Elbert Gary: A Stern County Judge with a Soft Heart for Workers

Elbert Gary is an American industrialist and lawyer. He was born in 1846 in Wheaton, Illinois. He became a popular lawyer and his popularity led him to become a mayor of Wheaton. He was also a two-term county judge and became known as Judge Gary.

Gary was instrumental in the founding of the American Steel and Wire Company. In 1898, JP Morgan appointed Gary to form the Federal Steel Company. He also organized the US Steel Corporation in 1901, where he served as chairman of the board. He held the position until his death in 1927.

As the chairman of US Steel, Garry possessed a dominant personality. He was hands-on with the company’s physical expansions. He pioneered the implementation of management cooperation policy. He held what were called “Gary dinners” where he discussed policies and informal agreements.

The US government tried to dissolve the monopoly of Gary’s company but the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Gary in 1919. Gary believed that employees deserved high pays and were entitled to benefits that promote their welfare and safety. Gary also introduced employee stock ownership.