Robert P. Jensen

1925 - 2015

Robert P. Jensen

December 29, 1925 - October 8, 2015

Bob Jensen, a U.S. Navy veteran, a professional football player and an accomplished business executive, passed away after a brief illness at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California. Robert Peter Jensen was born in Chicago, Illinois to Louis Jensen, a Danish immigrant, and Ellen Goede. He graduated first in his class from Lane Tech High School, where he captained the football team and was named All-Chicago in 1943. After graduation, with World War II in progress, he enlisted in the Navy's V-5 pilot officer program. He was offered academic and athletic scholarships at Northwestern University, where he lived briefly with football star Otto Graham. A naval transfer sent him to Iowa State University, from which he graduated in 1947 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Years later he also attended Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program. Upon graduation from college, Bob was drafted by the American Football League's Chicago Rockets and later recruited by legendary coach George Halas to play for the Chicago Bears. In an historic trade, he was later sent to the Baltimore Colts. The trade gave him an early lesson in contracts. Complaining to Coach Halas that he had a "no-cut" contract, Halas responded by saying "yes, but it was not a no-trade contract." Along the way his team mates included Hall of Fame players Y. A. Tittle and George Blanda. Bob had a remarkable business career spanning nearly 50 years. He started his early career as a draftsman for U.S. Steel. He fulfilled a promise he made to himself to become the CEO of a Fortune 500 company by age 40, when he became President and CEO of Howmet Corporation, an aluminum and diversified metals company. Later he became Chairman and CEO of three other Fortune 500 companies: GK Technologies, Flying Tiger Airlines and Jostens, Inc. Alan Greenspan and former President Gerald Ford served on the Board of GK Technologies while he was Chairman. He served on numerous other corporate and philanthropic boards, including Conoco, Inc., Bank of New York, Warnaco, Inc., The Aerospace Corporation, The Singer Company, Surgical Eye Expeditions and the U.C.S.B Foundation. His experiences during the Great Depression melded with a love of business that honed his conservative political views. He told people if they really wanted to understand his views, they should read Barry Goldwater's "Conscience of a Conservative." Bob owned a number of boats and enjoyed sailing out of San Francisco and Santa Barbara, California. Throughout his life he emphasized the importance of an education, noting "it's something that can't ever be taken away from you". He is survived by his wife Barbara, his two sons Erik (Elizabeth) and Curtis, as well as grandsons Robert and Lewis. He is also survived by his cousin Steen Kreutzfeldt-Jensen of Denmark. Bob was pre-deceased by his younger brother Nels. Donations in Bob's memory may be made to The American Cancer Society. A private family memorial will be held at sea off the Santa Barbara coast.