Lawrence W. WARD

1927 - 2014

WARD

Lawrence W. Ward died on June 1, 2014 from ongoing complications related to congestive heart failure. He was 86. A resident of Cincinnati for 57 years, Mr. Ward spent his entire business career as an executive with The Palm Beach Company, a leading men's tailored apparel manufacturer. He oversaw all manufacturing at Palm Beach, which was owned and managed by the Ward family for many years until the company became a publicly-traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. He also served as the apparel industry's principal labor negotiator with its union, the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. He was highly respected by both management and labor for his fair dealings in negotiating labor contracts. He retired from Palm Beach in 1993. Born July 15, 1927 in Boston, Massachusetts to Elmer L. and Alice G. Ward, he was the second of their four sons. Mr. Ward graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover in 1945 where he participated in varsity football, ice hockey, and track. Upon graduation, Mr. Ward enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served through the conclusion of World War II. Following his discharge from the Marine Corps in 1946 he enrolled at Harvard College under the GI Bill and graduated in three years with a concentration in government. At Harvard Mr. Ward continued to participate in varsity athletics including ice hockey. He scored the only goal in Harvard's 1-0 victory over arch rival Yale at the Boston Arena in 1948. Following graduation from Harvard he enrolled in the Graduate Business School at the University of Michigan but was recalled into the Marine Corps during the Korean War prior to receiving his degree. In his second tour of duty with the Marines he served as an officer. A life-long and skilled competitive golfer, Mr. Ward won titles at Camargo Club in Cincinnati, Ohio and Webhannet Golf Club in Kennebunk Beach, Maine where he played golf for 75 years. He was also a member of the United States Seniors Golf Association. Mr. Ward supported youth athletics and in 1962 founded the Cincinnati youth ice hockey program with a dozen players who met at 7am every Saturday at the Cincinnati Gardens during the season. He also coached Knothole youth baseball in Cincinnati for many years. Mr. Ward is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-three years, the former Edith Ann Skillings and their three children, Eileen W. Barrett and Kevin K. Ward of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lawrence W. Ward, Jr. of Irvine, California as well as nine grandchildren. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 552 Main Street, Milford OH at 10 am on Monday June 9, 2014. The burial service following the Mass will be private. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to The Charles M. Barrett Cancer Center, 234 Goodman Street, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0757. Condolences may be expressed at www.GilliganFuneralHomes.com

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