Alexander McCormick Sturm
Encyclopedia
Alexander McCormick "Sandy" Sturm (1923 – November 13, 1951) was an American artist and writer who was a co-founder of Sturm, Ruger
, a firearms manufacturer. Sturm was well-connected, being the son of sculptor Justin Sturm, and the nephew of World War I flier Alexander McCormick, Jr.
As a writer and artist, he was, during his life, perhaps best known for his two popular illustrated children's books, The Problem Fox and From Ambush to Zig-zag, both published before he graduated from Yale, and for his playboy bon vivant lifestyle among the rich and famous.
Sturm married Paulina Longworth
, the daughter of Alice Lee Roosevelt Longworth (then wife of Speaker of the House Nicholas Longworth
) and her lover, Senator William Borah, in 1944. They had a daughter, Joanna Sturm
.
He is perhaps best known today for his $50,000 seed-money investment in co-founding Sturm, Ruger & Company in 1949, that was prompted by his interest in guns and his friendship with William B. Ruger
. Ruger provided the technical know-how; Sturm provided the Germanic heraldic-based red eagle logo and all of the financial backing necessary for starting the fledgling firearms business.
Because of severe asthma, Sturm was unable to serve in the military in World War II. Always sickly, Alexander Sturm became seriously ill in 1951 with hepatitis
and died suddenly and unexpectedly. The Sturm, Ruger trademark, which had been a red eagle, was changed to a black eagle by his friend Bill Ruger to mourn the death of his business partner.
Following his death, his wife, Paulina Longworth Sturm
, died of a drug overdose in 1957. Their daughter Joanna Sturm
was raised by her grandmother Alice Roosevelt Longworth
, who was the daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt
.
Sturm, Ruger
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Incorporated is a Southport, Connecticut-based firearm manufacturing company, better known by the shortened name Ruger. Sturm, Ruger produces bolt-action, semi-automatic, full-automatic, and single-shot rifles, shotguns, semi-automatic pistols, and single- and double-action...
, a firearms manufacturer. Sturm was well-connected, being the son of sculptor Justin Sturm, and the nephew of World War I flier Alexander McCormick, Jr.
As a writer and artist, he was, during his life, perhaps best known for his two popular illustrated children's books, The Problem Fox and From Ambush to Zig-zag, both published before he graduated from Yale, and for his playboy bon vivant lifestyle among the rich and famous.
Sturm married Paulina Longworth
Paulina Longworth
Paulina Longworth Sturm was the only child of Alice Roosevelt, and the granddaughter of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt....
, the daughter of Alice Lee Roosevelt Longworth (then wife of Speaker of the House Nicholas Longworth
Nicholas Longworth
Nicholas Longworth IV was a prominent American politician in the Republican Party during the first few decades of the 20th century...
) and her lover, Senator William Borah, in 1944. They had a daughter, Joanna Sturm
Joanna Sturm
Joanna Mercedes Alessandra Sturm , philanthropist, historian is a great-granddaughter of 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and the granddaughter of Alice Roosevelt Longworth...
.
He is perhaps best known today for his $50,000 seed-money investment in co-founding Sturm, Ruger & Company in 1949, that was prompted by his interest in guns and his friendship with William B. Ruger
William B. Ruger
William Batterman Ruger partnered with Alexander McCormick Sturm in 1949 to establish Sturm, Ruger & Company. Their first product was the Ruger Standard, the most popular .22 caliber target pistol ever made in the US...
. Ruger provided the technical know-how; Sturm provided the Germanic heraldic-based red eagle logo and all of the financial backing necessary for starting the fledgling firearms business.
Because of severe asthma, Sturm was unable to serve in the military in World War II. Always sickly, Alexander Sturm became seriously ill in 1951 with hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
and died suddenly and unexpectedly. The Sturm, Ruger trademark, which had been a red eagle, was changed to a black eagle by his friend Bill Ruger to mourn the death of his business partner.
Following his death, his wife, Paulina Longworth Sturm
Paulina Longworth
Paulina Longworth Sturm was the only child of Alice Roosevelt, and the granddaughter of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt....
, died of a drug overdose in 1957. Their daughter Joanna Sturm
Joanna Sturm
Joanna Mercedes Alessandra Sturm , philanthropist, historian is a great-granddaughter of 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and the granddaughter of Alice Roosevelt Longworth...
was raised by her grandmother Alice Roosevelt Longworth
Alice Roosevelt Longworth
Alice Lee Roosevelt Longworth was the oldest child of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. She was the only child of Roosevelt and his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee....
, who was the daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
.