SIGNIFICANT SIG LARRY PILON '70
"Sigma Chi Is A Great Brotherhood, Cherish It."
Commit to Excellence and Make the Most of Every Opportunity.
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Starting in high school, I was not a great student and my life goals were undefined. I applied to three colleges: MSU, UofM, and Notre Dame. Looking back, I couldn’t have chosen a better university than Michigan State.
I came from a blue collar family that was struggling. I wasn’t going to waste my time or their money in college. But, like many coming out of high school, I wasn’t sure which field to study. I was torn between business and law. But, I committed to myself that I would make the best of my college experience and take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. That included my joining the top fraternity on campus, Sigma Chi. |
Larry and Shelley Pilon
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I was invited into the Honors College and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in economics. Even after finishing near the top of my class, I still didn’t have my career path charted out.
Having enlisted in the Michigan Army National Guard, I served active duty for almost a year after college. After my active duty, I accepted a position in human resources at Ford Motor Company. To broaden my exposure and learn, I transferred to their finance department. Here I discovered my main interest was the human side of business. It was during this time that I completed my MBA degree at the University of Michigan.
Having enlisted in the Michigan Army National Guard, I served active duty for almost a year after college. After my active duty, I accepted a position in human resources at Ford Motor Company. To broaden my exposure and learn, I transferred to their finance department. Here I discovered my main interest was the human side of business. It was during this time that I completed my MBA degree at the University of Michigan.
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After seven years at Ford I was recruited by National Steel Corporation and moved to Pittsburgh where I would work at several of their operating locations, including a return to Michigan at Great Lakes Steel. I ended up as Chief HR Officer for the parent company, National Intergroup, Inc. Our mission was the diversification of National Steel Corporation.
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I ended up moving to their largest subsidiary, FoxMeyer Corporation in Dallas, TX, one of the top drug wholesaler-distributors in the United States. I was their Chief Administrative Officer responsible for all the corporate functions, including HR, Legal, Public Affairs, and Finance. Whitman Corporation in Chicago, then pulled me away to become their Chief Administrative Officer
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Whitman was also a large world-wide conglomerate. The largest company they owned was Pepsi Cola General Bottlers. I spent a lot of my time on the Pepsi business, and would travel extensively abroad.
After that I became Chief HR Officer at Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, MI. My final career stop was head of HR at W.W. Grainger, Inc. headquartered just north of Chicago. They are a global distributor of industrial products, and that’s where I retired 11 years ago.
My life and career has been rich and diverse. I have travelled all over world, met some incredible people, and made lifelong friends along the way. Leading HR for many of our country’s largest companies, I learned the importance of attracting and developing talented people, treating people fairly, paying people well, and building strong organizations with great leaders.
I have been married to my wife Shelley almost 45 years, and I have two sons and two grandsons.
I look back to my years at Gamma Psi and the friendships made, of which I remain in contact with many today. Sigma Chi provided a balance of academics, social activities, athletics, and a lot of friendships. The whole experience at MSU and Sigma Chi set me up for life. I never had a master career plan. But, I learned early on to make the most of every opportunity that comes along, and to treat everyone with dignity and respect.
Sigma Chi is a great brotherhood. Cherish it.
Significant Sig Larry Pilon, 71
After that I became Chief HR Officer at Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, MI. My final career stop was head of HR at W.W. Grainger, Inc. headquartered just north of Chicago. They are a global distributor of industrial products, and that’s where I retired 11 years ago.
My life and career has been rich and diverse. I have travelled all over world, met some incredible people, and made lifelong friends along the way. Leading HR for many of our country’s largest companies, I learned the importance of attracting and developing talented people, treating people fairly, paying people well, and building strong organizations with great leaders.
I have been married to my wife Shelley almost 45 years, and I have two sons and two grandsons.
I look back to my years at Gamma Psi and the friendships made, of which I remain in contact with many today. Sigma Chi provided a balance of academics, social activities, athletics, and a lot of friendships. The whole experience at MSU and Sigma Chi set me up for life. I never had a master career plan. But, I learned early on to make the most of every opportunity that comes along, and to treat everyone with dignity and respect.
Sigma Chi is a great brotherhood. Cherish it.
Significant Sig Larry Pilon, 71
