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]
Parsons 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.