William T. Cruse
PLASTICS (SPI)
Inducted 1973
William T. Cruse (1871 – 1959) graduated from the Wharton School before going to the Celluloid Corporation, eventually becoming sales director for cellulose acetate in 1936. While at the Celluloid Corporation, Cruse continued studying organic chemistry at New York University and mechanical engineering at Columbia to build his technical background and facilitate his professional activities in the field. Cruse eventually left the Celluloid Corporation for an editor position in Modern Plastics magazine in 1940. While working for Modern Plastics, Cruse impressed the Society of the Plastics Industry (now PLASTICS) board so much that the board requested that Modern Plastics release him so Cruse could fill the SPI’s executive secretary vacancy.
For more than 30 years, William T. Cruse was a spokesman for the industry as Executive Vice President of the Society of the Plastics Industry, largely responsible for its steady growth and vitality. Cruse was instrumental in resolving the baseless “garment bag” scare — probably the industry’s first public-relations issue — through a consumer education program.
Areas of Expertise:
Plastics management, Plastic materials