Philip Edward Rollhaus Jr. was born on 29. Sep. 1934. He was the son of
Philip Edward Rollhaus and
Elizabeth Snow Bedford. Philip Edward Rollhaus Jr. died on 28. Jul. 2001 at Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, at age 66. He died on 28. Jul. 2001 his last known address was at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, according to the Social Security Death Index. CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 30, 2001
Quixote Corporation (Nasdaq:QUIX) reported today that Philip E. Rollhaus, Jr., Chairman of the Board, died July 28, 2001 following a long struggle with cancer. He was 66 at the time of his death. Mr. Rollhaus founded the Company in 1969 in Chicago. When the Company first began, it had one energy-absorbing bumper for vehicles; today it is the world's leading manufacturer of energy-absorbing highway crash cushions, computerized highway advisory radio transmitting systems, electronic wireless measuring and sensing devices and other transportation safety products and services.
One of Mr. Rollhaus's most significant accomplishments as Chairman was assembling an experienced management team that has helped lead the Company's tremendous success in recent years. Mr. Rollhaus was instrumental in handpicking this team to lead Quixote Corporation as it continues to carry out Mr. Rollhaus's vision. Both Leslie J. Jezuit, Quixote's Chief Executive Officer who joined the Company in 1995, and Daniel P. Gorey, Chief Financial Officer who joined the Company in 1985, have worked closely with Mr. Rollhaus throughout their time with the Company.
Mr. Jezuit, 55, will immediately assume the additional role of Chairman of the Board. Mr. Jezuit has served as Chief Executive Officer since September 30, 1999, following the retirement of Mr. Rollhaus as CEO. Mr. Jezuit first joined Quixote Corporation as President and Chief Operating Officer in 1995 after four years with Robertshaw Controls, where he also served as President and Chief Operating Officer. He has more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing, marketing and product development at major U.S. corporations.
Mr. Jezuit commented on the death of Mr. Rollhaus, "The entire Quixote Corporation family is deeply saddened by the news of Philip's passing. Philip was instrumental in not only founding the Company in 1969, but also leading the Company through various transformations that helped to build Quixote into the leading manufacturer of highway safety products. Philip was an inspiration and meant a great deal not only to me but to all of the employees of Quixote Corporation.
Mr. Jezuit concluded, "Looking ahead, we believe that we have an experienced, knowledgeable and successful management team in place and an equally talented Board of Directors whose long-standing members are well versed in the Company's business and strategic vision. I am confident that together, our management team will lead the Company to continued higher levels of success."
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements set forth above involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such statement, including the risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, under the caption "Forward-Looking Statements" in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which discussion is incorporated herein by this reference.
Philip Rollhaus, 66; Headed Quixote Corp.
Published: August 5, 2001
Philip Edward Rollhaus Jr., the founder, chief executive and chairman of the Quixote Corporation, died Tuesday at his home in Palm Beach, Fla. He was 66.
The cause of death was cancer, said Barbara, his wife.
Mr. Rollhaus founded Energy Absorption Systems in 1969. He developed the company's patented highway cushions, which are designed to protect cars in crashes. In 1969, the company became Quixote, a holding company, to reflect its interests in optical discs and court-reporting machines. A subsidiary, LaserVideo, which became DMI, made the first audio compact disc in the United States in 1975.
Today, Quixote's focus is highway safety: its companies manufacture flexible signposts, devices to measure traffic flow and highway advisory radio systems. Mr. Rollhaus retired as president and chief executive last year, but remained chairman.
Mr. Rollhaus received a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in 1956. He moved to Paris after four years in the Navy; there he started a research company and founded The Parnassus Review, a literary magazine. He worked at Business International, a research company, and Woolard & Company, an investment bank, before he started E.A.S.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Natalie Burton, of Los Angeles; his son, Ned, of San Francisco; and his sister, Barbara Quimby, of Albany.