The O'Sullivans of Skibereen and Sullivans of Cleveland, Ohio

by

J.C. Sullivan



Counties Kerry and Cork have certainly contributed many, many successful and storied sons and daughters to the world. One such story is that of the O’Sullivans of Skibereen and Cleveland, Ohio. A stonecutter by trade, he emigrated from Cobh to Ellis Island. From there he traveled to Ohio where he worked the stone quarries and built a home in Grafton, Ohio. He always referred to America as “This magnificent country.” His spouse was Catherine Harty from Clonmel, County Tipperary. It is believed she emigrated through Canada.

Like so many of the famine era, Frank J, Sullivan left from Cobh to Ellis Island and from there made his way to Cleveland, Ohio. He was later described as a “handsome version” of the American union leader John L. Lewis. Whoever saw the comparison was probably not aware that John L. Lewis had Vera O’Sullivan roots himself.

Frank J. married Margaret Jamieson, and eventually eight young Sullivans were added to the clan; Frank C., Delphine, William, Edwin, Thomas L., Katherine, Charles and John, who was called “Jack.” All the sons except Charles would work in the paint business at one time or another. But it was Frank Charles who landed a job at Arco Paint in the early 1900s.

Initially working as an electric company linesman and business agent for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), he was elected union treasurer and moved the family to their headquarters in Springfield, Illinois. However, he found the politics of it distasteful and sent his growing family back to Cleveland where a relative gave them a place to stay until Frank J. could return. The family eventually settled on Cleveland’s near West Side, in the predominantly Irish parish of St. Colman.

Frank landed a job at the Municipal Light Company and taught electrical theory at night at a technical school. His brother-in-law was Divisional Sales Manager at Arco Paint and brought him aboard, part-time, as a mail sorter. Frank J.’s son, Frank C., joined him at the firm. After three years Frank J. left the firm to be come the Eastern Sales Manager for Acorn Chemical Co. Frank C. joined his father two years later, in 1918.

Frank C. was blessed with the best of the Ui Suileabhain genes, personable, intelligent, handsome and one who readily made friends. His early leadership was evident at West High School where he was president of the honor society and his senior class and captain of the basketball team. During his summers he attended classes at the Culver Summer Naval School, an extension of the Culver Military Academy in Indiana. It was there he met his future bride, Margaret (Peg) Wilhemy.

Even though he entered Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Frank C. never severed his ties with Acorn. In his spare time he sold Acorn products to farmers in southwestern Ohio. Here he learned a hard lesson that he took with him throughout his career. Knowing the farmer was buying products from a competitor, Frank told him Acorn’s product was just as good. The astute farmer said the product he was currently using was “no damn good.” The farmer bought two drums off Frank but told him to never compare his product with his competitors’.

The union of Frank C. and Peg Wilhemy produced Frank C., Jr., nicknamed Sully, Margaret Patricia, Joan, Catherine, Suzanne and Tom. “We had a very happy upbringing,” Sue said. “My dad traveled a fair amount, but when he was home, there was a lot of togetherness. Sunday afternoon was everybody lying on the floor reading the paper.”

Frank was exempted from service in World War II due to his age and family status but four of the Sullivan boys served overseas. Following the war Frank played a key role in Acorn’s success. During the years of the Depression he negotiated a deal that would mean giving up a salary in exchange for 30% of the profit he would be able to generate. His philosophy was simple – hire the best salesmen in the industry and let them do their jobs.

His attempt to purchase the company failed so, with the owners’ blessing, he struck out and joined Basic Metals to sell aluminum pigment to Acorn and all aluminum coatings companies. He brokered a contract with Basic Metals to market and distribute the aluminum pigment and inside of a year, in 1947, he bought the company out. Republic Powdered Metals was formed, known today as RPM, Inc.

Frank’s son, Thomas C. Sullivan, a U.S. Navy veteran, has lead the company to become a $2 billion enterprise, becoming a world leader in specialty coatings. Although RPM doesn’t ring any bells with readers, they will recognize the names of Day-Glo and Rust-Oleum among others. As Chairman of the National Paint & Coatings Association, which represents some 400 manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, he negotiated a milestone agreement establishing lead exposure warnings and education programs. He was named CEO of the Decade by Financial World magazine was honored by the Cleveland Irish community at their 2007 Walks of Life Award.

This writer was pleased to have met Tom Sullivan at the 2007 Walks of Life awards in Cleveland as I was able to finally to meet a member of the family that I knew about for so very long. I told Tom a story my late father told me. An undercover Cleveland police officer (detective), Dad had entered an office on Franklin Avenue, on Cleveland’s west side (Acorn Chemical/Refining). As he walked into the office the secretary looked up and said, “Good morning, Mr. Sullivan.” My father was stunned. His immediate thought was “How the heck would she know who I am?” Dad heard a door open behind him. The secretary looked over dad’s shoulder and a look of astonishment came over her face. Dad turned around and said it was like looking into a mirror. Details of their conversation are long lost but I’m certain that Frank J. and John J. attempted to cross reference both our families’ Cork roots. And both families have not forgotten those roots, giving back to the community from which we spring.

Tom Sullivan’s wife, Sandy, has been very involved in many community endeavors.
“My mother was very involved in different organizations for the betterment of other folks,” said Sandy Sullivan. “I was always trying to get my hand in a little bit of this, and Tom was always saying, “Hey, you have a huge responsibility with our family, and let’s wait until our kids are grown. Then I promise you that I’ll get involved along with you.’”

Founded by the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland in 1968, the Sullivan family supports The Urban Community School, a safe haven where children of all ethnicities and religious persuasions go to learn. Its current endowment is $9 million. The family is also involved with the old Saint Patrick’s Church on Cleveland’s near West Side, St. Malachi Church and Malachi House, the latter founded by Tom’s sister Kaki. The Malachi House provides a home for the terminally ill who are indigent.

In October, 2007, yet another generation of Skibereen O’Sullivans assumed leadership of the firm when Tom announced his retirement. Like his father and grandfather, Frank C. Sullivan attended Culver Military Academy but pursued his university education at the University of North Carolina as a Morehead Scholar. Now President and Chief Executive Officer, RPM International Inc., Frank received his B.A. degree in 1983. From 1983 to 1986, he held various commercial lending and corporate finance positions at Harris Bank and First Union National Bank prior to joining RPM as a Technical Service Representative from 1987 to 1988 and as Regional Sales Manager from 1988 to 1989 at RPM's AGR Company joint venture. In 1989, he became the Company's Director of Corporate Development.

He became a Vice President of the Company in 1991, Chief Financial Officer in 1993, Executive Vice President in 1995, President in 1999, and Chief Operating Officer in 2001 and was elected Chief Executive Officer in October 2002. He serves on the boards of The Timken Company, The Cleveland Foundation, the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation's Digestive Disease Center Leadership Board, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Greater Cleveland Partnership and Ohio Business Roundtable.

Cleveland, northeast Ohio and elsewhere have been enriched by an enormously successful family who has managed, despite the trappings of wealth, to keep their feet on the ground. Way to go Sullivans! And, once again, thank you Ireland.