CASPER, Wyo. (AP) – Archie R. McCardell, a former Connecticut resident who headed International Harvester during a pivotal 172-day labor strike in 1979, has died in Casper at age 81.

McCardell died Friday at a Casper hospital from a heart-related problem, said his daughter, Laurie McCardell of Casper.

McCardell joined International Harvester, the Chicago-based manufacturer of agriculture equipment and machinery, as president in 1977 and became chief executive officer a few months later.

International Harvester posted record earnings of nearly $400 million in 1979, but began struggling when 35,000 employees represented by the United Auto Workers walked out Nov. 1 of that year. A settlement wasn’t reached until April 1980.

International Harvester lost millions of dollars during the strike. Combined with the effects of a recession, the company started selling off units. The firm took the name Navistar in 1986.

McCardell resigned from International Harvester in May 1982.

McCardell was born in Michigan and served in the Army Air Corps before receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business from the University of Michigan. He worked for Ford Motor Co. and Xerox, where he was president and chief operating officer, before joining International Harvester.

After leaving International Harvester, McCardell worked in businesses with his family in Connecticut, where he lived at the former Pepperidge Farm estate in Fairfield. He moved to Casper to be closer to family members in 1998, and split time between homes in Casper and Savannah, Ga., Laurie McCardell said.

McCardell is survived by his wife, Margaret, a son, Clay, two daughters, Sandra and Laurie, three siblings and five grandchildren.

Services were held Tuesday in Casper.