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Ralph S. O’Connor ’44: The Quiet Philanthropist
Ralph S. O’Connor is not one for the limelight. A quiet philanthropist, his generosity and impact has been felt on university and independent school campuses across the United States.
Ralph S. O’Connor is not one for the limelight. A quiet philanthropist, his generosity and impact has been felt on university and independent school campuses across the United States.
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Without fanfare, Mr. O’Connor has made a lifetime commitment to the support of education and continues this tradition with a lead gift of $1.75 million to build the Ralph S. O’Connor House at New Hampton School.
“As I think back, New Hampton School was a key first step in my life,” says O’Connor. “It allowed me to enlist in the Army Air Corps before being drafted, and I am sure I’d never have attended Johns Hopkins University were it not for NHS.”
Mr. O’Connor graduated from New Hampton School in 1944, and then attended Johns Hopkins University, graduating in 1951. Soon thereafter, Mr. O’Connor moved to Texas and found himself in the heart of the oil boom.
After much hard work learning the ropes as a roughneck, scout, and land manager, he became the President of Highland Oil and later became CEO of that company’s successor, HRI Resources. Along the way he broadened his business horizons with various investment opportunities. He was one of the six Texas distributorships for the Adolf Coors Company and one of the four original partners who acquired the NBA's San Diego Rockets, and brought them to Texas as the Houston Rockets. In 1987, Mr. O’Connor founded an investment firm, Ralph S. O’Connor & Associates, where he serves as President, CEO, and Chairman.
“I am thrilled to help support New Hampton School build a new dormitory,” said O’Connor in a recent meeting with Head of School Andrew Menke. “The schools that did the most for me were Johns Hopkins and New Hampton. The International Baccalaureate program is a great idea, new parents are excited about the School, and the Board is strong. New Hampton is a top small school in the east which we need.”
Construction of the Ralph S. O’Connor ’44 House on the west side of campus will continue the School’s quest to provide modern, spacious, and comfortable residential spaces for students. In addition, faculty housing that is appealing to potential and current teachers and their families will aid in the attraction and retention of a world-class faculty.
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