Milliken, Roger

Milliken, Roger

(1915– ) textile executive; born in New York City. He spent his career at Milliken & Co., the family textile manufacturer and wholesaler. As president (1947–83) and chairman and CEO (1983), he made Milliken an industry leader by promoting research and development and pioneering automated manufacturing. He was a noted antiunion employer who fought an unfair labor practice suit for 24 years before finally losing in the Supreme Court in 1980.