Walter H. Wheeler Jr.

Wheeler was born in New York in 1897.[3] In 1918, at the age of 19, he earned the Croix de Guerre with the U.S. Ambulance Corps in Paris.[1] A year later, he received the Navy Cross for service as a submarine chaser.[1] At Harvard University, he led the football team as captain.[1] During WWII, he worked in various roles with the War Production Board.[1]

Wheeler joined Pitney-Bowes in 1919 and served as its president from 1938 to 1960.[1] He later became chairman, a role he held until his retirement in 1973.[1] Under his tenure, the company achieved revenues of $384.9 million by 1973.[1] He oversaw the introduction of the first mass-market postage meter, and developments in mail processing equipment adopted by the United States Postal Service.[3] He also held positions as honorary chairman and director emeritus.[1]

As a sailor, Wheeler navigated his yawl, Cotton Blossom IV, across the Atlantic.[1] He held memberships in several organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.[1]