Leon Shimkin
| Leon Shimkin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1907 |
| Died | 1988 |
| Occupation | Publisher |
| Spouse(s) | Rebecca Shimkin |
| Children | Emily Gindin Michael Shimkin |
Leon Shimkin (1907 – 1988) was an American business man and helped build Simon & Schuster into a major publishing company. Shimkin rose to become chairman of the board and owner of Simon & Schuster until he sold it to Gulf + Western in 1975.[1]
Biography
Early life
Leon Shimkin was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1907 to Russian immigrants. Shimkin had just completed his first year at New York University when he joined Boni & Liveright and then Simon & Schuster as a bookkeeper at age 17. Shimkin continued his studies at New York University in the evenings.[2]
Career at Simon & Schuster
After joining Simon & Schuster in 1924, Leon rose through the ranks to become the chairman of the board and an owner of the company. Shimkin worked as a bookkeeper for the original Simon & Schuster partners- Richard L. Simon and M.Lincoln Schuster. He became the company's business manager and made incremental income for the company by selling rights to its books—such as selling rights to Hollywood studios and selling parts of company's crossword-puzzle books to newspapers. Shimkin was responsible for one of Simon & Schuster's most successful books which is still selling today--Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People. Shimkin came up with idea for the book after listening to one of Carnegie's lectures. He was also responsible for J.K. Lasser's book, Your Income Tax. Shimkin co-founded Pocket Books the mass market paperback division with Robert D. de Graff.[1]
Leon Shimkin eventually became a partner to Simon & Schuster and remained an executive after it was sold to Field Enterprises, Inc. in 1944. In 1947 Shimkin developed and taught a course on book publishing for New York University's Division of General Education.[2] In 1950 Shimkin was named president of Pocket Books. In 1957 Shimkin along with M. Lincoln Shuster repurchased the company from Field and Shimkin bought Pocket Books on his own. In 1966 he bought out Schuster for $2 Million.[1]
Leon Shimkin later sold Simon & Schuster to Gulf+ Western in 1975 but continued to go twice a week to an office he maintained at Simon & Schuster's headquarters on Avenue of Americas until shortly before his death at 81.[1]
Marriage and children
Leon Shimkin was married to Rebecca Shimkin who died in 1997.[3] The family had a home in Larchmont, New York, a home in Pound Ridge, and an apartment in New York City.[2] Shimkin and his wife Rebecca had two children:
- Emily Shimkin Gindin
- Michael W. Shimkin
Honors and Awards
In 1960, the Alumni Association of New York University's School of Commerce presented Leon Shimkin with its Madden Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in business.[2] In 1966, Shimkin pledged $2 million to New York University's capital fund in part to renovate and modernize the school of Commerce building. The building (which Shimkin had studied in) was then renamed as the Leon Shimkin Hall.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Mcdowell, Edwin (1988-05-26). "Leon Shimkin, a Guiding Force At Simon & Schuster, Dies at 81". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "PUBLISHER GIVES N.Y.U. $2-MILLION; Shimkin Grant to Rebuild School He Attended Course Completed at Night Concern Sold and Rebought". timesmachine.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
- ↑ "Paid Notice: Deaths SHIMKIN, REBECCA". The New York Times. 1997-05-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-04-03.