Leon Gorman

Object Details

Artist

Jon R. Friedman, born 1947

Sitter

Leon Gorman, 1934 - 2015

Exhibition Label

Born Nashua, New Hampshire

During his thirty-four years as president of L. L. Bean, Leon Gorman dramatically expanded and modernized the clothing and outdoor equipment business that his grandfather established in 1912. Shepherding the company through a succession of state-of-the-art innovations, he transferred its cata logue mailing list to a computerized database in the 1970s, introduced a toll-free number for shopping by phone in 1985, and launched internet sales in 1995. Yet even while transforming L. L. Bean into a tech savvy, billion-dollar enterprise, Gorman adhered to the 100 percent customer satisfaction policy that had guided his grandfather’s development of the now-iconic rubber-soled boot. In Gorman’s view, “Customer service is just a day-in, day-out, ongoing, never-ending, unremitting, persevering, compas sionate type of activity.” Gorman was equally dedicated to preserving the forests and lakes where he fly-fished and hiked with his dogs. The National Park Foundation and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy are among several environmental groups that have benefited from his support.

Nacido en Nashua, Nuevo Hampshire

Durante sus 34 años como presidente de L. L. Bean, Leon Gorman amplió y modernizó drásticamente el negocio de ropa y equipo para exteriores que esta bleció su abuelo en 1912. Entre una serie de grandes innovaciones técnicas, Gorman transfirió la lista de envío del catálogo a una base de datos compu tarizada en la década de 1970, introdujo un número sin cargos para comprar por teléfono en 1985 e inauguró las ventas por internet en 1995. Pero aun cuando convirtió a L. L. Bean en una compañía multimillonaria que sabía aprovechar la tecnología, Gorman continuó la política de “satisfacción del cliente al 100%” que guió a su abuelo cuando desa rrolló la ahora icónica bota con suela de goma. En su opinión, “el servicio al cliente es una actividad de día a día, continua, interminable, inapelable, perseve rante y compasiva”. Gorman se dedicó igualmente a la conservación de los bosques y lagos donde pescaba y hacía caminatas con sus perros. La Fundación de Parques Nacionales y el Centro de Conservación del Sendero de los Apalaches están entre las entidades benefi ciadas por su apoyo.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the artist, Jon R. Friedman

2014

Object number

NPG.2014.112

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Drawing

Medium

Oil on prepared paper

Dimensions

Image/Sheet: 104.6 × 73.5 cm (41 3/16 × 28 15/16")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Location

Currently not on view

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses

Nature & Environment\Plant\Tree

Nature & Environment\Plant\Foliage

Nature & Environment\Animal\Dog

Exterior\Forest

Leon Gorman: Male

Leon Gorman: Business and Finance\Businessperson

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.2014.112

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4bd326063-f2ad-480b-a64b-6e485de1d556