Management Hall of Fame: Leading Management Gurus

Theodore Newton Vail
AT&T - A Telecom Giant - (1845-1921)

"I succeeded ..by never being unwilling, when young, to do another man's work, and then, when older, by never doing anything somebody else could do better for me." (Theodore N. Vail)

Key Work

• Worked for the U.S. government reforming the postal delivery system.
• Joined Bell Telephone Co.
• Secured control of Western Electric Co.
• Sees The opportunity in new technology. Incorporate of American Telephone & Telegraph Company.
• Resigns as president of AT&T
• Recalled as president of AT&T.
• Buys control of Western Union Telegraph Company
• Forced by Justice Department to dispose of Western Union stock.
• AT& T is still a US Telecom Giant

Books & References:

• The telephone book : Bell, Watson, Vail and American life, 1876-1976 / H. M. Boettinger ; special photography by Richard A. Steinberg ; design by Ray Ripper , 1876-1976. Newmarket, Ontario: Riverwood Publishers, 1977.
• Paine, Albert Bigelow. In One Man's Life: Being Chapters From The Personal And Business Career Of Theodore N. Vail . London: Harper & Brothers, 1921.

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