F.R. Vandercook

This day in 1903 saw the birth of Frederick Robert Vandercook. The youngest son of company founder R.O. Vandercook, he was CFO when it was sold to Illinois Tool Works in 1968. Little is known about F.R. Vandercook, his name appears on nine U.S. patents, but he seems to have not written for publication. Longtime employee Stanley Metza, who reported to him during WWII and later on the construction of the 1954 plant, said Fred was the most reserved of the brothers. The last to survive, he died in 1987 at age 83. See profiles of R.O. Vandercook, E.O. Vandercook, and D.D. Vandercook.