John J. Byrne Jr. | Geico chairman, 80

John J. Byrne Jr., 80, the chairman and chief executive of Geico who was credited with leading the insurance giant from near-bankruptcy to profitability in the late 1970s - an achievement that remains one of the celebrated turnarounds in modern business history - died Thursday at his home in Etna, N.H. His death, from cancer, was confirmed by his colleague Bob Snyder.

For years, Mr. Byrne was one of the most prominent businessmen in Washington, and for decades, he was one of the most noted executives in his industry. He earned a memorable moniker from investor Warren Buffett, whose holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, has owned Geico since 1996. Mr. Byrne, Buffett said, was "the Babe Ruth of insurance."

- Washington Post