Tim Huff was more than qualified to be CEO of GTE. One of the best CEO's I've ever worked directly under was Phil D. Pryne, CEO of Emerson Electric division of Pryne Electronics. I put Huff in the same league as Pryne. Pryne was no showboat and neither was Huff. Both, in my opinion, were nose to the grindstone execs.
I know of no business school that offers a class entitled, "CEO 101." When I was very young, my father worked for A. J. Horton, President of the Burlington Railroad. Horton began his railroad career as a 14 year old waterboy on a Mexican track gang (Gandy Dancers). Horton knew every inch of rail from Waxahatchee, Texas to Denver Colorado, to Chicago, Illinois. My Dad said he was 'hard as nails,' but knew how to operate a railroad....from the track up. He didn't have an impressive collegiate resume....only a lot of experience and a 8th grade education.
I think Huff paid his dues as well. He always knew what he was talking about as far as I'm concerned. He never tried to BS me. I don't think Huff made a bad decision insofar as Internafta is concerned, I think he got caught up in one someone else made.
No man should be considered totally useless....because he can always serve as a bad example.
