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Clayton Lee Mathile (pronounced [Muh-til]), born on January 11, 1941, and known as Clay, is an American entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, best known for leading The Iams Company to nearly $1 billion in sales before selling it to Procter & Gamble for $2.3 billion in 1999. Mathile and his family have devoted a significant portion of their wealth to charitable efforts to improve education, help children in need, and eradicate world hunger and malnutrition.

Early Life and Education Mathile was born the oldest child of Wilbert “Bill” Ray Mathile and Helen Good Mathile (married in 1939) in the northwest Ohio town of Portage, where his parents owned and operated a 40-acre farm. Working on the farm in his youth instilled a strong work ethic in Mathile and fostered an abiding interest in business.

Mathile graduated at age 16 from Portage High School, ranking first among 14 students, before enrolling in Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. He initially studied mechanical engineering before transferring to the business school. Mathile graduated with a business degree in February 1962 and married MaryAnn Maas on July 7.

Career and Corporate Leadership Mathile began his career as an accountant at a General Motors manufacturing plant in Toledo, Ohio. A year later, he joined the Campbell Soup Company, where he remained for seven years.

In 1970, Mathile accepted a leadership role at a small, regional pet food manufacturer: The Iams Food Company in Dayton, Ohio. In 1975, Mathile purchased half ownership of the company from founder and owner Paul Iams for $100,000; seven years later he acquired the remaining ownership shares, becoming sole owner and CEO in 1982.

Mathile oversaw The Iams Company’s rapid growth, focusing strongly on marketing, customer and vendor relations, product quality, and research and development, going so far as to found a research and development center named for company founder Paul Iams.

By 1999, Mathile had grown The Iams Company to a 5.7 percent share of the U.S. pet food market and international sales of 100 different products in 75 countries. After a lengthy search, he sold the privately held, family-owned company to international conglomerate Procter & Gamble for $2.3 billion. He distributed $100 million of the sale proceeds among Iams employees, committed $100 million to fund large-scale, community projects in the Dayton area , and distributed substantial, equal portions to his adult children.

Family and Philanthropy

Despite his significant business achievements, Mathile insists that his most important roles are those of husband, father of five, and grandfather of 15. Driven by a strong sense of stewardship and service, Mathile, Mary Ann, and their family determined to devote a significant portion of their wealth to initiatives to foster hope and inspire change in the Dayton region and around the world. To pursue this vision, the family has launched numerous programs including:


 * Aileron : A $130 million, 114-acre campus dedicated to helping private businesses grow. Since 1996, Aileron has been dedicated to helping private businesses employ disciplined approaches to raise the overall effectiveness of their organizations.


 * The Mathile Family Foundation : Since 1989, the Foundation has granted more than $230 million to nonprofit organizations that help children and families in need. In addition to numerous smaller grants, a $100 million fund within the foundation, known as the Mathile Community Awards, grants $5 million annually to large-scale projects consistent with the Foundation's mission:To create opportunities for children in need by focusing support to children and their families who have already exhibited the motivation to succeed.


 * The Glen at St. Joseph : This campus for single mothers and their young children realizes a longtime dream of Mary Ann Mathile. The Glen enables mothers to pursue their educational and career goals while their children attend a state-of-the-art early learning center on the campus. Many of the women participating in Glen programs have confronted domestic violence, abuse, generational poverty, and other trauma.


 * The Mathile Institute for the Advancement of Human Nutrition :The institute seeks to apply the expertise Mathile and his team gained while improving pet nutrition to develop sustainable, evidence-based solutions to fight hunger and malnutrition around the world.


 * Ongoing Entrepreneurial Efforts Mathile and his family also continue to invest time and resources to establish and grow promising businesses. These entities operate under the umbrella of Myrian Capital in Dayton, Ohio, founded and chaired by the Mathiles’ youngest son, Mike Mathile.

Honors and Awards


 * Ohio Northern University, Honorary doctorate in business, 1991
 * Ernst & Young, Entrepreneur of the Year Award, National Finalist, 1999
 * Ernst & Young, Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Supporter of Entrepreneurship Award Winner, South Central Ohio & Kentucky Region, 1999
 * Dayton Business Journal, Regional Leader of the Year, 2008
 * Better Business Bureau, Dayton Chapter, Inaugural Torch Award, 2010