Robert Purcell
Encyclopedia
Robert W. Purcell was an American businessman and philanthropist.
Purcell was born in Watertown, New York in 1912. He graduated from Cornell University
in 1932, being elected during his last year into the Sphinx Head Society. Purcell then graduated from the Cornell Law School in 1935.
He joined the New York City
law firm of White & Case
after graduating from Law School. He later became counsel and vice chairman of the Allegheny Corporation and its railroads: the Chesapeake & Ohio, and the Nickel Plate. In the mid-1950s he became president and chairman of Investors Diversified Services.
From 1955 to 1979, he served as a financial advisor to Rockefeller Family
and Associates. He owned Portillo, an international ski resort in Chile
, where the 1966 World Championships were held. He served on the Cornell Board of Trustees from 1959 to 1981, and as chairman during an era of great student unrest from 1968 to 1978.
During his tenure as Chair, two different Presidents, James Perkins and Dale Corson, resigned. However, his tenure as Chair also marked expanded minority enrollment, the founding of the Africana Studies and Research Center
, and adding five student members to the Board of Trustees.
Purcell also served on a number of corporate boards and had a noted role in Bendix Corporation
's 1982 attempt to acquire Martin Marietta
.
His gifts to Cornell totaled more than $17 million, many of them given anonymously. In 1982, the Board of Trustees named the student union on the Cornell North Campus
after him in recognition of his long-standing interest in students, and researchers at Cornell named an improved strain of winter wheat for him. He died in 1991 at the age of 79.
Purcell was born in Watertown, New York in 1912. He 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...
in 1932, being elected during his last year into the Sphinx Head Society. Purcell then graduated from the Cornell Law School in 1935.
He joined the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
law firm of White & Case
White & Case
White & Case was founded in New York in 1901 and has grown into one of the world's leading global law firms. The firm has since expanded, and has practice groups in emerging markets including Latin America, Central & Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as in Europe...
after graduating from Law School. He later became counsel and vice chairman of the Allegheny Corporation and its railroads: the Chesapeake & Ohio, and the Nickel Plate. In the mid-1950s he became president and chairman of Investors Diversified Services.
From 1955 to 1979, he served as a financial advisor to Rockefeller Family
Rockefeller family
The Rockefeller family , the Cleveland family of John D. Rockefeller and his brother William Rockefeller , is an American industrial, banking, and political family of German origin that made one of the world's largest private fortunes in the oil business during the late 19th and early 20th...
and Associates. He owned Portillo, an international ski resort in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, where the 1966 World Championships were held. He served on the Cornell Board of Trustees from 1959 to 1981, and as chairman during an era of great student unrest from 1968 to 1978.
During his tenure as Chair, two different Presidents, James Perkins and Dale Corson, resigned. However, his tenure as Chair also marked expanded minority enrollment, the founding of the Africana Studies and Research Center
Cornell Africana Studies and Research Center
The Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University is an academic unit devoted to the study of the global migrations and reconstruction of African peoples, as well as patterns of linkages to the African continent . ASRC offers around 23 graduate and undergraduate courses each semester...
, and adding five student members to the Board of Trustees.
Purcell also served on a number of corporate boards and had a noted role in Bendix Corporation
Bendix Corporation
The Bendix Corporation was an American manufacturing and engineering company which during various times in its 60 year existence made brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, avionics, aircraft and automobile fuel control systems, radios, televisions and computers, and which licensed its name for...
's 1982 attempt to acquire Martin Marietta
Martin Marietta
Martin Marietta Corporation was an American company founded in 1961 through the merger of The Martin Company and American-Marietta Corporation. The combined company became a leader in chemicals, aerospace, and electronics. In 1995, it merged with Lockheed Corporation to form Lockheed Martin. The...
.
His gifts to Cornell totaled more than $17 million, many of them given anonymously. In 1982, the Board of Trustees named the student union on the Cornell North Campus
Cornell North Campus
North Campus is a residential section of Cornell University's Ithaca, New York campus. It primarily houses freshmen. North Campus offers programs which ease the transition into college life for incoming freshman. The campus offers interactions with faculty and other programs which are designed to...
after him in recognition of his long-standing interest in students, and researchers at Cornell named an improved strain of winter wheat for him. He died in 1991 at the age of 79.