Dr Harrison Gough

During World War II, Dr. Gough served in the U.S. armed forces. His first assignment was to the Air Crew Selection Program, considered by many psychologists to be the outstanding example of applied psychology in the history of the field. There, he would later remark, he learned that psychological tests, properly used, could forecast complex and important outcomes. Later he was assigned to a large military hospital as a clinical psychologist. 

After the war, Dr. Gough developed the CPI™ instrument with one main goal: to meet the high psychometric standards set by the aviation selection program, but always with primary emphasis on understanding the individual respondent. With this goal in mind, Dr. Gough set out to find a way to publish the CPI tool. 

In 1956, Dr. Gough formed a lifelong partnership with his friend and colleague John D. (Jack) Black, PhD, then Director of Counseling and Testing Services at Stanford University, to publish the CPI assessment. Together they co-founded Consulting Psychologists Press (now CPP, Inc.), with the CPI assessment as its first product. To date, the CPI tool has helped thousands of individuals, including many executives and leaders, reach their full potential by targeting key areas of development. 

In the 58 years since its inception, CPP has grown and flourished, thanks in part to Dr. Gough’s numerous contributions, both as a founder and as a member of the CPP Board of Directors for 40 years (1956–1996). Dr. Gough’s vision of creating a company culture that promotes growth and inspiration guides the company to this day. Dr. Gough touched many lives, and, as you will read in the stories we share about him, his example of making a difference lives on through all of us. I speak for everyone at CPP when I extend my condolences to Dr. Gough’s wife, Kathryn, and his daughter, Jane Rhodes. 

I count myself very fortunate to have had the honor and privilege of knowing Harrison Gough. In addition to being brilliant, he was also a kind, caring, and loving family man. It always made me feel good just to be around Harrison and his wife, Kathryn, and to witness the love they had for each other and for their family. Dr. Gough was a giant in his field, and to us, more personally, he was a major force in the creation of CPP. He will be sorely missed by many, myself included. 

~ Jeff Hayes, President & CEO, CPP, Inc.