Norton Clapp
Encyclopedia
Matthew Norton Clapp was a Weyerhaeuser
chairman who was among the private investors who built and owned the Seattle Space Needle.
Clapp was active in various philanthropies including the Boy Scouts of America
and was to donate 10,098 acres (41 km²) including the summit of Baldy Mountain (Colfax County, New Mexico) for use at Philmont Scout Ranch
.
He was married four times. One of his stepchildren from his second marriage was Washington governor Booth Gardner
.
Clapp was born in Pasadena, California
. He was named for his maternal grandfather Matthew G. Norton, a Winona, Minnesota
lumberman who via the Laird, Norton Company was to help finance the Weyerhaeuser purchase of land in Washington State in 1900.
Clapp received an A.B. from Occidental College
and a Ph.B in 1928 from the University of Chicago
and a J.D. from Chicago in 1929.
He practiced law in Tacoma, Washington
from 1929 until 1942. He was among the developers of Lakewood Colonial Center in 1937 in what is now Lakewood, WA. It was one of the first shopping centers west of the Mississippi River
. In 1938, he converted an existing structure into the Lakewood Ice Arena. He became a trustee of the University of Puget Sound
in 1933 and would serve there until his death including being chairman from 1967 until 1986.
In 1938 he began a formal association with Weyerhauser.
He joined the United States Navy
during World War II
and served until 1946 when he returned to Weyerhauser. In 1947 he succeeded his father as a director of the company. He was its president from 1960 to 1966 and chairman until 1970.
He was named to the Trustees of University of Chicago in 1957 and was name a Life Trustee in 1970.
In 1961 he joined Bagley Wright
, contractor Howard S. Wright, architect John Graham, and financier Ned Skinner as investors in the Pentagram Corporation which was to build and own the Space Needle for the 1962 World's Fair. He continued his ownership until 1977 when he sold out his interests to Howard Wright.
From 1971 to 1973 he was president of the Boy Scouts of America. In 1963 he donated the land around Mount Baldy to the Scouts.
When he died at his home in Medina, Washington
he had estimated fortune of $450 million.
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
chairman who was among the private investors who built and owned the Seattle Space Needle.
Clapp was active in various philanthropies including the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
and was to donate 10,098 acres (41 km²) including the summit of Baldy Mountain (Colfax County, New Mexico) for use at Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch is a large, rugged, mountainous ranch located near the town of Cimarron, New Mexico, covering approximately of wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rocky Mountains of northern New Mexico...
.
He was married four times. One of his stepchildren from his second marriage was Washington governor Booth Gardner
Booth Gardner
Booth Gardner , an heir to the Weyerhaeuser fortune, was the 19th Governor of the U.S state of Washington between 1985 and 1993. He also served as the ambassador of the GATT. He is a Democrat. Before serving as governor, Gardner was Pierce County Executive...
.
Clapp was born in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. He was named for his maternal grandfather Matthew G. Norton, a Winona, Minnesota
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
lumberman who via the Laird, Norton Company was to help finance the Weyerhaeuser purchase of land in Washington State in 1900.
Clapp received an A.B. from Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
and a Ph.B in 1928 from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and a J.D. from Chicago in 1929.
He practiced law in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
from 1929 until 1942. He was among the developers of Lakewood Colonial Center in 1937 in what is now Lakewood, WA. It was one of the first shopping centers west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. In 1938, he converted an existing structure into the Lakewood Ice Arena. He became a trustee of the University of Puget Sound
University of Puget Sound
The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college located in the North End of Tacoma, Washington, in the United States...
in 1933 and would serve there until his death including being chairman from 1967 until 1986.
In 1938 he began a formal association with Weyerhauser.
He joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and served until 1946 when he returned to Weyerhauser. In 1947 he succeeded his father as a director of the company. He was its president from 1960 to 1966 and chairman until 1970.
He was named to the Trustees of University of Chicago in 1957 and was name a Life Trustee in 1970.
In 1961 he joined Bagley Wright
Bagley Wright
Bagley Wright , president of Bagley Wright Investments, was a developer of Seattle's landmark Space Needle and chair of Physio Control Corp. from 1968 until its acquisition by Eli Lilly and Company in 1980...
, contractor Howard S. Wright, architect John Graham, and financier Ned Skinner as investors in the Pentagram Corporation which was to build and own the Space Needle for the 1962 World's Fair. He continued his ownership until 1977 when he sold out his interests to Howard Wright.
From 1971 to 1973 he was president of the Boy Scouts of America. In 1963 he donated the land around Mount Baldy to the Scouts.
When he died at his home in Medina, Washington
Medina, Washington
Medina is a city located in the Eastside, a region of King County, Washington, United States. Surrounded on the north, west, and south by Lake Washington, opposite Seattle, Medina is bordered by Clyde Hill and Hunts Point, as well as the satellite city of Bellevue. The city's population was 2,969...
he had estimated fortune of $450 million.