[ ALLEN C. WILCOX JR. / 1918-2003 ]
Kauai native served
as Matson presidentThe former A&B chief executive
resided for 30 years
at Kealakekua Bay
Allen C. Wilcox Jr., a past chief executive of Alexander & Baldwin Inc., died Thursday at Kona Community Hospital. He was 84.
Wilcox, a member of the kamaaina Wilcox family, was born in Lihue, Kauai, on Nov. 22, 1918, but spent much of his younger years in California, following his parents' divorce.
He attended Stanford University, where he met his wife, Barbara. They married in 1944 in Arcadia, Calif., and several years later, Wilcox began longing to move back to Hawaii, Barbara Wilcox recalled yesterday in a phone interview.
The two moved to Oahu, then to the Big Island, where they lived in Napoopoo, on Kealakekua Bay, for the past 30 years.
Wilcox worked for the Hawaii Employers Council from 1961 to 1964, negotiating with unions, and he was chairman of the Honolulu Police Commission, Barbara Wilcox said.
"He liked orderliness," she said. "He gained quite a reputation because his word was good."
Wilcox joined the A&B board in 1963 and also served the next 15 years in several executive management positions, including president of Matson Navigation Co. and chief executive of A&B. He was elected chairman in 1972 and briefly served a second stint as interim chief executive following the departure of CEO Lawrence S. Pricher. Wilcox retired from the A&B board in April 1983.
Wilcox was a founding member of Kona Community Hospital Foundation, something he was proud of, Barbara Wilcox said.
He also worked for Family Support Services of West Hawaii, CrimeStoppers, the board of governors of Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Kona Outdoor Circle, the Leeward Planning Commission and the West Hawaii Humane Society.
Wilcox is survived by his wife, sons Allen C. Wilcox III and Steven (Mavourneen) Wilcox, and daughter Anne Irene Wilcox; grandchildren Erin Martinchick, Samuel Mahelona Wilcox, Christopher Wilcox and Kauikeolani Wilcox, and others.
Friends may visit the Wilcox residence 4-7 p.m. Saturday in Fairview, Napoopoo, in South Kona. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Kona Community Hospital Foundation.
