OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22346, 18 February 1936, Page 11

OBITUARY

MR. ROY D. CHAPIN PROMINENT AMERICAN (Received February 17, 5.5 p.m.) DETROIT. Feb. 16 The death has occurred of Mr. Roy D. Chapiu, aged 56, who, for a time, was Mr. Hoover's Secretary of Commerce. The late Mr. Roy Dikeman Chapin, industrial magnate and statesman, was born at Lansing, Michigan. He studied at the university in that State and then embarked on a business career. In 1901 Mr. Chapin began his connection with the great autfOixiobil© industry of Detroit. From 1904 to 1906 ho was at the head of the sales department of the Oldsmobile motor works. He also organised the E. R. Thomas Company of Detroit and took charge of its financial and sales section. The undertaking was merged in tho ChalmersDetroit Motor Company and Mr. Chapin held a similar post in it. From 1910 to 1923 he was president of the Hudson Motor Company and then became chairman of its hoard. liTi addition he held directorships of many of the most important automobile, aviation and other industrial undertakings and served on the boards of the First National Bank and other financial concerns, thus acquiring a strong influence on the money market. During the war Mr. Chapin was a member of the Transport Committee of the Council of National Defence at Washington. Later he sat on a number of national commissions and committees. He was a member of the Transport Commission of tho International Chamber of Commerce and represented the United States at many conferences. When Mr. R. P. Lnmont resigned the post of Secretary of Commerce in President Hoover's' Cabinet in August, 1932, Mr. Chapin was appointed to succeed him.