Paul M. Cook
| Paul M. Cook | |
|---|---|
| Born |
April 25, 1924 Ridgewood, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Institutions |
SRI International Raychem |
| Alma mater | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Notable awards |
Winthrop-Sears Medal from the Chemical Industry Association (1986) |
Winthrop-Sears Medal from the Chemical Industry Association (1986)
National Medal of Technology (1988)
Bay Area Council's Bay Area Business Hall of Fame Award (1999)
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."
Cook took an early interest in chemistry, and developed a chemistry lab in the basement of his parents' home. After he graduated high school in 1941, he started at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), studying chemical engineering under Warren K. Lewis.
In 1943, Cook enlisted in the United States Army, and enrolled in the Army Specialized Training Program; through that program, he attended Stanford University for two terms, studying mechanical engineering. Cook was then sent to Hunter Liggett Military Reservation and then Fort Benning, where he would complete Officer Candidate School. He was then sent to fight in Italy. Cook served in combat with the 10th Mountain Division.
In 1946, Cook left the army and worked for Submarine Signal in Boston. He then returned to MIT and completed his Bachelor of Science in 1947.
Cook was one of SRI International's earliest employees, joining the organization in 1948 as its 48th employee. He would go on to lead SRI's Radiation Chemistry Laboratory, where he was interested in using high-energy electrons to alter polymers.
In 1951, Cook founded the Sequoia Process Corporation; he left that after five years to found Raychem, which opened in 1957, and focused on commercial applications for radiochemistry. He served as Raychem's CEO and chairman of the board.
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