Ralph Evinrude
Encyclopedia
Ralph S. Evinrude was an American
business magnate
best known for being the Chairman of Outboard Marine Corporation, and the husband of singer and entertainer Frances Langford
.
Evinrude was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
to Bess and Ole Evinrude
. Evinrude's father had emigrated from Norway
in 1882 and had developed the first commercially feasible outboard motor, thus creating a new industry and form of recreation. In 1927, Evinrude joined the family firm, Elto Outboard Motor Company after two years at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. Ole Evinrude died on July 12, 1934 and Ralph Evinrude took over running the company. In 1936, Elto Outboard Motor Company merged with Waukegan, Illinois
-based Johnson Motor Company to form Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC).
In 1936, the Board of Directors of OMC elected Evinrude president and director. In 1953, he was elected vice chairman of the board and chairman of OMC's Executive Committee. He became chairman of OMC in 1963. During his 55 year career in the family business, Evinrude collaborated with manufacturing giants such as Milwaukee based Briggs and Stratton, and expanded the company's product line to include boats, lawn mowers, snow mobiles and chain saws, and expanded operations worldwide. In 1982 when Evinrude retired as chairman, OMC had more than 9,000 persons employed in operations throughout the world.
Ralph Evinrude was married to Joan "Bobbe" Everett in December of 1951 in Lake Forest IL and married Frances Langford very shortly after the divorce.
In 1955, Evinrude married Frances Langford
and moved to her estate in Jensen Beach, Florida
. They shared interests in business and boating and spent much of their time aboard their 118 feet (36 m) yacht Chanticleer. They opened a resort in Jensen Beach called The Outrigger. Evinrude and Langford also maintained a cottage on a small island in the east end of Baie Fine, a fiord on the north shore of Lake Huron, in what is now Killarney Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Chanticleer was often seen tied up at the island during the summer.
During his later working years and during retirement, Evinrude supported a wide variety of philanthropic
activities. Some of his interests focused on Florida
and the marine industry, but others benefited Milwaukee-area hospitals, institutions of higher education and the arts.
Evinrude died at home in Jensen Beach at the age of 78. OMC has a test center in Stuart, Florida
which bears his name.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
business magnate
Business magnate
A business magnate, sometimes referred to as a capitalist, czar, mogul, tycoon, baron, oligarch, or industrialist, is an informal term used to refer to an entrepreneur who has reached prominence and derived a notable amount of wealth from a particular industry .-Etymology:The word magnate itself...
best known for being the Chairman of Outboard Marine Corporation, and the husband of singer and entertainer Frances Langford
Frances Langford
Julia Frances Langford was an American singer and entertainer who was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and also made film appearances over two decades.-Birth:...
.
Evinrude was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
to Bess and Ole Evinrude
Ole Evinrude
Ole Evinrude, born Ole Evenrudstuen was a Norwegian-American inventor, known for the invention of the first outboard motor with practical commercial application.-Biography:...
. Evinrude's father had emigrated from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in 1882 and had developed the first commercially feasible outboard motor, thus creating a new industry and form of recreation. In 1927, Evinrude joined the family firm, Elto Outboard Motor Company after two years at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. Ole Evinrude died on July 12, 1934 and Ralph Evinrude took over running the company. In 1936, Elto Outboard Motor Company merged with Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
-based Johnson Motor Company to form Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC).
In 1936, the Board of Directors of OMC elected Evinrude president and director. In 1953, he was elected vice chairman of the board and chairman of OMC's Executive Committee. He became chairman of OMC in 1963. During his 55 year career in the family business, Evinrude collaborated with manufacturing giants such as Milwaukee based Briggs and Stratton, and expanded the company's product line to include boats, lawn mowers, snow mobiles and chain saws, and expanded operations worldwide. In 1982 when Evinrude retired as chairman, OMC had more than 9,000 persons employed in operations throughout the world.
Ralph Evinrude was married to Joan "Bobbe" Everett in December of 1951 in Lake Forest IL and married Frances Langford very shortly after the divorce.
In 1955, Evinrude married Frances Langford
Frances Langford
Julia Frances Langford was an American singer and entertainer who was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and also made film appearances over two decades.-Birth:...
and moved to her estate in Jensen Beach, Florida
Jensen Beach, Florida
Jensen Beach is a census-designated place in Martin County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,100 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Port St...
. They shared interests in business and boating and spent much of their time aboard their 118 feet (36 m) yacht Chanticleer. They opened a resort in Jensen Beach called The Outrigger. Evinrude and Langford also maintained a cottage on a small island in the east end of Baie Fine, a fiord on the north shore of Lake Huron, in what is now Killarney Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Chanticleer was often seen tied up at the island during the summer.
During his later working years and during retirement, Evinrude supported a wide variety of philanthropic
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
activities. Some of his interests focused on Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and the marine industry, but others benefited Milwaukee-area hospitals, institutions of higher education and the arts.
Evinrude died at home in Jensen Beach at the age of 78. OMC has a test center in Stuart, Florida
Stuart, Florida
Stuart is the only incorporated city of Martin County, Florida, on Florida's Treasure Coast. The population was 14,633 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15,964....
which bears his name.