Gordon S. Rentschler

Gordon Sohn Rentschler (November 25, 1885-March 4, 1948) was a chairman of First National City Bank, a predecessor of Citigroup.

He was born in Hamilton, Ohio. His father was George A. Rentschler one of the principals of the Hooven-Owens-Rentschler engine manufacturer. One of his daughters was married to Dean G. Witter. His brother was aviation builder Frederick Brant Rentschler.

He graduated as president of the class at Princeton University in 1907 and returned to the family business. Following a flood in 1913 he worked with National City to secure a $35 million bond issue for permanent flood control issues.^[1] His actions drew the attention of Charles E. Mitchell who became his patron at the bank.

In 1921 following a collapse of sugar prices in Cuba he acted on behalf of National City in dealing with the problem (his family interests had been in providing machines for the industry). In 1923 he was offered a directorship at the company at the age of 38 -- the youngest director in the bank's history at the time. He would commute once a week to New York. In 1925 he left management of his family business for First National.^[2]

He was elevated to chairman in 1940.

He died of a heart attack while still chairman of the bank and on trip to Cuba.

References

1. ^ G.S. Rentschler, Financier, Is Dead - New York Times - March 5, 1948
2. ^ G.S. Rentschler, Financier, Is Dead - New York Times - March 5, 1948

Business positions
Preceded by James H. Perkins	Chairman of Citigroup 1940-1948	Succeeded by William Gage Brady, Jr.

Persondata
Name	Rentschler, Gordon
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1885
Place of birth
Date of death	1948
Place of death