Great Living Cincinnatians: Honorees

Edward G. Harness joined the Procter & Gamble Company following his graduation from Marietta (Ohio) College in 1940. He began his career in the company’s advertising department. His career was interrupted by a military leave of absence from 1942 to 1946, during which time he attained the rank of Major in the United States Air Force. In the executive ranks, he rose in Procter & Gamble from vice president of the paper products division in 1963 to president in 1971, and chairman of the board and C.E.O. in 1974. Harness stepped down as C.E.O. in 1981 to become chairman of the executive committee. Under Harness’ leadership, Procter & Gamble’s sales doubled and it became the world’s largest manufacturer of consumer products.

He served into the 1980s as chairman of the executive committee of the company’s board of trustees, as well as director of the Caterpillar Tractor Company and the Exxon Corporation.

He served as chairman of the board of trustees for Marietta College, as a trustee of the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges and the Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts. He was also a member of the Industries Advisory Committee of the Advertising Council Inc., the Cincinnati Council on World Affairs and the Cincinnati Historical Society.

Harness served as a trustee of the American Fund for Dental Education, the Children’s Home of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati area chapter of the American National Red Cross and the Cincinnati area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Harness died November 1, 1984.