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Franklin W. Olin




He was born in Woodford, Vermont into a modest family; 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 season. After graduating with the class of 1886, he worked in several jobs before founding a Blasting Powder mill construction business; his first opened in East Alton , Illinois in 1892.

He formed the Western Cartridge Company in 1898 to manufacture Ammunition , and during World War I diversified into Brass making for use in Cartridge shells. In 1931 Olin acquired the Winchester Repeating Arms Company . After World War II , Frank Olin retired from management of the firm, leaving it to his sons John and Spencer .

He married Mary Mott Moulton of Toledo, Ohio on May 28 , 1889 {Link without Title} . They had three sons, Franklin W. Jr. (precedeased), John, and Spencer, all three of whom also graduated from Cornell.

He died in St. Louis, Missouri in 1951. A portion of his fortune was willed to the F. W. Olin Foundation , which would later go on to establish Franklin W. Olin College Of Engineering and endow numerous buildings and professorships in his name.


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