Harry Bates Thayer
1858–1936 (age 78)
Telecommunications executive
Biography
Harry Bates Thayer, born in 1858, became a respected leader in the early American telecommunications industry and served with distinction as president of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company. His steady leadership helped guide a rapidly evolving enterprise during years of dramatic growth.
Thayer’s colleagues admired his thoughtful approach to both business and innovation, and he remained deeply engaged with civic causes, offering time and counsel to organizations that sought to improve everyday life. His legacy endures in the strength of the institutions he helped steward.