Walter A. Haas Sr. (May 11, 1889 – December 7, 1979) was an American billionaire businessman who was the president and CEO (1928–1955) and chairman (1955–1970) of Levi Strauss & Co.
Early life and education Haas was born to a Jewish family, one of four children of Abraham Haas and Fanny Koshland.Jewish Museum of the American West: "Abraham Haas: Purveyer of Food Stuffs, Wholesale & Retail, Part 1, Los Angeles" retrieved April 21, 2014 His father was an immigrant from Bavaria who was a founder of Hellman, Haas & Co. (later Haas, Baruch & Co., which ultimately merged with Smart & Final). His mother was a daughter of Simon Koshland, one of the most successful wool merchants in San Francisco.Jewish Museum of the American West: "Abraham Haas: Purveyer of Food Stuffs, Wholesale & Retail, Part 2, Los Angeles" retrieved April 21, 2014 His siblings were Charles Haas (1888-?), Ruth Haas Lilienthal (1891-1975, m. Philip N. Lilienthal Jr.), and Eleanor Haas Koshland (1900-1959, m. Daniel E. Koshland Sr.).The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life: "Berkeley Haas (Abraham) correspondence, 1885–1886" | The Bancroft Library | University of California | retrieved April 21, 2014
In 1910, Haas graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a member of the Order of the Golden Bear.University of California Berkeley website: About Walter Haas retrieved March 27, 2013
Haas served in the U.S. Army Field Artillery during World War I.
Levi Strauss career Upon his return to the United States in 1919, he worked at the Levi Strauss & Company, then a small dry goods wholesaler and maker of work clothing, owned by the family of his wife. In 1928, he became president and was in that position until 1955; thereafter, he was chairman until 1970 and remained active in company affairs until his death in 1979. Haas' tenure and dedication at Levi Strauss – along with that of his business partner and brother-in-law Daniel E. Koshland Sr.JWeekly: "Daniel Koshland, biologist and philanthropist, dies at 87" by joe eskenazi July 27, 2007 – is widely credited with "saving" the company, leading it through the Great Depression, racial integration at its factories, the global popularization of the Levi brand, and the creation of the Levi Strauss Foundation.Butler Koshland Fellowships: "Daniel E. Koshland Sr. 1892–1979" retrieved march 27, 2013
Politics and philanthropy A Republican, he was an alternate delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention. He was president of the San Francisco Jewish Welfare Federation.
Personal life In 1914, Walter Haas married Elise Stern, the daughter of Sigmund Stern, who was a son of David Stern, who was the husband of Fanny Stern (née Strauss), the sister of Levi StraussRegional Oral History Office University of California – The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California – California Jewish Community Series: "Elise Stern Haas – The Appreciation of Quality An Interview Conducted by Harriet Nathan in 1972 (Strauss died unmarried and without children and deeded his company to his nephews, the four surviving sons of David Stern: Jacob, Sigmund, Louis and Abraham).JWeekly: "Levi’s exec Walter A. Haas Jr. recalled for generosity" by Natalie Weinstein September 29, 1995 Walter and Elise Haas had three children: Walter A. Haas Jr., Peter E. Haas Sr., and Rhoda Haas Goldman.San Francisco Gate: "The Haas Legacy / How one family's generosity and commitment to civic life are transforming the Bay Area" by Julian Guthrie July 1, 2007
In 1989, the University of California, Berkeley Regents voted to rename the business school the Haas School of Business in his honor, after a large gift from the Haas family.
References
Who's Who in America 1964