perfect guy to have the school named in his honor. His life was lived the way we would love our students to live it,” Ellis said. “He is a wonderful visionary, leader, clear thinker and truly has been a mentor to me and the many others.”

Marshall is survived by his six children, 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

USC will hold an on-campus service to honor Marshall’s life in the fall.