Robert J.R. Follett, who spent more than 40 years working for his family's
company, Follett Corp., rising to become chairman, died September 3. He was 97. The Chicago Tribune reported that Follett oversaw the 1982 sale of the company's publishing arm "and the continued successes of its remaining college bookstore operations and used textbook and wholesale library businesses."
"He had an enthusiasm and energy for the business and for interacting with people," said Chris Traut, former CEO of Follett Corp. "And he was a great ambassador for the company, both inside the company and outside the company."
Follett was founded in 1873 by Charles M. Barnes, whose son went on to co-found Barnes & Noble. The Follett family joined Barnes's company in 1912, the Tribune wrote, "and in 1918 what had been known as the C.M. Barnes-Wilcox Co. was renamed the J.W. Wilcox & Follett Co., with Follett's grandfather, Charles W. Follett, taking over the company at that time. Follett's father, Dwight, joined the company in 1925--specializing in social studies textbooks--and he became chairman and president in 1952."
Robert Follett began working for the publishing unit as a junior editor, was soon promoted to v-p and, in 1968, president of that division. During the 1960s, he edited and published some of the first textbooks with racially integrated illustrations.
In 1977, Follett became chairman of Follett Corp., and five years later divested the Follett Publishing subsidiary to Esquire Inc. while retaining its wholesale and retail book operations, including about 85 college bookstores. Follett continued to serve as chairman of Follett Corp., the Tribune wrote, "which saw its used textbook and wholesale library businesses thrive, and the firm also expanded to become the largest college bookstore operator in North America. He led the company as it developed a successful software business for managing schools and school libraries."
"Bob was a thoughtful leader," said former Follett Corp. chairman Todd Litzsinger, whose father, Dick, had served as Follett Corp.'s CEO and president in the 1990s. "He honored the family business with his true interest in knowing and supporting employees--family or not--and giving valuable insight to the larger family ownership. His partnership with my father secured years of growth and prosperity for the business. He was curious, open-minded and provoked others to find new ways of doing things."
During Follett's 17-year tenure as chairman, the company grew fifteen-fold, according to his family. He retired from in 1994. Follett Corp. later sold its software and K-12 businesses, and the bookstore division was sold in 2022 to an investment group.
Follett was also the author more than 10 books, including Your Wonderful Body (1963), a children's title; The Financial Side of Book Publishing (1982); and Leadership: Growing and Sustaining A Smaller Organization (2012).