Business: The Engineer of Success

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Says a union leader: "T will sit down and tell you a few raunchy jokes." But Wilson does not sentimentalize his associates as part of the Boeing "family"; he regards them as a group of competent engineers and draftsmen united for a common cause. "I am grading them all the time," he says. "There is no use patting everybody on the popo when they may be in the wrong environment."

Wilson sets the company standards for first-class engineering. He has surrounded himself with top aeronautical specialists, who had better know their stuff when they make presentations to top management. Wilson grows downright testy at numbers that do not add up or equations that are faulty. The dictum around headquarters: "Wilson doesn't want history. Give it to him on an 8-in. by 10-in. piece of paper and be sure your numbers are right."

Boeing's boss can also be a persuasive salesman. His was one of the first American companies to do business with the Chinese, who ordered ten 707s in 1972. Several weeks ago, as the Pentagon was coming down to the wire on the cruise missile contract, Wilson left for Peking to deliver the first of three 7475P aircraft costing $60 million each. He was on his way home via Hong Kong, London and New York City when the Pentagon announced its decision.

While growing up in Missouri, Wilson used to try to flatten dollar bills under his pillow before taking them off to the bank. With that same tightfisted search for no-wrinkles efficiency, he has engineered Boeing's success.