19 Facts About Leroy Grumman

Leroy Randle "Roy" Grumman was an American aeronautical engineer, test pilot, and industrialist.

Leroy Grumman's forebears had Connecticut roots and owned a brewery.

When he was a child, his father, George Tyson Leroy Grumman, owned and operated a carriage shop, and later worked for the post office.

Leroy Grumman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University in 1916.

Leroy Grumman's duties included test flying as well as serving as the production supervisor.

Leroy Grumman quickly moved up in the Loening organization, becoming the factory manager and then general manager with responsibility over aircraft design, a position he held until the company was sold in 1929 on the eve of the Depression to Keystone Aircraft.

Unwilling to leave Long Island to continue working for Keystone, Leroy Grumman joined fellow Loening employees Jake Swirbul and William Schwendler in resolving that their best option was to quit and form their own company.

Leroy Grumman mortgaged his house for $16,950 and Swirbul's mother borrowed $6,000 from her employers to help set up Leroy Grumman Aeronautical Engineering Co.

Leroy Grumman was named after its largest stockholder and first president.

Swirbul and Leroy Grumman oversaw the day-to-day operations of the company.

Leroy Grumman worked out the solution by sticking paper clips into a soap eraser to find the pivot point that made the Sto-Wing possible.

Swirbul realized his wartime expansion would have to be abandoned, and together with Leroy Grumman made the momentous call for a complete layoff of all staff.

However, Leroy Grumman personally retained as many veteran employees as possible, calling back the most proficient and experienced "hands", predominantly those who had 10 years of service.

Leroy Grumman stepped down from the role of company president in 1946, but continued to play an active role in management.

Leroy Grumman successfully guided the company into finding new markets for new products.

Leroy Grumman personally made the decision to go with "the low wing".

On 19 May 1966, Leroy Grumman retired as chairman of Leroy Grumman, but was elected honorary chairman for his lifetime, remaining as a director until 15 June 1972.

The USNS Leroy Grumman, a United States Navy fleet replenishment oiler, christened by his three daughters, was launched in 1988 and delivered to the US Navy in 1989.

In 1953, Leroy Grumman was elected to the board of trustees of his alma mater, Cornell University, and donated $110,000 for a new squash building which now bears his name, as does an office and lab space on the campus.