| Notes |
- Niagara Gazette - 1/8/1953
Arthur A. Batts, 68, retired president and board chairman of the
Carborundum company and one of this city's' most prominent business
and civic leaders for many yeas, died today at Clearwater. Fla., where
he went recently to make his home.
'Mr. Batts, who rose through the
ranks from office boy to head of
the Carborundum company during
the years of his employment there,
retired as chairman of the board-of
directors February 28, 1949.
In October, Mr. Batts, who had
Kfcw !»:«-,neaMh,/and te?|ttfr?
Wldriielr^ bonle. at Lewiston
. HeigEts and went to Clearwstcr to
iveT fWprd,of'his death wU;.re>
ceived by his son, Arthur A. Batts,
Jr., this city, who said that.funeral'
arrangements have not yet been
completed.
Mr. Batts entered the employ of
the then young Carborundum company
on his graduation from Niagara
Falls high school in 1901 as
an office boy when the company
employed 150 persons.
He gradually won promotions
from office boy to junior clerk, to
junior executive, his first important
post being assistant to the treasurer.
He later became off ice. manager, and
then assistant secretary in 1920 and
secretary in 1927.
Became Director in 1938
Mr. Batts was made a member
of the board of directors of the
company in 1938, and in 1942 when
the late Dr. Frank J. Tone was'made
chairman of the board, Mr. Batts
became president of the company.
He was presjdent until 1947, when
he became board chairman; which
position he held until his retirement.
Since'his retirement Mr. Batts had
served as chairman '"of the Northwestern
Water authority,- a special
body set Up by the state Legislature
to develop additional water supplies
for Western New York
Mr. Batts also was active in other
Niagara Falls financial, business and
civic 'organizations and had served
as a director of the National Association
of Manufacturers, the American
Management association, the
Controllers' institute and the As
sociated Industries of New York
State. .
City Trust company from 1943 until
pany employing upwards of'5,000
workers. Mr- Batts was acquainted
with a large majority of the employes
and; maintained keen interest in
their welfare and problems,
He also was active in the 'affairs, of
Epiphany Episcopal church and
served as senior warden' and chairman
of the finance committee.
Aided City's Welfare
- A keen interest in the welfare'.of
the community was shown during the
greater part, of his life by.Mr. Batts,
who gave much of his time to:the
Chamber of Commerce, Community
Chest, American Red Cross and Rotary
club, having served as president
of the. Rotary. He had served aeyeral
iimes as chairman of the industrial
division of the Community Chest
drives and assisted other community
organizations.
He was a member of the Niagara
club and the Niagara Falls Country
club, which are flying their flags
at half staff today.in.his memory.
When informed of-Mr. Baits' death
today,- Clinton F. Robinson, president
of the Carborundum company,
expressed his deep fegret.
"The Carborundum family and
the entire community have lost a
beloved friend," Mr. Robinson said.
Mr. Batts-served for many" years
as a member of the Board of Trustees
of Memorial hospital and was
a former president and member of
the board of governors of the Niagara
Falls Country club for nine
years. He served several terms as
president of the Chamber of Commerce
and was its national counsellor.
Mr. Batts' only survivors are his
son here, his wife, Mrs. Mabel Bradley
Batts, and two grandchildren.
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Abt 1885 - 1953 (~ 68 years)