GREENLEE, HUGH T. - The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

GREENLEE, HUGH T. (28 Sept 1927 - 3 Nov. 1997) was an industrial designer, teacher, and chair of the department of industrial design at the Cleveland Institute of Art. He was born in Columbus to Mary Elizabeth Rodefer and Wayne T. Greenlee. He graduated from Bellaire High School in 1945 and earned a degree in industrial design from the CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART in 1949.

That year he began his career as staff designer for George W. Walker in Detroit, leaving to work for Smith and Scherr in Akron from 1952 to 1953. He became president of Greenlee-Hess Industrial Design Inc. of Mayfield in 1953, and in 1954 he moved to Gates Mills. Although small, his company conceived a wide range of designs, including the first television set with hidden, cloth-covered front speakers. In honor of the Cleveland Bicentennial (see CLEVELAND BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION) in 1996, the work of his firm was featured in an art institute exhibit called Three Generations of Designers. He was an instructor at the C.I.A. for a decade before becoming professor of industrial design there in 1966. In 1990 he became chairman of the Industrial Design Department.

He was chairman of the Gates Mills Architectural Review Board and designer of its April Art Show. He was a member of the Industrial Designers Society of America, which honored him with its Silver Award at the 1996 Industrial Design Excellence Awards ceremonies. He collected antique cars as a hobby. A scholarship in his memory was established at The C.I.A.

Mr. Greenlee married Beth Tarmichael in 1953[?] and they had a son, Duncan T. and a daughter, Megan E. He died at his home in Gates Mills.

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