(1885-1966)

Thomas Edgar Stephens (British/American, 1885-1966)

Loan Courtesy of the Western Reserve Historical Society

Born in Cheboygan, Michigan, George Humphrey enjoyed a distinguished career as a lawyer, industrialist, president of the M.A. Hanna Company and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1952 to 1956. He had worked in his father’s law firm before making the move to Cleveland in 1918, when he was hired as general counsel for the M.A. Hanna Company. At Hanna he became partner in 1920 in charge of iron-ore properties and operations, vice president following the company’s incorporation in 1922, then president (1929-1952) bringing it to profitability after a $2 million deficit. Humphrey was tapped to lead the Reparations Survey Committee following WW-II, advising the Allies on strategies for dismantling German industry. As Eisenhower’s Secretary of the Treasury, Humphrey led the Administration’s campaign to reduce the Federal budget and size of government, cut inflation, and stimulate private investment. He resigned from the post in 1957, returned to Cleveland, and focused his philanthropic energies in the medical field.

NYTimes article on Humphrey’s role as Secretary of Treasury

NYTimes article on Humphrey’s retirement

ABOUT THE ARTIST: Welsh born portraitist Thomas Edgar Stephens, who created this likeliness of Humphrey studied first at the Art School of Cardiff University, then at the Heatherly School in London, and still later at the Julian Academy in Paris. He moved to the US in 1929 and was later naturalized. After giving a lecture to the Art Club of the United States Military Academy in 1950, he was commissioned by the Academy to paint the portraits of the Army’s foremost generals of World War II. Later, he woud go on to pain the images of President and Mrs. Eisenhower for the White House as well as many portraits of the Eisenhower cabinet secretaries. Stephens was most proud of the fact that he convinced President Eisenhower to begin painting as a hobby. In addition , Thomas Stephens executed the final portrait of Winston Churchill painted from life.