John M. Olin
Encyclopedia
John Merrill Olin was an American businessman. He was the son of Franklin W. Olin
.
, Illinois
, Olin graduated from Cornell University
with a B.Sc. degree in chemistry and as a brother of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. With major financial contributions to the School of Business
and the Olin Library at Washington University in St. Louis
, both buildings were named after him. In addition, Olin Library at Cornell University bears his name, as does a classroom building, Olin Hall, at Johns Hopkins University http://www.jhu.edu/tour/olin.html.
He married twice. By his first wife, the former Adele Levis, a granddaughter of the founder of Illinois Glass Company, he had two daughters, Adele Louise and Georgene.
With his second wife, Evelyn Brown, he had one stepdaughter, Evelyn.
, a predecessor of Olin Industries, Inc. In 1935, following Western Cartridge's acquisition of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company
, he was named First Vice-President of the merged Winchester-Western and head of the Winchester division. He became President of Olin Industries in 1944 and upon merger of the company with Mathieson Chemical Corporation
in 1954 became Chairman of the Board of the new corporation, named Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation. Subsequently the name was shortened to Olin Corporation. Mr. Olin retired as Chairman of the Board in 1957 to become Chairman of the Executive Committee, a position he held until he was elected Honorary Chairman of the Board in 1963.
Olin was an inventor or co-inventor of 24 United States patents in the field of arms and ammunition manufacture and design and was responsible for numerous developments in ballistics.
John Merrill Olin died in 1982 at age 89 at his home in East Hampton, New York
.
racehorses
, notably winning the 1963 Epsom Oaks
with the filly, Noblesse
, and the 1974 Kentucky Derby
with the colt, Cannonade
.
His granddaughter, Adele B. Dilschneider, is also a Thoroughbred owner and breeder whose memberships has included the Kentucky Derby Museum
, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the American Horse Council, the Thoroughbred Club of America, and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
.
Franklin W. Olin
Franklin Walter Olin was the founder of the Olin Corporation.He was born in Woodford, Vermont and his father built mills and waterwheels. He studied civil engineering at Cornell University, where he also played baseball; he would play as an outfielder in the American Association for two seasons...
.
Early life
Born in AltonAlton, Illinois
Alton is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about north of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 27,865 at the 2010 census. It is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area in Southern Illinois...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Olin graduated from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
with a B.Sc. degree in chemistry and as a brother of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. With major financial contributions to the School of Business
John M. Olin School of Business
-MBA Program:Admission at Olin is highly competitive. For the class of 2010, there were over 1,200 applications received for 145 seats. Olin has four main rounds and after June they have rolling admissions....
and the Olin Library at Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, both buildings were named after him. In addition, Olin Library at Cornell University bears his name, as does a classroom building, Olin Hall, at Johns Hopkins University http://www.jhu.edu/tour/olin.html.
He married twice. By his first wife, the former Adele Levis, a granddaughter of the founder of Illinois Glass Company, he had two daughters, Adele Louise and Georgene.
With his second wife, Evelyn Brown, he had one stepdaughter, Evelyn.
Business
Olin started his career in 1913 as a chemical engineer for his father's Western Cartridge CompanyWestern Cartridge Company
The Western Cartridge Company manufactures small arms and ammunitions. Founded in 1898, it was the forerunner of the Olin Corporation, formed in 1944, of which Western is still a subsidiary, and is based in East Alton, Illinois, USA...
, a predecessor of Olin Industries, Inc. In 1935, following Western Cartridge's acquisition of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company
Winchester Repeating Arms Company
The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was a prominent American maker of repeating firearms, located in New Haven, Connecticut. The Winchester brand is today used under license by two subsidiaries of the Herstal Group, Fabrique Nationale of Belgium and the Browning Arms Company of Morgan, Utah.-...
, he was named First Vice-President of the merged Winchester-Western and head of the Winchester division. He became President of Olin Industries in 1944 and upon merger of the company with Mathieson Chemical Corporation
Olin Corp.
The Olin Corporation is a major manufacturer of ammunition and chlorine and sodium hydroxide . Based in Clayton, Missouri, it traces its history to two companies, both founded in 1892: Franklin W...
in 1954 became Chairman of the Board of the new corporation, named Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation. Subsequently the name was shortened to Olin Corporation. Mr. Olin retired as Chairman of the Board in 1957 to become Chairman of the Executive Committee, a position he held until he was elected Honorary Chairman of the Board in 1963.
Olin was an inventor or co-inventor of 24 United States patents in the field of arms and ammunition manufacture and design and was responsible for numerous developments in ballistics.
John Merrill Olin died in 1982 at age 89 at his home in East Hampton, New York
East Hampton (town), New York
The Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York...
.
Thoroughbred horse racing
John and Evelyn Olin bred and raced a number of ThoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, notably winning the 1963 Epsom Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
with the filly, Noblesse
Noblesse (horse)
Noblesse was a champion thoroughbred racehorse and was also the greatest filly ever trained in Ireland. Owned by American Evelyn Olin, she was sired by Mossborough, who also sired the great Ballymoss, and was out of the mare Duke's Delight...
, and the 1974 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
with the colt, Cannonade
Cannonade
For the cannon see CarronadeCannonade was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the winner of the 1974 Kentucky Derby. Owned and bred by prominent businessman John M. Olin, Cannonade was foaled at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky...
.
His granddaughter, Adele B. Dilschneider, is also a Thoroughbred owner and breeder whose memberships has included the Kentucky Derby Museum
Kentucky Derby Museum
The Kentucky Derby Museum is an American Thoroughbred horse racing museum located on the grounds of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Dedicated to preserving the history of the Kentucky Derby, it first opened its doors to the public in the spring of 1985...
, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the American Horse Council, the Thoroughbred Club of America, and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
.
See also
- John M. Olin FoundationJohn M. Olin FoundationJohn M. Olin Foundation was a grant-making foundation established in 1953 by John M. Olin, president of the Olin Industries chemical and munitions manufacturing businesses. Unlike most non-profit foundations, the John M. Olin Foundation was charged to spend all of its assets within a generation of...
- John M. Olin Business School