Ross McKee

Ross was born on April 15, 1915, in Lamont, Alberta, Canada, to Alexander and Emma McGlinn McKee. He was the sixth of ten siblings, six boys and four girls. He attended and graduated from Barrie Collegiate Institute in Barrie, Ontario, and then followed his oldest sister, Hulda, to Houston in order to attend Rice University. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Rice in 1939. Upon graduation, he joined Hughes Tool in 1940 as a tool designer. He married Renske Vander Henst in May of 1940, and they had three children, Janice, Frank (Buddy) and Mike. Ross became a citizen of the United States in 1942.

Ross worked his way up through various engineering assignments with Hughes Aircraft Strut Division and Dickson Gun. In 1955, Ross was promoted to be the first Plant Manager of Hughes Tool in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The family moved to Belfast and stayed there until 1960. Upon their return to the United States, they were stationed in Dallas where Ross was promoted to Vice President, Hugh B. Williams Company. He returned to the Hughes Oil Tool Division in Houston in 1966 and was named Vice President of Operations and Services in 1974. Early that same year, his wife, Renske, passed away.

Later that year, Ross married Aleida Barr, Renske’s cousin, whose husband, Fred Barr, had also passed away in early 1974. Ross and Renske had double dated with Fred and Aleida before either couple was married and had remained close since the 1940’s, being extended family.

As Vice President of Operations and Services, Ross was responsible for all of Hughes’ plant facilities and equipment, reviewing, analyzing and making recommendations for new and improved manufacturing techniques and processes, and for the continuous study in search of new methods and concepts of metal forming. He was also responsible for the coordination and formulation of manufacturing budgets, the manufacturing five year plan, establishing “make or buy” policies for all operations as well as upgrading and replacement of physical plant facilities, equipment and manufacturing methods.

Ross retired from Hughes in 1980, but was retained as a consultant to establish plants in China to manufacture the Hughes rock bit under a manufacturing license the Chinese had negotiated with Hughes Tool Company. The Chinese revered Ross and called him “The General” because, when he visited, decisions were made (by him) and things got done. During his remaining years with Hughes and for the years he consulted for Hughes, Ross and Aleida traveled the world extensively.

Ross played hockey as a young man and also enjoyed playing golf, bowling and bridge. He was an avid fan of hockey, football, basketball and baseball.

In the early 1990’s, Ross and Aleida moved to Country Place, a retirement community in Pearland, Texas. They relocated to a retirement facility in Houston, University Place, in 2007. Ross is survived by his wife of 39 years, Aleida, and two sisters in Canada, as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, three step-sons and other relatives in several states.