Key Dates in Philip Hawley’s Career

1958: Joins The Broadway department store chain as a women’s sportswear buyer.

1968: Named chairman and chief executive of The Broadway; Becomes president of Broadway’s parent company, Broadway-Hale Stores.

1974: Parent company’s name changed to Carter Hawley Hale Stores to reflect leadership roles of Edward W. Carter and Hawley.

1977: Gains additional title of chief executive officer. During his tenure as CEO for the next 15 years, the company’s annual profits consistently fall below the retailing industry average.

1983: Named chairman, replacing Carter, while retaining title of CEO.

1984: Leads company in thwarting a takeover attempt by Leslie Wexner’s the Limited chain.

1986: Blocks a second takeover bid, a combined offer from the Limited and the Edward J. DeBartolo Corp., by announcing a major restructuring.

1987: Completes complicated anti-takeover restructuring that spins off the company’s crown jewels--Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Contempo Casuals stores. The move also put the biggest block of Carter Hawley stock in the hands of employees, some of whom later suffer heavy losses after the stock price plummets.

1990: Says in an interview that he plans to continue as CEO for four more years, to fulfill a request from the board and to complete the company’s reorganization.

Feb. 11, 1991: Carter Hawley files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

July 25, 1991: Zell/Chilmark Fund, a Chicago investment group headed by an old business associate of Hawley’s, Sam Zell, announces an offer to acquire control of the company and pull it out of bankruptcy. Zell says no management changes are contemplated.

Oct. 8, 1992: Carter Hawley emerges from bankruptcy.

Oct. 9, 1992: Hawley announces, at age 67, plans to retire from active management on Jan. 31, 1993. Hawley says that his goal of positioning the company as “a strong and viable competitor” has been accomplished. Plans to continue serving on board.