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Peter E. Haas, Sr., Former CEO of Levi Strauss & Co., Dies at Age 86.

Article Excerpt
SAN FRANCISCO -- Peter E. Haas, Sr., who as a member of the Levi Strauss & Co. family business championed many important social causes, including the desegregation of apparel factories in the South predating the U.S. Civil Rights movement, died yesterday in San Francisco of natural causes at the age of 86.

Haas, chairman of the executive committee of Levi Strauss & Co. and a great-grandnephew of Levi Strauss, worked closely with his brother Walter A. Haas, Jr. to help transform a pair of pants -- Levi's(R) jeans -- into one of the most famous and admired brands in history and in the process, build the family business into a major multinational corporation.

While Haas' contributions to the success of Levi Strauss & Co. were many during his 60-year career with the company, his most significant work was his leadership of the company's financial and manufacturing operations.

Haas was a businessman, philanthropist and civic leader. He and his brother were business partners and strong proponents of corporate social responsibility, believing that commercial success and "doing the right thing" were integrally linked. As visionary civic leaders who cared deeply about the social problems of their day, Peter and Walter Haas embedded their strongly held values into the foundation of the company -- a legacy that continues to define Levi Strauss & Co. today.

2003 marked Levi Strauss & Co.'s 150th anniversary, a milestone for which Peter Haas, Sr. took great pride. He made a point of participating in the company's anniversary celebration, sharing with employees some of his most memorable work experiences and noting that his tenure spanned more than one-third of the company's entire history.

"Throughout his career and in his personal life, my uncle Peter distinguished himself with his strong values and generosity. His business accomplishments are a testament to his belief that you can both...

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