Ralph S. Evinrude

September 27, 1907 – May 21, 1986

University of Wisconsin-Madison (1927)

Recipient of Honorary Degree in 1972

Ralph Evinrude was an American business magnate best known for being the Chairman of Outboard Marine Corporation. Evinrude's father had emigrated from Norway in 1882 and had developed the first commercially feasible outboard motor. In 1927, Evinrude joined the family firm, Elto Outboard Motor Company after two years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1934, Evinrude took over running the company. In 1936, Elto Outboard Motor Company merged with 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. In 1982 when Evinrude retired as chairman, OMC had more than 9,000 persons employed in operations throughout the world.