Eric Ragnar Benson (born July 29, 1899 in Virestad, Älmhult, Sweden, died March 10, 1979, in Chicago) was a Swedish-American building contractor in Chicago whose firm was one of the ten largest in the United States and employed thousands. Benson was the son of Karl Edvard Bengtsson and Matilda Bengtsdotter, and one of 10 children.[1] He arrived without means in the United States at age 11, became a stonemason and bricklayer, created Ragnar Benson Inc. in 1922 and by 1969 was given the Horatio Alger Award. His firm worked for many major U. S. companies, built Chrysler assembly plant, Belvidere, 1964-65 and the famous towers at Three Mile Island. Ragnar Benson Inc. had built Chicago structures including the CNA Building and Harbor Point Towers and had performed maintenance work on city buildings including Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building.[2] Benson was widely known for philanthropic generosity which at times was considered eccentric.
Birgit Ridderstedt and her young dance group use a Ragnar Benson truck for a parade in 1960
The King of Sweden once stopped his car to chat (" 'If it isn't Benson!' the king said to me. He remembered me!"). Swedes in sports inspired Benson to back Ingemar Johansson for a heavyweight championship fight in Chicago in 1959.[3] Johansson got a guarantee from a 12-man syndicate headed by Ragnar Benson. Benson, a big, mild man with twisted, trembling fingers, said he was offering the guarantee "because Chicago has been good to me. I came here without a cent. It doesn't help my business one single cent, not one single cent."[4]
In April 1957, a specially chartered SAS DC 6 landed at Bulltofta airport in Malmö in southern Sweden. On board were 70 passengers who had boarded the plane in Chicago the previous day. They were all Swedish Americans, relatives and friends of Ragnar Benson, embarking on a twelve-day family reunion tour of Ragnar Benson's ancestral area in and around Älmhult in southern Småland. The tour generated a great deal of attention in Sweden,[5] and they were followed by journalists and interested onlookers as they traveled from one reunion to another in Småland.[6] Benson brought a special necklace from Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago to Mayor Thomas Munck af Rosenschöld, the journey went in rented buses to Älmhult.[7] In 1963, Benson was back in Sweden this time with 35 relatives and old-time employees whom he considered “all a part of my family.” The 63-year-old construction contractor gave another purpose of the trip. “I'm bringing along some loving cups which I will give out as prizes to the winners of the south Sweden swimming meet on Aug. 14,” he said. “It seems they named it after me.” [8]
Benson married Elsa K. Olson and had one son, Raymond Lewis Benson, who sold most of the family business after his father's death in 1979. The company still (2022) has the name Ragnar Benson Construction but is a subsidiary of a larger one.
Philanthropy
At Augustana College there is a scholarship established in memory of Ragnar Benson through gifts from his son, Raymond L. Benson, and designated for Lutheran students from the Greater Chicago area.[9]
Referencesedit
^Geller, E. And I. (28 February 1954). "The story of an ambitious man… who made jobs for thousands through free enterprise". The Detroit free press.
^"Elsa K. Benson, 98; Helped Husband Start Building Firm". Chicago Tribune. 27 October 1999.
^"News Journal, Volume 75, Number 239, 11 March 1959". March 11, 1959.
"LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: RAY BENSON LIGHTENS HIS WALLET GIVING TO" by Mike Nichols, Chicago Tribune 1989-11-05
January 01, 1970
ragnar, benson, contractor, confused, with, ragnar, benson, eric, ragnar, benson, born, july, 1899, virestad, Älmhult, sweden, died, march, 1979, chicago, swedish, american, building, contractor, chicago, whose, firm, largest, united, states, employed, thousan. Not to be confused with Ragnar Benson Eric Ragnar Benson born July 29 1899 in Virestad Almhult Sweden died March 10 1979 in Chicago was a Swedish American building contractor in Chicago whose firm was one of the ten largest in the United States and employed thousands Benson was the son of Karl Edvard Bengtsson and Matilda Bengtsdotter and one of 10 children 1 He arrived without means in the United States at age 11 became a stonemason and bricklayer created Ragnar Benson Inc in 1922 and by 1969 was given the Horatio Alger Award His firm worked for many major U S companies built Chrysler assembly plant Belvidere 1964 65 and the famous towers at Three Mile Island Ragnar Benson Inc had built Chicago structures including the CNA Building and Harbor Point Towers and had performed maintenance work on city buildings including Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building 2 Benson was widely known for philanthropic generosity which at times was considered eccentric Ragnar BensonBenson in 1959BornEric Ragnar Benson 1899 07 29 July 29 1899Virestad Almhult SwedenDiedMarch 10 1979 1979 03 10 aged 79 Chicago Illinois U S NationalitySwedish AmericanOccupationBuilding contractorSpouseElsa K OlsonChildren1Parent s Karl Edvard BengtssonMatilda Bengtsdotter Birgit Ridderstedt and her young dance group use a Ragnar Benson truck for a parade in 1960 The King of Sweden once stopped his car to chat If it isn t Benson the king said to me He remembered me Swedes in sports inspired Benson to back Ingemar Johansson for a heavyweight championship fight in Chicago in 1959 3 Johansson got a guarantee from a 12 man syndicate headed by Ragnar Benson Benson a big mild man with twisted trembling fingers said he was offering the guarantee because Chicago has been good to me I came here without a cent It doesn t help my business one single cent not one single cent 4 In April 1957 a specially chartered SAS DC 6 landed at Bulltofta airport in Malmo in southern Sweden On board were 70 passengers who had boarded the plane in Chicago the previous day They were all Swedish Americans relatives and friends of Ragnar Benson embarking on a twelve day family reunion tour of Ragnar Benson s ancestral area in and around Almhult in southern Smaland The tour generated a great deal of attention in Sweden 5 and they were followed by journalists and interested onlookers as they traveled from one reunion to another in Smaland 6 Benson brought a special necklace from Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago to Mayor Thomas Munck af Rosenschold the journey went in rented buses to Almhult 7 In 1963 Benson was back in Sweden this time with 35 relatives and old time employees whom he considered all a part of my family The 63 year old construction contractor gave another purpose of the trip I m bringing along some loving cups which I will give out as prizes to the winners of the south Sweden swimming meet on Aug 14 he said It seems they named it after me 8 Benson married Elsa K Olson and had one son Raymond Lewis Benson who sold most of the family business after his father s death in 1979 The company still 2022 has the name Ragnar Benson Construction but is a subsidiary of a larger one PhilanthropyAt Augustana College there is a scholarship established in memory of Ragnar Benson through gifts from his son Raymond L Benson and designated for Lutheran students from the Greater Chicago area 9 References edit Geller E And I 28 February 1954 The story of an ambitious man who made jobs for thousands through free enterprise The Detroit free press Elsa K Benson 98 Helped Husband Start Building Firm Chicago Tribune 27 October 1999 News Journal Volume 75 Number 239 11 March 1959 March 11 1959 MAN WITH FIGHT SEEKS SITE Sports Illustrated MAR 2 1959 GILBERT ROGIN https vault si com vault 1959 03 02 man with fight seeks site Vestkusten Number 17 25 April 1957 https cdnc ucr edu a d amp d VEST19570425 2 6 amp e en 20 1 txt txIN 1 Blanck D 2016 Very Welcome Home Mr Swanson Swedish Americans Encounter Homeland Swedes American Studies in Scandinavia 48 2 107 121 https rauli cbs dk index php assc article view 5454 Vestkusten Number 17 25 April 1957 https cdnc ucr edu a d amp d VEST19570425 2 6 amp e en 20 1 txt txIN 1 Chicago Garfieldian Newspaper Archives July 24 1963 https newspaperarchive com chicago garfieldian jul 24 1963 p 1 Augustana College Endowed Scholarships LIKE FATHER LIKE SON RAY BENSON LIGHTENS HIS WALLET GIVING TO by Mike Nichols Chicago Tribune 1989 11 05 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ragnar Benson contractor amp oldid 1213451068, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
