Longview in Gregg County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Robert Gilmour LeTourneau
(November 30, 1888 - June 1, 1969)
Gary Todd / Public Domain, March 5, 1995
1. Robert Gilmour LeTourneau Marker
A native of Richford, Vermont, Robert G. LeTourneau built his first industrial plant in Stockton, California, in 1921. A self-educated man, he invented and pioneered the use of components now standard in many types of construction equipment. The LeTourneau Company, manufacturers of equipment for heavy construction, mining, logging, land clearing, and offshore oil drilling, eventually operated plants in California, Illinois, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas.
Much of LeTourneau's personal time, energy, and fortune were spent in promoting the LeTourneau Foundation and Charitable Ministries, a worldwide Christian missionary effort he founded in 1935.
During World War II, seventy percent of the earth-moving equipment used by U.S. armed forces was built by the LeTourneau Company. Following the war, R. G. LeTourneau moved to Longview, where he opened an industrial plant and founded LeTourneau Technical Institute, the forerunner of LeTourneau University.
LeTourneau became an influential business and civic leader in Longview, and was instrumental in much of the city's economic development. He was the recipient of many high honors, and is remembered as a highly-regarded citizen of Longview.
Erected 1989 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 9974.)
Topics.
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Location. 32° 28.004′ N, 94° 43.75′ W. Marker is in Longview, Texas, in Gregg County. Marker can be reached from South Mobberly Avenue, 0.2 miles north of South Green Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is by the R. G. LeTourneau statue south of the S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center on the campus of LeTourneau University. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2100 S Mobberly Ave, Longview TX 75602, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Harmon General Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); Big Inch Pipeline (approx. 1.1 miles away); Longview Junction (approx. 1.9 miles away); Longview Train Depot (approx. 1.9 miles away); First Baptist Church of Longview (approx. 1.9 miles away); When Mule Power Moved People (approx. 2 miles away); Longview Municipal Building and Central Fire Station (approx. 2 miles away); King Cotton (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Longview.
Also see . . . R. G. LeTourneau. Wikipedia entry on the entrepreneur and inventor known as "God's businessman." (Submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 10, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 273 times since then and 42 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on December 9, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
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