Distinguished Corporate Citizenship Award

Charles M. Denny, JR.

Chairman & CEO, Retired of ADC Telecommunications

December 15, 1998

This award recognizes one who embodies the mission of the Minnesota Center for Corporate Responsibility. This person's sustained and imaginative leadership stands as a model for all of us and for future business leaders. We are proud of their exemplary service to business and to all of our communities. 

The following remarks were made by Tony Andersen, Chair of the H.B. Fuller Company, at MCCR's annual meeting.

Chuck Denny’s outstanding service and deep commitment to our Twin Cities communities and institutions is reflected in the awards and recognition he has already received:

• Minnesota Business Hall of Fame, 1982

• Doctor of Humane Letters from the College of St. Catherine, 1992

• Distinguished Citizen Award, City of Minneapolis, 1995

• Minnesota High Technology Hall of Fame, 1997

• Hubert H. Humphrey Medallion from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, 1998

• Hames Alumni Award, St. Thomas Academy, 1998

Tonight, we propose to signal our appreciation and respect for his accomplishments by conferring upon him the Minnesota Center for Corporate Responsibility Distinguished Corporate Citizenship Award.

Charles M. Denny, Jr. has always worn more than one hat. We all know him as the exemplary corporate leader of ADC Telecommunications. He served many years as ADC’s President, CEO and Chairman, and he is still universally respected and admired by his former ADC colleagues.

Let me share, for a moment, a few of the things we learned about Chuck when we started asking the question – "what is it that distinguishes his service to our community?"

Many echo the view of Citizens League Executive Director Lyle Wray who told us that Chuck Denny is a "nonprofit’s dream board member." They described him as that rare individual who is willing to put his talents and insight at the service of an organization without imposing his own views. He was described as a CEO who was always willing to role up his sleeves and do the grunt work that board members sometimes need to do. What is more, they all knew that if Chuck said he would do the job – he would do it, and do it well.

Our informants also said: "he is no push over." Chuck Denny is no "yes-man." He speaks his mind, and is known from organization to organization for giving wise and valued counsel. On occasion his candor has probably ruffled a few feathers, but all of our contacts remark that he can "tell it like it is" without alienating those with whom he works.

Those who know him well are struck by his deep commitment to equity and justice in our society. Joe Selvaggio, founder of PPL, the Project for Pride in Living, talked about Chuck’s belief that everyone deserves a job. Joe described Chuck’s work to build a partnership between PPL Industries and ADC Telecommunications. That partnership put many many people to work building crates and assembling electronic components for ADC. Selvaggio still relishes the image of Chuck Denny bringing about 30 blue-suited executives and managers to PPL’s plant at 5^th and Washington and facing off with 30 plaid-shirted Native American workers as they all tried to work out the contract between ADC and PPL. Fifteen years later the partnership is still in place.

Chuck chaired the PPL Industries Board of Directors, and Joe Selvaggio said that when it was time for Chuck to leave the Board he did another "spectacular thing" -- he made sure that his replacement was equally capable.

Anita Pampusch is now president of the Bush Foundation. But when she was president of the College of St. Catherine and learned that Chuck would be on the Board of Trustees, Anita decided that she had better find out what he was all about. So she went to hear him deliver a homily to the congregation of St. Joan of Arc in south Minneapolis. His topic --- the obligation of business to provide work for the poor. She learned later that his values and his fervent commitment to fairness arose from deep family roots. And it turned out that Chuck wasn’t the first in his family to serve on the Board of Trustees at St. Catherine. His grandmother had that distinction --- as the first lay woman on the Board of Trustees.

In December 1994 in the Star Tribune, columnist Dick Youngblood wrote:

"Chuck Denny, a savvy business executive with an impressive record of community service, has just used up six months of his well-earned retirement as Interim Director of a political snakepit called the Minneapolis Community Development Agency (MCDA)."

That was a tough assignment, and it was a classic example of Chuck’s willingness to step forward when asked to serve. Rebecca Yanisch, the recently retired MCDA director who succeeded Chuck in the post, told us why his contribution to the City of Minneapolis and to the MCDA was important. She lauded his ability to see the "big picture" but also care for the individual. She said he was totally aghast at the governance problems facing the MCDA, but she said his insight, analysis and recommendations helped streamline agency decision making, separate governance and operations, and make the agency more customer friendly. Here too, the community became a better place because of his service.

Chuck Denny has been a tremendous friend to the Minnesota Center for Corporate Responsibility. He has served ably on our Board of Directors. He accepted the challenge of chairing a Strategic Planning Committee for the Center. He has been candid in his assessments of our accomplishments -- and our shortcomings. And he has always inspired us to do our very best.

It is of singular importance to MCCR that Chuck played a key role in drafting the Minnesota Principles when he was CEO of ADC. It was that document that he and Bob MacGregor took to the Caux Round Table at one of its annual meetings in Switzerland. Chuck was instrumental in convincing the Round Table to adopt the Minnesota Principles, which as you know are now known worldwide as the Caux Round Table Principles for Business. Chuck also spoke on the Principles to Japanese business leaders at the Keidandren in a speech that was broadcast throughout Japan and in parts of Asia. In no small way, Chuck helped MCCR to establish its global presence.

More than one Twin Cities leader upon hearing of this award said –

"This is one case where there could be no more worthy recipient."

Repeatedly and generously, Chuck Denny has put his business skills, experience and stature in the service of vital community initiatives. That is, indeed, what this award is all about.

Chuck we are all delighted to have you and your family with us tonight.

In this country, we can’t give you a knighthood ---- but we are extremely proud to award you the Minnesota Center for Corporate Responsibility Distinguished Citizenship Award.

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