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Red Dye in His Veins

Jefferson in His Heart

John S. Thackrah '53

Philadelphia Textile Institute alumnus John S. Thackrah ’53 hails from a long line of Jeffersonians whose legacies have been interwoven through the fabric of the textile industry for generations.

“I grew up in a family of textile people,” he says. “I’m very proud of the fact that my father, uncle, and grandfathers went to Philadelphia Textile School. Both grandfathers were part owners of their mills, and my father was the owner of the Vila Co., a Philadelphia distributer of dyes and chemicals.”

Growing up, where Thackrah would go to college was a constant discussion among his family. “Eventually, they all agreed that I probably had red dye in my veins,” he says. “So after I got out of high school, I joined the Navy and then had an opportunity to go to Philadelphia Textile Institute.”

Thackrah raves about his college experience. Two special professors profoundly influenced him. “Harry Birkby and Bob Kenyon were responsible for the ‘dye’ end of my education,” he explains. “I greatly appreciated what they taught me that got me started in my career.  I was also a member of Phi Psi Fraternity, where I met many of the friends that I had in school. Many of these friendships lasted for years after graduation. We had so many great memories, had a lot of fun, and worked hard. I met my bride-to-be, Doris, when we were at Germantown High School. She was a great supporter throughout my journey. It was a true partnership.”

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and dyeing, Thackrah and Doris married, and he embarked on an incredibly successful career with DuPont in the fields of textile dyes, colored pigments, and specialty chemicals. Starting as a textile dyes chemical representative and salesman, Thackrah rose through the ranks. His career took him all over the world, culminating in a position as sales and marketing director of the Specialty Chemicals DuPont Strategic Business Unit.

Thackrah was always active in the stock market, and after retirement took his keen interest in investing to the next level. He and a friend started Quality Value Investment Club (QVIC), which grew to 35 members and ran for five years. With Thackrah at the helm, they more than doubled members’ investments. He also started a wooden toy business called PEG-EM which was very successful. This experience taught him many valuable lessons about starting up, investing in, and operating a business.   

Today, he shares his wisdom and personal portfolio management style with students as a guest lecturer once or twice each year for Jefferson professor Tim Mooney’s “Personal Financial Planning” class. “I love their questions,” he says. “I love how bright and interested they are, and I have enjoyed every one of them.” He also supports student scholarships through the Thackrah Endowed Scholarship, which he established in 2021.

At the end of 2024, Jefferson announced Thackrah’s transformational gift to the School of Business to launch the Thackrah Capital Markets Research Lab.

The Thackrah Lab will enrich the School’s curriculum and empower students through the availability of live market news, analytics, and research tools. Powered by 12 Bloomberg terminals and other systems utilized by leading business and financial companies for making investment decisions, the Thackrah Lab will not only offer students a state-of-the-art learning environment, but also the competitive advantages necessary to succeed in today’s data- and AI-driven business climate.  

“I attribute a great deal of my success to my Philadelphia Textile Institute education,” Thackrah says. “When I learned that Thomas Jefferson University wanted to add a capital market research laboratory, I knew I wanted to contribute and give Jefferson students a competitive edge in a highly competitive world. The Thackrah Capital Markets Research Lab reflects me, as well as my grandparents, father, and uncles who attended this school, and expresses an appreciation for what it has done for my whole family.”

Thackrah’s family and its legacy is never far from his mind. “I married my high school sweetheart, and we were married for 67 years,” he shares. “We had two children, four grandchildren, and I now have two great-grandchildren. I’m very proud that the Thackrah name—our family—is doing some good for others. I have the pleasure in my lifetime of seeing this money being used in a way that will be helpful to students in their careers for a long, long time.”

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