Interview with James Murfin Felker : Alumni Stories

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract: James Felker (AB Economics, 1960) reflects on his father’s bankruptcy which cut his senior year short and immediately sent him into the workforce. He discusses his freshman year, the process to get a fake ID, and his experiences in the El Campo eating club. He speaks about the first job he undertook at The First National City Bank of New York, which sent him all over the world. Felker also reflects on his experience climbing the ladder toward being president of a multinational diesel engine company, as well as later starting his own company as a franchisee of American Express financial advisors. Lastly, he shares his opinion about the current state of academia.

Type of resource	text
Extent	1 text file
Place	Stanford (Calif.)
Publisher	Stanford Historical Society
Date created	October 21, 2022 -
Language	English
Digital origin	born digital

Interviewee	Felker, James Murfin
Creator	Felker, James Murfin
Interviewer	Marine-Street, Natalie J.
Publisher	Stanford Historical Society

Subject	Stanford University. Students > 1950s
Subject	Universities and colleges
Subject	College students
Genre	Interview

Biographical Profile	Due to parental transfers, I grew up in various places including Mexico for 5 years. About age 15, I concluded my future lay outside of Mexico and I aspired to be chief executive of a multinational company. This logic led to Stanford and a degree in economics. Then I worked in banking and manufacturing for 35 years located in 5 different countries including 13 years in based in England. The career path took me through corporate finance to sales/marketing to chief executive with, at one point, about 8,000 employees under my supervision. Around age 55, my interest shifted away from manufacturing, and I become chief executive of a California environmental engineering company which lasted a few years, but the market was too bureaucratic for my liking. I then started my own business of financial advice and investing for individuals with Silicon Valley "techies" as clients. After 15 years of successful activity, I had reached 70 years old and decided to sell the business and retired in 2010.
Audio	Title Audio
Finding Aid	Title Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program Interviews
Location	https://purl.stanford.edu/zs122py7617
Location	SC0932
Repository	Stanford University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and University Archives

Use and reproduction: The materials are open for research use and may be used freely for non-commercial purposes with an attribution. For commercial permission requests, please contact the Stanford University Archives (universityarchives@stanford.edu).

Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program interviews, 1999-2022

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