Biography:Ralph M. Parsons
Ralph Monroe Parsons (c. 1896 – 20 December 1974) was an American engineer and businessman.[1] He was the founder of the Parsons Corporation.[2]
Biography
Born in 1896 in Springs, Long Island,[1] Parsons was interested in engineering from an early age.
At age 13, he opened a garage and machine shop in Amagansett, Long Island, with his older brother.[1] He studied steam and machine design at Pratt Institute, and graduated in 1916.[2] He enlisted in the US Navy as a machinist's mate, with intentions to get training and experience in aeronautical engineering, and was discharged in 1921 as a lieutenant (j.g.). After that he took a job as a civilian aeronautical engineer for the Navy, till the mid-1920s when he left to specialize in oil refinery engineering.[1][2]
During World War II, Parsons formed a partnership with Stephen D. Bechtel (later his chief rival) and John A. McCone (later head of the Central Intelligence Agency). In 1944, he founded Ralph M. Parsons Company.[2] The company managed the construction of petroleum refineries, chemical plants, mines, metallurgical facilities, missile and space vehicle launching facilities and nuclear plants.[2]
Parsons remained chairman and chief executive officer of the company until his death.[2] He died aged 78 in December 1974 in San Marino, California.[3] The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation is named after him.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Howard, David B. (June 20, 2010). Anheier, Helmut K.; Toepler, Stefan. eds. International Encyclopedia of Civil Society. Springer US. p. 1127. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-93996-4_265. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-93996-4_265.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Ralph M. Parsons, Industrialist, 78". The New York Times: Page 30, column 4. December 21, 1974. https://www.nytimes.com/1974/12/21/archives/ralph-m-parsons-industrialist-78-engineering-finn-founder-refinery.html.
- ↑ "Star News Newspaper Archives, Dec 20, 1974, p. 75". December 20, 1974. https://newspaperarchive.com/star-news-dec-20-1974-p-75/.
 |  |
