| Herman A. Metz Dyestuff Industry Notable |
ColorantsHistory.Org
| Herman A. Metz (1867-1934) Photo: Williams Haynes, American Chemical Industry, Vol. III, 1945 |
Reproduction of "Herman A. Metz", American Dyestuff Reporter, Vol. 23, No. 12, June 4, 1934, p. 329:
We hardly feel qualified to comment upon the passing of General Herman A. Metz. After the wide and active career which filled his
life for the past sixty-six years it is difficult to realize that this person has passed on, leaving as he does a tremendous void in the
hearts of those who knew him. And to those who worked with him the emptiness is much more real as is expressed in the words of
one who had the privilege of daily contact with him: “All who knew him will miss him, but to those of us who actually worked with
him his place can never be fully taken.” His career was one that touched all phases of life—political, social and economic.
He was born in New York City on October 19, 1867, and after his schooling he entered the employ of P. Schulze-Berge as an office
boy in 1881. In 1893, after constant advancement he became the vice-president and general manager of this company, and in 1899
he was its majority stockholder and president. Through various consolidations and changes the firm name had, in the meanwhile,
become Victor Koehl & Co.
In 1903 the chemical and dyestuff department was separated from the pharmaceutical branch of the business and incorporated as
H. A. Metz & Co., the manufacture of color and chemicals being carried on by the Consolidated Color & Chemical Co., of which Mr.
Metz was president. In addition he became president, of the H. A. Metz Laboratories, Inc., Ettrick Mills, Textileather Company, New
York and Hanseatic Corp., and also served as a director in a number of banks.
In July, 1926, his dyestuff selling interests were turned into a new concern, the General Dyestuff Corporation, of which he became
president. At the time of his death he was chairman of the Board of Directors of this corporation.
His life was not entirely spent in industrial pursuits as is shown by his other activities. At various times he was Comptroller of the
City of New York, a member of Congress, a member of the Board of Education of Brooklyn and New York City, a member of the State
Board of Charities, a director of the Interborough Rapid Transit Co., acting for the public, a colonel and ordnance officer of both the
New York National Guard and the United States Army Reserve Corps and on the eve of his retirement in 1931, lie was elevated to the
post of brigadier general. Further, he was a member of a great many chemical and industrial societies, he was honored with the
degree of Sc.D. from Union College and the degree of LL.D. from Manhattan College. He founded the Kings County Democratic Club
in Brooklyn and was president of the National Civic Club. He was also a governor of the Democratic and Reform Club of New York
and served as a member of both the Hughes and Miller charter revision committees.
Here was a man whose activities speak for themselves. It is impossible for us to add much more to this. “His was a life of singular
achievement and the ‘footprints in the sand of time’ left by this man who recognized no defeat, are standards of accomplishment to
which all who knew him may reverently aspire.”
It is only with regret that we can speak of his passing and we know that it is only with regret that others can think of his death.
Whatever we can say or do now can not detract from the personality of this man who played so prominent a part in the dyestuff
industry of this country and led him to be honored and respected by all. The dyestuff and chemical industry, in losing Mr. Metz, has
lost one of its outstanding figures for all time.
We hardly feel qualified to comment upon the passing of General Herman A. Metz. After the wide and active career which filled his
life for the past sixty-six years it is difficult to realize that this person has passed on, leaving as he does a tremendous void in the
hearts of those who knew him. And to those who worked with him the emptiness is much more real as is expressed in the words of
one who had the privilege of daily contact with him: “All who knew him will miss him, but to those of us who actually worked with
him his place can never be fully taken.” His career was one that touched all phases of life—political, social and economic.
He was born in New York City on October 19, 1867, and after his schooling he entered the employ of P. Schulze-Berge as an office
boy in 1881. In 1893, after constant advancement he became the vice-president and general manager of this company, and in 1899
he was its majority stockholder and president. Through various consolidations and changes the firm name had, in the meanwhile,
become Victor Koehl & Co.
In 1903 the chemical and dyestuff department was separated from the pharmaceutical branch of the business and incorporated as
H. A. Metz & Co., the manufacture of color and chemicals being carried on by the Consolidated Color & Chemical Co., of which Mr.
Metz was president. In addition he became president, of the H. A. Metz Laboratories, Inc., Ettrick Mills, Textileather Company, New
York and Hanseatic Corp., and also served as a director in a number of banks.
In July, 1926, his dyestuff selling interests were turned into a new concern, the General Dyestuff Corporation, of which he became
president. At the time of his death he was chairman of the Board of Directors of this corporation.
His life was not entirely spent in industrial pursuits as is shown by his other activities. At various times he was Comptroller of the
City of New York, a member of Congress, a member of the Board of Education of Brooklyn and New York City, a member of the State
Board of Charities, a director of the Interborough Rapid Transit Co., acting for the public, a colonel and ordnance officer of both the
New York National Guard and the United States Army Reserve Corps and on the eve of his retirement in 1931, lie was elevated to the
post of brigadier general. Further, he was a member of a great many chemical and industrial societies, he was honored with the
degree of Sc.D. from Union College and the degree of LL.D. from Manhattan College. He founded the Kings County Democratic Club
in Brooklyn and was president of the National Civic Club. He was also a governor of the Democratic and Reform Club of New York
and served as a member of both the Hughes and Miller charter revision committees.
Here was a man whose activities speak for themselves. It is impossible for us to add much more to this. “His was a life of singular
achievement and the ‘footprints in the sand of time’ left by this man who recognized no defeat, are standards of accomplishment to
which all who knew him may reverently aspire.”
It is only with regret that we can speak of his passing and we know that it is only with regret that others can think of his death.
Whatever we can say or do now can not detract from the personality of this man who played so prominent a part in the dyestuff
industry of this country and led him to be honored and respected by all. The dyestuff and chemical industry, in losing Mr. Metz, has
lost one of its outstanding figures for all time.
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