Following Read's death in 1916, Dillon bought a majority interest in the firm and was chosen to head the company.

He succeeded in crafting a settlement with Goodyear's bankers, creditors, and stockholders as well as raising more than $100 million in funding in an extremely difficult credit market.

In 1925, only four years later, Dillon bought the Dodge Brothers Company for $146 million in cash which was the largest such transaction in industrial history at the time.

Dillon negotiated for months to purchase Château Haut-Brion from Bordeaux businessman André Gibert who had controlled the French wine producer since 1923.

[12][13][14] Clarence purchased miniature poodle show dog Fontclair Festoon from Dody Jenkins.

Anne was the daughter of George Douglass and his wife and second cousin Susan Virginia Dun.

[16][17] Together, Clarence and Anne were the parents of a son and daughter: Dillon died on April 14, 1979, at his home in Far Hills, New Jersey.