Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Cook, Paul M. |
Notes |
"Paul M. Cook (born April 25, 1924) was the founder and CEO of Raychem, a chemical manufacturing company that reached $2 billion in annual revenue. In 1998, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology "For his vision and entrepreneurial efforts, his technical accomplishments and his business and technical leadership as the key contributor in creating a worldwide chemically based industry." [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_M._Cook#cite_note-oral-4] "Paul Cook begins the interview with a discussion of his family background and childhood. When Cook was young, he took an interest in chemistry, developing a laboratory in the basement of his parents' house. After graduating from high school in 1941, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he studied chemical engineering with Warren K. Lewis. In 1943, after enlisting in the Army, he went to basic infantry training. Cook then enrolled in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP), through which he attended Stanford University for two terms, studying mechanical engineering. After a year, Cook was sent to the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation, and then to Fort Benning, where he became an MP. While at Fort Benning, he joined the Officer Candidate School, and shortly after completing the training, was sent to fight in Italy. In February 1946, Cook left the Army and worked for Submarine Signal in Boston. He then returned to MIT, where he completed his degree in 1947. After graduation, Cook started the Warren Wire Company with his older brother. A year later, Cook left the fledgling company to join the Stanford Research Institute as a chemical engineer. There he worked on a number of projects, including the growth of the algae Chlorella and the potential uses of waste fission products. In 1951, Cook founded the Sequoia Process Corporation. Five years later, he left Sequoia to found Raychem Corporation, which opened in 1957. Cook concludes the interview with a discussion of Raychem's international competition, the growth of the company, his thoughts on managing innovation, and the possibilities of radiation technology." [Abstract, Transcript of an Interview Conducted by James J. Bohning at San Carlos, California on 2 April 1992, https://oh.sciencehistory.org/oral-histories/cook-paul-m, 05/21/2018] |
Role |
Business |
Othernames |
Paul M. Cook |
Born |
04/25/1924 |
Birthplace |
Ridgewood, NJ |
Deceased |
12/14/2020 |
Deceased where |
Menlo Park, CA |
Occupation |
U.S. Army, 1943 - 1946 Warren Wire Company, President, 1947-1948 Stanford Research Institute, Chemical Engineer, 1949-1952 Stanford Research Institute, Head, Radiation Chemistry Laboratory 1952-1954 Sequoia Process Corporation, President, 1953-1956 Raychem Corporation, Founder, CEO and Chairman of the Board, 1957-1991 Cell Net Data Systems, CEO, 1991-1995 SRI International, Chairman of the Board Sarnoff Corporation, Chairman of the Board Diva Systems Corporation, Founder, Chairman of the Board and CEO, 1995 - 1999 Promptu Systems Corporation, Founder and CEO, 2000 - ? |
Titles & honors |
1985 Member, National Academy of Engineering 1986 Winthrop Sears Medal, Chemical Industry Association 1988 National Medal of Technology 1989 Golden Omega Award, Electrical/Electronics Insulation Award 1990 Member, American Academy of Sciences 1991, Raychem P.M. Cook Technical Hall of Fame, 1st Inductee 1999 Bay Area Business Hall of Fame Award, Bay Area Council 2008 Weldon B. "Hoot" Gibson Achievement Award, SRI |
Education |
1947, B.S., Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Places of residence |
Ridgewood, NJ Menlo Park, CA |
Father |
John R. Cook |
Mother |
Elisabeth R. Cook (Ransom) |
Spouse |
Betty (Married September 2, 1945; divorced 1980), Marcia (Married 1983) |
Relationships |
John Ransom - brother Doris Elizabeth - sister Mary Elvira - sister John Cook - Father, President and Chief Mechanical Engineer for a company he had founded called the Cornish Wire Company (Corwico) |
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1980-1984 Raychem Consumer Products, October 29, 1979 - Archive
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Bob Halperin 60th Birthday - U-matic
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Conversations: The People of Raychem - U-matic
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Conversations: The People of Raychem, Uncorrected Title Version - U-matic
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Electron Beam Generator Electron Tube, 1957 - Tube, Electron
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Electron Beam Generator Electron Tube, 1957 - Tube, Electron
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Paul Cook’s Untold Story of How Raychem Started - Disk, Optical
Paul Cook’s Untold Story of How Raychem Started, January 31, 2017. Presentation given by Paul Cook at a Raychemer luncheon. The event was held at Michaels at Shoreline restaurant in Mountain View on January 31, 2017. Recorded and edited by Andrew Mellows. DVD-R copy. 720 x 480 frame size at 29.97 frames per second. Running time: 00:59:19 MP4 video also on file (2016.015.003.40.1)
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Paul Cook’s Untold Story of How Raychem Started - Video, Digital
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Paul Cook Talks to Class of August 1972 - Audio, Digital
Paul Cook Talks to Class of August 1972. Digital transfer from audiocassette of Raychem Corporation founder Paul Cook talking to a company training class in August 1972. Two audio files: (A) 2016.015.003.20A.aiff Original file name: Paul Cook 1972 Part 1.aiff 616 MB 1:01:02 (B) 2016.015.003.20B.aiff Original file name: Paul Cook 1972 Part 2.aiff 408 MB 40:28 Both files, Codec: PCM S16 LE (sowt) Channels: Stereo Sample rate: 4410...
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Paul M. Cook Interview Transcript - Document, Digital
Paul M. Cook interview transcript conducted by James J. Bohning at San Carlos on April 2, 1992. The interview was produced by the Chemical Heritage Foundation as part of their Oral History Program. The original document is 33 pages. 1 PDF file (original file name Cook_PM_0105_FULL.pdf) 39 pages; 234 KB Abstract of Interview: "Paul Cook begins the interview with a discussion of his family background and childhood. When Cook was young, he t...
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Paul M. Cook Retirement Button, 1990 - Button, Souvenir
Paul Who? Button, 1990. Pinback button made for Robert Saldich to commemorate becoming CEO of the Raychem Corporation. Saldich took over from Paul M. Cook in 1990. The button is made with black plastic and is rectangular with rounded corners. Text and graphics are printed on a white label that is attached to the surface. A computer graphic of a red polka dot bowtie crossed out with a black "X" appears at left. Large text at lower right reads, "PA...
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Paul M. Cook Technical Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony - Video, Digital
Black and white digital video file (MP4), "Paul M. Cook Technical Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony," February 16, 1996. TRT 0:54:50. In 1990, technical leaders at Raychem proposed creating the "Raychem Technical Hall of Fame." The first inductee was Paul M. Cook on December 11, 1991. Plaques with the names of each induction class were mounted in the lobby of Buidling J auditorium in Raychem's Menlo Park headquarters. This video shows the induction...
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Paul M. Cook Technical Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony - Videotape
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Raychem 1957 to Tyco Electronics 2007 50th Anniversary DVD, 2007 - Videodisc, Digital
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Raychem 1957 to Tyco Electronics 2007 50th Anniversary DVD, 2007 - Videodisc, Digital
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Raychem 25th Anniversary Photograph Album - Album, Photograph
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Raychem Corporation 25th Anniversary Photo Album - Album, Photograph
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Raychem Corporation 25th Anniversary Press Information, 1982 - Archive
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Raychem Corporation 25th Anniversary Press Information Folder, 1982 - Folder, File
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Raychem Corporation Accident, 1975 - Archive
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Raychem Corporation Billion Dollar Day Invitation Card, 1988 - Invitation
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Raychem Corporation Bowtie Button, 1990 - Button, Souvenir
Raychem Corporation Bowtie Button, 1990. Square pinback button produced by the Raychem Corporation commemorating founder Paul M. Cook's retirement from the company. The 2.125" x 2.125" button has a red outer border with a purple and white graphic of a bowtie at center. The bowtie appears against a square white background with purple dots and sketched lines. White text across the top red border reads, "This is one tie we'll never forget." Cook's s...
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Raychem Corporation Collection - Archive
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Raychem Corporation International Sales Conference, Ile de Bendor - Album, Photograph
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