John Merrill Olin

John Merrill Olin was born on November 10, 1892, in Alton, Illinois. "Upon graduating from Cornell University with a B.S. degree in chemistry, he started his career in 1913 as a chemical engineer for the Western Cartridge Company [owned by his father, Franklin W. Olin], a predecessor of Olin Industries, Inc. He became President of Olin Industries in 1944 and upon merger of the company with Mathieson Chemical Corporation in 1954 became Chairman of the Board of the new corporation, named Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation. Subsequently the name was shortened to Olin Corporation. Mr. Olin retired as Chairman of the Board in 1957 to become Chairman of the Executive Committee, a position he held until he was elected Honorary Chairman of the Board in 1963. He died September 8, 1982."

"Olin was an inventor or co-inventor of 24 United States patents in the field of arms and ammunition manufacture and design and was responsible for numerous developments in ballistics."

"In addition to his industrial career, Mr. Olin was a conservationist, philanthropist and educator. He was also a breeder of saddle and race horses as well as a trainer and breeder of champion Labrador retrievers. A long-time supporter of wildlife conservation, Mr. Olin was widely recognized as one of the country's most active conservationists and led the effort to save the Atlantic salmon."

"Olin was a Trustee Emeritus of Cornell University and of Johns Hopkins University, a Life Trustee of Washington University, St. Louis, and an Honorary Director of The American Museum of Natural History. He was named the Charles F. Kettering Award recipient for 1968 by the George Washington University PTC Research Institute. He received the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur of France and the Grand Ufficiale-Ordine al Merito della Republica Italiana."

Facts

 * Winchester/Olin Corporation is the primary supplier of small calibre ammunition and sporting rounds manufactured in the United States.
 * Winchester Western / Olin corporation also supplies a majority of police departments with their ammunition..
 * Olin corporation manufactures environmentaly friendly pool care supplies.

Other SourceWatch Sources

 * John M. Olin Foundation
 * Primex Technologies