Ralph Monroe Parsons (c. 1896 – 20 December 1974, aged 78) was an American engineer and businessperson.[1] He was the founder of the Parsons Corporation.[2]
Biography
editParsons 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.
References
edit- ^ 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 – via Springer Link.
- ^ a b c d e "Ralph M. Parsons, Industrialist, 78". The New York Times. December 21, 1974. Page 30, column 4. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ "Star News Newspaper Archives, Dec 20, 1974, p. 75". Star News. December 20, 1974.