Biography:Ralph M. Parsons
Ralph Monroe Parsons (c 1896–20 December 1974) was an American engineer and businessperson.[1] He was the founder of the Parsons Corporation.[2]
Biography
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 brother. He studied machine design at Pratt Institute and graduated in 1916.[2] He then enlisted in the US Navy, leaving in the mid-1920s to specialize in oil refinery engineering.
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.[4]
References
- ↑ Howard, David B. (June 20, 2010). International Encyclopedia of Civil Society. Springer US. pp. 1127–1127. 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 "RALPH M. PARSONS, INDUSTRIALIST, 78". 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/.
- ↑ "The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation of Pasadena...". August 16, 1992. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-16-ga-6630-story.html.
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