Business World Lost Pioneers and Patriarchs

Below are some of the notable figures from the business world who died in 2012, including nimble chief executives and inspired entrepreneurs. Compiled by Stephen Miller.

John Sargent

Led Doubleday & Co. for two decades, helping create a selfstyled "communications conglomerate" with its own printing presses, broadcasting and film units and a major-league baseball team, the New York Mets. He retired in 1985; the following year, the Mets won the World Series, and Doubleday was sold to German publisher Bertelsmann AG. Died Feb. 5 at age 87.

Chaleo Yoovidhya

A rags-to-riches Thai billionaire who created Red Bull and spawned an industry of caffeine-laced, pick-me-up beverages. Unlike his hyperpowered drink, Mr. Chaleo was said to be shy and retiring. Died March 17 in his 80s.

Sanford McDonnell

CEO and later chairman who shepherded McDonnell Douglas Corp. through a slack period in commercial aviation through sales of the F-15 Eagle and F/ A-18 Hornet fighters. He also helped introduce the DC-10 and MD-80 jet airliners and led the company during the construction of Skylab. A devotee of things Scottish, he kept bagpipes in his office. Died March 19 at age 89.

Arnold Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller

Mr. Moller was patriarch of AP Møller-Mærsk, MAERSK-B.KO +4.04% the largest shipping line in the world, and the wealthiest and most influential business leader in Denmark. He became chairman of his family's privately-held shipping business in 1963 and expanded into container ships, supertankers, and port management. Died April 16 at age 98.

George Rathmann

Founding CEO of Amgen Inc., AMGN +1.13% the biotech giant. Mr. Rathmann started the company in 1980 to exploit the emerging technology of gene splicing. Its first hit was EPO (marketed as Epogen), a hormone that controls red-blood cell production. The company had sales of $15 billion in 2011. Died April 22 at age 84.

Frank Pearl

Leveraged-buyout pioneer whose Perseus LLC privateequity firm was involved in turnarounds at Converse and Frontier Airlines. He expanded into publishing with the Perseus Book Group, which became the largest independent book distributor in the U.S. and among the largest publishers of nonfiction. Died May 4 at age 68.

Frances Preston

Ms. Preston opened the Nashville office of Broadcast Music Inc., then became CEO of the performing-rights group that helps guarantee royalties to songwriters and music publishers. "They never paid royalties to the songwriters for performances—until Frances Preston came along," country star Eddy Arnold told The Wall Street Journal in 2004. Died June 13 at age 83.

Art Modell

Owner of the National Football League's Cleveland Browns and shaper of modern pro football for a half century. Mr. Modell was instrumental in the merger between the NFL and the upstart American Football League and in lucrative television deals. His feud with Cleveland over stadium financing led him to move his franchise to Baltimore, where it became the Ravens. Died Sept. 6 at age 87.

James Burke

As Johnson & Johnson CEO, Mr. Burke set a textbook example for how to best handle corporate crises with his handling of the 1982 case in which seven people in the Chicago area were killed by cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules. He ordered all Tylenol destroyed and relaunched the brand in tamper-resistant packaging. He went on to lead the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Died Oct. 28 at age 87

Marvin Miller
A onetime negotiator for unionized steelworkers, Mr. Miller became head of the Major League Baseball Players Association in 1966 and changed the sport by ushering in free agency and salary arbitration. Player salaries ballooned, and baseball entered a period of sustained expansion. Football, basketball and hockey players followed suit. But baseball's Hall of Fame voters spurned him. Died Nov. 27 at age 95.

Zig Ziglar

Pioneer of motivational speaking whose 1975 book "See You At the Top" became a best-seller. A disciple of Norman Vincent Peale and Dale Carnegie, Mr. Ziglar packed stadiums, addressed business meetings, and produced tapes. "People often say that motivation doesn't last," Mr. Ziglar liked to say. "Well, neither does bathing—that's why we recommend it daily." Died Nov. 28 at age 86.

Saul Steinberg

A corporate takeover artist who helped pioneer greenmail, in which a targeted company pays an investor a premium to repurchase its stock. His targets included Quaker State Oil Refining, Cris-Craft Industries and Chemical Bank. He lived sumptuously but lost much of his fortune in the fall of Reliance Insurance. His vast Park Avenue apartment and old masters paintings were sold. Died Dec. 7 at age 73.