Thomas C. Sullivan, former chairman and CEO of RPM International, passed away November 30, 2020, in Ohio. He was 83.
Sullivan was born July 8, 1937, the youngest of six children. He demonstrated leadership skills at an early age, receiving a “dinner-table education” in business from his father, Frank C. Sullivan, who was building a roof coatings business that grew into what is known today as RPM International.
After graduating from Miami University of Ohio with a degree in Business Administration, Sullivan served in the U.S. Navy as a communications officer aboard the U.S.S. Braine.
In 1961, he joined his father’s company, then known as Republic Powdered Metals, as a divisional sales manager. The company’s sales were $2 million at that time. Sullivan worked his way up the ranks and launched RPM’s acquisition program in 1966. He was elected vice president in 1967 and executive vice president in 1969. He was president and CEO from 1971 until his retirement in 2002.
During his 30-plus years at the helm of RPM, Sullivan grew the company to more than $2 billion in sales through a combination of internal growth and acquisitions, achieving record sales every year and record net income in nearly every year as well.
Throughout his career, Sullivan shared his business experience and expertise through his service on many professional and nonprofit boards, including serving as chairman of ACA (formerly the National Paint & Coatings Association).
During his tenure as ACA chairman, the association negotiated a milestone agreement on behalf of industry with state attorneys general establishing lead-exposure warnings and education and training programs.
Sullivan also encouraged the association’s participation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Sector Strategies program, a voluntary partnership program that provided industry with performance-enhancing incentives and tools and worked to identify and remove regulatory barriers that stifle innovation and environmental progress. He also served on ACA’s Budget and Finance and Executive Committees; in 2003, Sullivan received the George Baugh Heckel Award, the association’s highest honor.
He is survived by his children Frank (Barbara), Sean (Mary), Tom Jr. (Mary), Dan (Julie), Kathleen Sullivan (Blaise Dupuy) and Julie Sullivan (Bruce Shagvoc); his beloved brood of 16 grandchildren and a great-grandson; as well as his sisters, Kaki O’Neill, Joan Livingston, and Sue Jacobus. He was preceded in death by his sister Patricia Schreiner, brother Father Sean Sullivan, and his wife of 59 years, Sandra.