Obituary for Malcolm Woodburn Gambill
Malcolm Woodburn Gambill was born on June 9, 1930 in Crumpler, NC, a rural community in the northwest corner of the state, near the Virginia and Tennessee borders. He was the eldest of four siblings. He was proud of his rural roots and jokingly claimed that he was not a hillbilly, but a more refined “Hill William.” Malcolm recalled dynamiting moonshine stills with his father, who worked for a time as a federal revenue agent.
A good student, Malcolm earned a scholarship to attend Yale University. Given the small size of Malcolm’s high school, he was asked to confirm his academic abilities by completing a post-graduate year at Phillips Academy Andover in Massachusetts. He continued on to Yale, playing on the Bulldogs’ football team and graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering in 1953.
After university, he did two years active duty in the USMCR, having completed basic and platoon leader training in the summers prior. He used his engineering knowledge to help construct roads and other projects at the Marine Corps bases in 29 Palms and in Barstow, California. The location afforded periodic trips to Los Angeles and Las Vegas with fellow Marines; sleeping in the car off the Vegas Strip was apparently one money-conserving strategy.
After his discharge, he joined Heckett Engineering, an industrial company providing specialized services to steel mills, based in Butler, Pennsylvania. He spent the entirety of his thirty-five year career with Heckett and its parent company, Harsco Corporation of Camp Hill, PA. He rose through the ranks, from a trainee, operating cranes and other heavy machinery, to the corporate Chairman and CEO.
Very early in his career, while working in Wales, he met his future wife, Helen Jones, who was finishing her medical doctor training. She had a boyfriend at the time, but Malcolm was undeterred. Helen’s local beau owned an MG convertible; so did Malcolm. But unlike his rival, Malcolm let Helen drive his car. That made all the difference.
They were married and began raising a family as Malcolm’s work assignments took them all from Wales, to Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Wales, Mexico and finally, Pennsylvania. The family lived in Butler, PA from 1971 until 1984, when Malcolm joined the Harsco corporate headquarters in Central Pennsylvania. He became CEO in 1987 and the Chairman of the Board in 1991, a role he held until he retired in 1994. Under his tenure, he oversaw the transformation of Harsco and its many divisions, propelling it into the Fortune 200.
His work literally took him across the globe - to steel mills, shop floors, factories, foundries, assembly lines, to boardrooms, military installations, and on several occasions, the White House. He recalled meeting President Clinton and each enjoyed learning that the other was also born at home, in a rural house with no indoor plumbing. “It’s more fun looking back on it than it was actually experiencing it,” said Clinton, to which Malcolm heartily agreed.
Malcolm’s greatest joy and accomplishment was his marriage to Helen. To have remained married after all his international business travel, especially early in his career, was no small feat. His successes were aided by Helen. She was his regular sounding board, counsel and confidant. His love and adoration for her never waned. His last words were to her; as he laid down on his last night he asked, “How are you?” Till the very end, his concern was focused on her.
He adored Helen’s native country of Wales and its people. Malcolm and Helen spent many summers enjoying the long light-filled days with family and friends in the small market town of Cowbridge. He liked to joke that he had rescued her from a Welsh coal mine where she was guiding the pit ponies pulling coal carts.
Malcolm’s humor, warmth and generosity will be well-remembered by many on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond. He was a loving, generous father and was delighted to see all his grandchildren flourishing. We will all miss him indeed, but are beyond grateful for his life, lessons and love.
We hope that you will take a few minutes to share your favorite recollections of Malcolm and upload a photo or two. Go to the "Memory Wall" and "Photos & Videos" tabs above to do so. Thank you, in advance.
Malcolm is survived by his wife, Helen; his children, Jonathan, Sally and Zander; their spouses; six grandchildren; a brother, Jerry; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be offered to The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
No public memorial services are yet planned.
Mr. Gambill's wife, Dr. Helen W. Gambill passed away in February of 2024. To read her written remembrances and to view her photos please click this link:
Dr. Helen W. Gambill's Book of Memories Page
A good student, Malcolm earned a scholarship to attend Yale University. Given the small size of Malcolm’s high school, he was asked to confirm his academic abilities by completing a post-graduate year at Phillips Academy Andover in Massachusetts. He continued on to Yale, playing on the Bulldogs’ football team and graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering in 1953.
After university, he did two years active duty in the USMCR, having completed basic and platoon leader training in the summers prior. He used his engineering knowledge to help construct roads and other projects at the Marine Corps bases in 29 Palms and in Barstow, California. The location afforded periodic trips to Los Angeles and Las Vegas with fellow Marines; sleeping in the car off the Vegas Strip was apparently one money-conserving strategy.
After his discharge, he joined Heckett Engineering, an industrial company providing specialized services to steel mills, based in Butler, Pennsylvania. He spent the entirety of his thirty-five year career with Heckett and its parent company, Harsco Corporation of Camp Hill, PA. He rose through the ranks, from a trainee, operating cranes and other heavy machinery, to the corporate Chairman and CEO.
Very early in his career, while working in Wales, he met his future wife, Helen Jones, who was finishing her medical doctor training. She had a boyfriend at the time, but Malcolm was undeterred. Helen’s local beau owned an MG convertible; so did Malcolm. But unlike his rival, Malcolm let Helen drive his car. That made all the difference.
They were married and began raising a family as Malcolm’s work assignments took them all from Wales, to Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Wales, Mexico and finally, Pennsylvania. The family lived in Butler, PA from 1971 until 1984, when Malcolm joined the Harsco corporate headquarters in Central Pennsylvania. He became CEO in 1987 and the Chairman of the Board in 1991, a role he held until he retired in 1994. Under his tenure, he oversaw the transformation of Harsco and its many divisions, propelling it into the Fortune 200.
His work literally took him across the globe - to steel mills, shop floors, factories, foundries, assembly lines, to boardrooms, military installations, and on several occasions, the White House. He recalled meeting President Clinton and each enjoyed learning that the other was also born at home, in a rural house with no indoor plumbing. “It’s more fun looking back on it than it was actually experiencing it,” said Clinton, to which Malcolm heartily agreed.
Malcolm’s greatest joy and accomplishment was his marriage to Helen. To have remained married after all his international business travel, especially early in his career, was no small feat. His successes were aided by Helen. She was his regular sounding board, counsel and confidant. His love and adoration for her never waned. His last words were to her; as he laid down on his last night he asked, “How are you?” Till the very end, his concern was focused on her.
He adored Helen’s native country of Wales and its people. Malcolm and Helen spent many summers enjoying the long light-filled days with family and friends in the small market town of Cowbridge. He liked to joke that he had rescued her from a Welsh coal mine where she was guiding the pit ponies pulling coal carts.
Malcolm’s humor, warmth and generosity will be well-remembered by many on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond. He was a loving, generous father and was delighted to see all his grandchildren flourishing. We will all miss him indeed, but are beyond grateful for his life, lessons and love.
We hope that you will take a few minutes to share your favorite recollections of Malcolm and upload a photo or two. Go to the "Memory Wall" and "Photos & Videos" tabs above to do so. Thank you, in advance.
Malcolm is survived by his wife, Helen; his children, Jonathan, Sally and Zander; their spouses; six grandchildren; a brother, Jerry; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be offered to The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
No public memorial services are yet planned.
Mr. Gambill's wife, Dr. Helen W. Gambill passed away in February of 2024. To read her written remembrances and to view her photos please click this link:
Dr. Helen W. Gambill's Book of Memories Page