Biography
The son of Harvey Firestone and Idabelle Smith Firestone, he was educated at The Hill School, and graduated from Princeton University in 1931, where he was active in golf and polo. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, and later attendee at Bohemian Grove.
He was employed on graduation by the family company in sales positions by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, founded by his father in Akron, Ohio. In 1935, he was appointed sales manager and in 1939 became a director of Firestone. He was named president of Firestone Aviation Products Co. in 1941.
He was commissioned in the United States Navy as a lieutenant, but was assigned to inactive status to become president of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. of California in 1943. In 1966 he was the target of an abortive multi-million dollar kidnap plan. He retired as president of Firestone's California operations in 1970.
Read more about this topic: Leonard Firestone
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