Great Living Cincinnatians: Honorees

T. Spencer Shore was born in Chillicothe, Missouri in 1903. He received two degrees from the University of Missouri, and attended the Harvard Business School.

In 1931 Shore became assistant treasurer of the General Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio. He went on to become vice president-treasurer, director and member of the executive committee. During this time he was elected to the boards of directors of the Standard Steel Spring Co., Corapolis, Pennsylvania, and the Eagle-Picher Co. In 1949, he was elected president of the Eagle-Picher Co., now Eagle-Picher Industries. In 1967 he was elected chairman of the board, and in 1968, chairman of the Executive Committee.

Shore’s successful plan for diversification of the company changed Eagle-Picher from a primarily lead and zinc commodity supplier to a “manufacturer’s manufacturer”, which boasted a line of more than 4,000 products. He served on the boards of directors of Armco Inc, Central Bancorporation, the Central Trust Co., the Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co., Cincinnati Reds Inc., Federated Department Stores Inc., the Kroger Co., and Cluett, Peabody & Co.

He always regarded participation in civic activities as a necessary involvement in Cincinnati’s quality of life. In 1953, Shore was co-chairman of the Fine Arts Fund, and in 1956, chairman of the United Appeals Campaign. He served as a member of the boards of trustees of the University of Cincinnati amd the Children’s Home.

Shore often stated his belief in the responsibility of corporate officers to work for good government, whether or not their political persuasions coincide with his. He served for several years as chairman of the Ohio Republican Finance Committee and is a life member of that organization.

Mr. Shore died on June 1, 1987 at 83.