Arthur "Bud" Ebbert Klauser papers

Arthur Ebbert Klauser "Bud" was born in Toledo, Ohio, April 26, 1923 to Arthur Oscar Klauser and Georgia Governor Ebbert Klauser. He was raised and attended both grade school and high school in Evanston, Illinois. He graduated from Evanston Township High School with honors and was awarded the Shaffer-Beveridge scholarship (given by publisher John C. Shaffer of Chicago in honor of his friend, the late Senator Beveridge) to attend DePauw University.

Klauser spent two years at DePauw University, leaving after his sophomore year to join the Army in May 1943. He was trained in Japanese by the army at Chicago and at the University of Michigan for 2 ½ years. He served as a Lieutenant and a language officer and was commissioned and sent to Japan as an interpreter on Tokyo War Crimes Trials. Returning from his tour of duty in Japan, Korea and China, Klauser returned to the University of Michigan where he received his AB, MA and partially completed work on his doctorate in Japanese and Chinese History. Klauser joined the U.S. government assigned to Japan as Executive Officer and spent seven years (1949-55) in Japan. He returned to earn his J.D. law degree from Yale (1955-58).

After passing the New York Bar, Klauser entered the legal department of Vicks Chemical Co. (Richardson Merrill). In January 1961 he joined Royal Crown Cola International as Vice President and International Counsel. Just prior to his time at Royal Crown International he married Ruth Anne Geise on December 28, 1960 and they spent a week honeymooning in Mexico.

Ruth Anne Klauser was a graduate of Smith College, class of 1945. She was a music major and was awarded a Julliard scholarship. She and two of her Smith/Julliard friends auditioned successfully for the Arthur Godfrey show and won the national contest, which awarded them a contract with the Frank Sinatra Show. Later the girls recorded as the Heathertones and as the Couquettes. Ruth Anne's professional name was Bix Brent. She not only made records, modeled and acted, but composed music. Ruth Anne passed away in 1972.

Klauser left Royal Crown in March 1962 and went to work for AMF, American Machine & Foundry Co., during 1962-65. He was assigned to Geneva and London as Director of Planning and Director of the Far East.

In 1965 Klauser received an offer from Pfizer International in Switzerland, to join them and establish the Coty cosmetic operation as Manager of Consumer Products in Tokyo. Klauser resigned from Pfizer in September 1967. This decision was made so he and his wife could move to Michigan to be near the University of Michigan hospital where Ruth Anne would undergo surgery.

In October 1967 Klauser joined Dow Corning Corporation and he and Ruth Anne spent 18 months in Midland, Michigan. Dow Corning was the world's largest producer and pioneer in the silicone industry. Klauser returned to Japan in 1969 and to their Azabu Towers apartment where they had previously lived. As Vice President International and Asian Area Manager in Tokyo for Dow Corning, they were stationed in Argentina, Switzerland, U.K. and Japan. Klauser went on to become Vice President for Government Relations and Public Affairs in Washington D.C. for Dow Corning. He returned to the States from Tokyo in 1973 as the Director of Corporation Communications following his wife's death on May 12, 1972 and became Vice President and Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations. In 1974 Dow Corning sent Bud to Harvard Business School for an intensified business course lasting one semester. In 1976 Klauser opened a Dow Corning office in Washington D.C.. Klauser retired from Dow Corning in 1979.

Klauser joined Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Japan's largest trading company, November 1, 1979 as Senior Vice President and General Manager, opening their Washington, D.C. office. He was also Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations. His Japanese roommate at Harvard Business School in 1974, Mamoru "Mory" Tabuchi, who was a Mitsui executive, had talked him into joining the company. Klauser became the first American or foreigner in Mitsui's executive management as well as the first non-Japanese to manage a Mitsui office anywhere. In April 1989, Klauser became the adviser to Mitsui's president, working on the americanization of the U.S. Mitsui organization and establishment of the new Mitsui USA Foundation. Klauser retired in 1992 from Mitsui (U.S.A.) Co. and in 1993 as Director Emeritus, Mitsui USA Foundation. He passed away February 14, 2011.