In Memoriam: Former Air Products Chairman and CEO Edward Donley

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., April 3, 2017

"Our heartfelt condolences go to the Donley family for their loss. Air Products is deeply saddened by the passing of this remarkable man," said Seifi Ghasemi, Air Products' chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Mr. Donley played a deeply impactful role in the formation of our company. His accomplishments as a leader were many and substantial, as he led the company through some challenging times and positioned Air Products in several areas for the success we continue to have today. Many of his ideals carry on daily in our company's objectives, one of the most important being our total commitment to safety."

"Mr. Donley was also a strong advocate of education at local and national levels, and his and his late wife Inez's contributions were valued and continue to have great impact today. Personally, I have always had great respect for him and his leadership, as I worked in the industrial gases industry and had great familiarity with Air Products at the time he was Chairman and CEO. Everyone in the industrial gases industry owes a debt of gratitude for the pioneering role Mr. Donley played in shaping the business and markets we serve today," said Ghasemi.

Donley held several advancing roles with Air Products after joining the company as its 22^nd employee in 1943. He began his career as an engineering graduate and designed portable oxygen generators for the Allied bombers in World War II. He was also a sales engineer, sales manager, vice president, vice president and general manager, and executive vice president prior to his appointments to higher positions held with the company, and eventually, as the first successor to Air Products' initial Chairman, CEO and founder Leonard Pool. Donley retired in 1986 but continued to serve on Air Products' Executive Committee until 1992 following his term as Chairman and CEO.

Donley was born on November 26, 1921. He graduated from Lawrence Institute of Technology (now Lawrence Technological University) in 1943 with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree.  He completed Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program in 1959 and received honorary degrees from Lawrence Tech, Villanova University, Lehigh University, Muhlenberg College, Allentown College of St. Francis DeSales (now DeSales University), Cedar Crest College, Drexel University, Wilkes College, Lafayette College and Moravian College. The Society of the Chemical Industry gave him its highest honor, the Chemical Industry Medal, in 1980. The Pennsylvania Society awarded Donley its Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievements in 1986.

In addition to serving on Air Products Board from 1957-87, Donley served on many business and non-profit boards. He was a director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for 11 years (Chairman 1986-87), a board member of the Chemical Manufacturers' Association (Chairman 1978-79), and a member of the Business Roundtable. Donley was a director of American Standard Companies for 18 years (Chairman 1992-93), Mellon Bank Corporation (lead outside director), Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Koppers Company, and Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. He served on the Grace Commission, NASA Advisory Council, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the Business-Higher Education Forum.

Donley was active in healthcare and served as a trustee of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and Dorothy Rider Pool Health Care Trust, and working with the Rotary Club to found Lehigh Valley Hospice, Inc. in 1980 – just the second hospice in the United States at the time.