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CHAPTER 215

Vincent Utz, a Remarkable Johnson & Johnson Employee Veteran

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By Margaret Gurowitz
Nov 11, 2015

Vincent Utz, from our archives.
Vincent Utz, from our archives.

Organizations today are constantly searching for new and creative ways to help people to get to know them better. In 1949, General Robert Wood Johnson wrote that “business is people,” and he felt that the best way to get to know Johnson & Johnson was through its values and its people. In 1945, a remarkable employee exemplifying that philosophy joined Johnson & Johnson.  Irrepressible, creative and full of personality, he was hired to supervise employee activities. He managed a variety of initiatives to raise enthusiasm and foster team spirit during his career, and he launched two wildly creative projects that helped Johnson & Johnson tell its story to the public. A World War II veteran and a genuine war hero, Vincent Utz left an indelible mark on the company and on all who knew him.

Vinnie Utz (far left) supervises an employee music session for the Johnson & Johnson radio show he managed during the 1940s.  From our archives.
Vinnie Utz (far left) supervises an employee music session for the Johnson & Johnson radio show he managed during the 1940s. From our archives.

Originally from Connecticut, Vincent Utz, or Vinnie as he was known, came to New Brunswick to attend Rutgers University. He was captain and star fullback of the Rutgers football team in the early 1940s, leading the 1941 team to a winning season and – in testimony to his football talents – earning the nickname “The Wizard of Utz.” Vinnie Utz was inducted into the Rutgers Football Hall of Fame in 1991. Here’s his entry on the Scarlet Knights website:

“Utz captained the 1941 Rutgers squad and was an honorable mention All-American that season, when he led Rutgers in rushing and keyed a 7-2 season. One of the most colorful of Rutgers athletes, "The Wizard of Utz" was also a member of the 7-1-1 team in 1939. A decorated war hero, he remained a flamboyant follower of Rutgers football during his professional career at Johnson & Johnson.” [Scarletknights.com, entry for Vinnie Utz at this link]

 

Vincent Utz and a view of the Johnson & Johnson offices in New Brunswick when he began his career.  From our archives.
Vincent Utz and a view of the Johnson & Johnson offices in New Brunswick when he began his career. From our archives.

According to an article in the August 15, 1945 Johnson & Johnson Bulletin, Vinnie Utz came to Johnson & Johnson directly from the Army, where he served for 35 months as a paratrooper. (Johnson & Johnson has a long tradition of hiring and supporting veterans that goes back to the Spanish American War in 1898.) Utz was a member of the 506th Parachute Regiment Team of the legendary 101st Airborne Division – the group that was celebrated in Stephen Ambrose’s book Band of Brothers. Vinnie Utz also was written about – and quoted – in the book D-Day with the Screaming Eagles, by George Koskimaki and in No Victory in Valhalla by Ian Gardner. Corporal Utz parachuted into Normandy on the eve of D-Day, and he was part of the fierce fighting for 30 days as the U.S. Army made its way toward Cherbourg. He participated in a daring daytime parachute jump (far riskier than the ones done at night, since daylight meant the paratroopers were easily seen) which was followed by weeks of grueling combat as part of Operation Market Garden in Holland.

Vinnie Utz in uniform, WWII.  Photo courtesy of the Utz family and reproduced in The Pingry Review, Spring/Summer 1994.
Vinnie Utz in uniform, WWII. Photo courtesy of the Utz family and reproduced in The Pingry Review, Spring/Summer 1994.

After that, Utz fought in the Battle of the Bulge. On the second day of the battle, he was wounded in action at Bastogne; he woke up in a field hospital three days later, having lost his left arm. Vinnie Utz was awarded the Bronze Star, the Silver Star and a Purple Heart during his service. He returned to the United States on board the Queen Mary, the celebrated ocean liner that had been converted to a troop ship during the war, and he spent his rehabilitation at Walter Reed Hospital. Shortly after that, he joined Johnson & Johnson.

Article in the Johnson & Johnson Bulletin announcing the hiring of Vinnie Utz.  From our archives.
Article in the Johnson & Johnson Bulletin announcing the hiring of Vinnie Utz. From our archives.

Vinnie Utz was hired as part of the Johnson & Johnson Personnel department as Supervisor of Employee Activities, and he quickly put his leadership skills and creativity to use. Here’s what the August 15, 1945 issue of The Bulletin, the Johnson & Johnson employee magazine, said:

“His athletic prowess and his training in business administration make Vin eminently suited to manage the athletic and club activities for the people at J&J. He is already making plans to get teams organized to start the fall bowling season and is anxious to discover what other activities you might be interested in.” [Johnson & Johnson Bulletin, August 15, 1945, from our archives.]

Members of the New Brunswick Industrial League champion 1946-1947 Johnson & Johnson women employees' basketball team, from our archives.
Members of the New Brunswick Industrial League champion 1946-1947 Johnson & Johnson women employees' basketball team, from our archives.

In that era, employee clubs included a Glee Club that regularly performed across the state of New Jersey and on the radio. And the employee sports teams at Johnson & Johnson were not solely for the purpose of improving fitness: they represented company pride by competing in the New Brunswick Industrial Leagues against teams from other companies. It’s a testament to Vinnie Utz’s leadership that the Johnson & Johnson women employees’ basketball team was the league champion for the 1946-1947 season.

Vinnie Utz (left) checks transportation arrangements during the A Day in Modern Industry Program. From our archives.
Vinnie Utz (left) checks transportation arrangements during the A Day in Modern Industry Program. From our archives.

Two years after he came to Johnson & Johnson, an idea of Vinnie’s became a program that gained national recognition. The idea behind the program – called “A Day in Modern Industry” – was to show high school students the connection between school and future work, and to get them interested in a potential career at Johnson & Johnson. Participating high schools would send students to Johnson & Johnson for a day, during which they would shadow an employee.

High school students learn about careers in science at Johnson & Johnson during the "A Day in Modern Industry" program.  From our archives.
High school students learn about careers in science at Johnson & Johnson during the

High school girls and boys shadowed scientists, lawyers, accountants, manufacturing employees, and one student got to be Chairman and CEO for a day by shadowing General Robert Wood Johnson!

National news clips from the 1940s highlighting the "A Day in Modern Industry" program.  From our archives.
National news clips from the 1940s highlighting the

The program was a huge success, it gained national media attention and it was widely replicated. Johnson & Johnson wrote a how-to manual so that other companies could implement Vinnie Utz’s program.

J&J On the Air!  Article in the Johnson & Johnson Bulletin about the new radio show.  From our archives.
J&J On the Air! Article in the Johnson & Johnson Bulletin about the new radio show. From our archives.

Another of Vinnie’s responsibilities was a radio program called “Johnson & Johnson Journal” on WCTC, a public radio station in Central New Jersey. Produced by and starring Johnson & Johnson employees, the show had a running time of fifteen minutes and featured news and interviews with employees and with visitors to the company’s New Brunswick campus. With its philosophy of helping the public to get to know Johnson & Johnson through its employees, it was a reflection of General Robert Wood Johnson’s belief that the heart and soul of a company was not its buildings but its employees.   Interviewed by the Johnson & Johnson Bulletin about his new role, Vinnie stated “ ‘Our new radio program is designed to make community listeners as thoroughly acquainted with J&J and its employees as we all are now.’ ” [Johnson & Johnson Bulletin, September 1949, p. 6, “J&J On the Air!”]

Vinnie Utz (standing, second from left) meeting with colleagues about the Johnson & Johnson radio show.  From our archives.
Vinnie Utz (standing, second from left) meeting with colleagues about the Johnson & Johnson radio show. From our archives.

Vincent Utz remained a hero to the end. Tragically, he lost his life rescuing his father-in-law from a fire during the 1960s. His son Jeff Utz recalls: “He was a daredevil, a favorite of the neighborhood kids and our many cousins, and a man passionate about life. He was down to earth, but he had an intellectual side…” Vincent Utz exemplified the incredible value, skills and leadership that veterans bring to the workplace, and he epitomized the values in Our Credo, the guiding philosophy of Johnson & Johnson. The work he did decades ago paved the way for a growing variety of initiatives to spread ideas, build enthusiasm and find innovative ways to communicate at Johnson & Johnson today. In that respect, during his tenure at Johnson & Johnson, Vincent Utz helped set the stage for the future.

Thank you to the Utz family for sharing Vincent Utz's story!

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Laura Utz Petersen
NOVEMBER 11, 2015 06:36 PM

Thank you Margaret for this wonderful article about my dad. Unfortunately I was only seven when he lost his life in our house fire, so my memories are very vague. But fortunately my siblings and the many people who loved Vinnie Utz have garnered many anecdotes and interesting stories about him that I cherish and help to make me feel more connected. I immediately forwarded your article, after reading, to my son who is a Sophmore in college. I'm so sad that he never got to meet and know his awesome Grandpa but I know he is proud to be his Grandson, and you're article surely helps.
Thanks again ! Laura Utz Petersen

Donna Klass
NOVEMBER 12, 2015 10:23 AM

What a great story. Such great ideas this man brought forward. He truly was a hero and a great asset to our organization.

herbert F. Harrington
JANUARY 01, 2016 11:26 PM

I remember Vincent Utz when he was a member of the Bassick High School football team in Bridgeport, CT that was coached by my dad. My dad was very fond of Vinnie and I remember going to a Rutgers football game to see him play as a member of the Rutgers team. He was a remarkable man.

I would very much appreciate hearing from his daughter, Laura.

Fairfield, CT January 1, 2016

Marilou Brill
AUGUST 15, 2016 12:55 PM

My dad was friends w/ your father. Don't know the connection but mother & aunts did work for J&J and all family was from New Brunswick. I met your father at your house , don't remember when but I was grade school age and there was a young daughter. You? Anyway, my husband is chairing a fundraiser for wounded vets who want to attend Notre Dame (his alma mater). I remembered your dad; he has always been my idea of a true hero, esp. when that word gets so easily bandied about these days. Found this site when checking out my memory; am donating to fundraiser in your father's name and will have a link in program for others to check this out.

Patricia Howard
DECEMBER 22, 2016 11:37 AM

I met Vinnie in 1944. I was 9 yrs old and been bombed out of our family home near London. My Grandmother was the chef at Littlecote house which had been taken over by the 506th during the war. We, my mother and two brothers were given the use of a small cottage in the estate. We maintained our friendship with Vinnie and he and his wife visited my parents after the war. In 1954 I married a USAF member and moved to Texas. In 1958 I with my 3 yr old son visited the Utz family in NJ. On the birth of my second son in 1960 I received a large box containing J&jbaby products. I was devastated on hearing of Vinnie's death in the home fire
He was a great guy And a hero.

John Ossman
FEBRUARY 15, 2017 08:31 AM

I was a young child and lived next door to the Utz family in the 1960s and remember Mr. Utz and the Utz family well. My family and the Utz family had a close relationship with each other. Mr. Utz was a great guy and I remember what a good family man he was and the fact that losing his arm in the war didn’t hold him back one bit.

He climbed and pruned trees and drove a car and took me for a ride now and then. It was certainly a great loss to his family, but also to anyone that knew him when he died. A hero that was gone way too early.