{{Short description|American construction contractor (1889–1964)}} {{Infobox person | name = Robert E. McKee | other_names = R. E. McKee | birth_date = June 15, 1889 | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, US | death_date = October 21, 1964 (aged 75) | death_place = El Paso, Texas, US | resting_place = Restlawn Memorial Park, El Paso, Texas | alma_mater = Washington University | occupation = Construction Contractor | employer = Robert E. McKee General Contractor, Inc. | spouse = Gladys Evelyn McKee (m. 1911–1960 her death) Mary Grace Ross McKee (m. 1960) | children = 8 (including Robert E. Mckee Jr.) }} [[File:LAX LA.jpg|thumb|Theme Building at LAX completed in 1961]] [[File:US Air Force Academy Chapel.JPG|thumb|United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel completed in 1962]] '''Robert Eugene McKee Sr.''' (1889–1964) was an American construction contractor and founder of the Robert E. McKee General Contractor, Inc. company.
== Life and career == McKee was born in [[Chicago]] at a young age he and his family moved to [[St. Louis]]. His father was accidentally killed when he was ten years old. McKee received his education from the Manual Training School of [[Washington University in St. Louis|Washington University]]. After school he left St. Louis to live on his uncle's ranch in Elk, New Mexico. After a short stay at the ranch he moved to El Paso, Texas in 1910 to begin his career in the construction and engineering field. on September 20, 1911, he married Gladys Evelyn Woods the two would go on to have eight children. In 1913 he started his namesake construction company. His company quickly grew completing many projects in El Paso including the Knickerbocker Apartments. His company would later begin to expand opening additional offices in Dallas, Santa Fe, Los Angeles and Honolulu. McKee grew his company to build many large scale projects including hospitals, high-rises and government buildings other specialties included military installations including the [[Panama Canal Zone]] and [[Los Alamos, New Mexico]]. The stature of McKee as a contractor led to many clients including [[Conrad Hilton]], and the [[Federal government of the United States|United States Government]]. In 1950 McKee incorporated his company as Robert E. McKee General Contractor Inc. until that time he had been the largest individual contractor in the United States. After incorporating the company would grow to be the sixth largest construction company in the country.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=McKee Foundation |url=http://www.mckeefoundation.org/re-mckee.htm |access-date=2022-07-05 |website=www.mckeefoundation.org}}</ref> For the company's work at Los Alamos, New Mexico the employees were presented the [[Army-Navy "E" Award]] for excellence. The company was later managed by McKee's son Robert E. McKee Jr.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1988-10-29 |title=Obituary for Ex- El Pasoan |pages=6 |work=El Paso Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105035658/obituary-for-ex-el-pasoan/ |access-date=2022-07-05}}</ref> McKee's wife Gladys died in 1960, McKee then remarried to Mary Grace Ross.
McKee died in El Paso on October 21, 1964, at the age of 75.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1964-10-22 |title=1964_McKee Obituary Pt. 1 |pages=1 |work=El Paso Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36118928/1964mckee-obituary-pt-1/ |access-date=2022-07-05}}</ref> After his death the company continued to build many large scale projects across the United States. The company was acquired by [[Santa Fe Industries]] in 1972. The McKee Construction Company would continue as a subsidiary of Santa Fe Industries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=3 Aug 1972, 1 - El Paso Times at Newspapers.com |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/434532851/?terms=Robert%20E.%20Mckee&match=1 |access-date=2022-07-05 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> During the 1970s the company went under the name REMCON.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=El Paso Times 06 May 1973, page 101 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/434597189/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1987 the McKee company was sold to [[Jacobs Engineering Group]].
== Selected works ==
* [[Fort Bayard Historic District|Ft. Bayard Veterans Hospital]], Ft. Bayard, New Mexico (1921–22)<ref>{{Cite web |title=El Paso Herald 17 Jun 1922, page Page 5 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/48603042/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Union Station (Phoenix, Arizona)|Union Station]], Phoenix, Arizona (1923) * [[Cactus Hotel]], San Angelo, Texas, (1928)<ref>{{Cite news |date=1928-06-22 |title=El Pasoan Will Build 12-Story Hilton Edifice |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-angelo-morning-times-el-pasoan-will/114440266/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |work=San Angelo Morning Times |pages=1}}</ref> * [[O. T. Bassett Tower]] El Paso, Texas (1929–30)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=McKee Foundation |url=http://www.mckeefoundation.org/master_book.htm |access-date=2022-07-05 |website=www.mckeefoundation.org}}</ref> * [[Austin High School (El Paso, Texas)|Austin High School]], El Paso, Texas (1930)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphree (NW) |first=Rachel |title=Library Research Guides: Borderlands: Robert E. McKee: From Rags to Riches to Philanthropy 30 (2012–2013) |url=https://epcc.libguides.com/c.php?g=754275&p=5406422 |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=epcc.libguides.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[United States Custom House (San Ysidro, California)|San Ysidro United States Customs House]], San Diego, California, (1933)<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/83001228.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224759/http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/83001228.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=2014-07-14 |access-date=2024-05-01 }}</ref> * [[United States Court House (El Paso)|United States Courthouse]], El Paso, Texas (1936)<ref name=":5" /> * [[Union Station (Los Angeles)|Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal]], Los Angeles, California (1937–39)<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=PCAD – McKee, Robert E., Inc., Building Contractors |url=https://pcad.lib.washington.edu/firm/3205/ |access-date=2022-07-05 |website=pcad.lib.washington.edu}}</ref> * Additions to [[Hickam Air Force Base|Hickam Field]] O'ahu, Hawaii (1939–1941)<ref>{{Cite web |title=12 Feb 1938, 7 - The Honolulu Advertiser at Newspapers.com |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/259313754/?terms=Robert%20E.%20Mckee&match=1 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Nevada Test Site]], Nye County, Nevada (1951)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nevada State Journal 12 Jan 1951, page Page 12 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/75083785/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * The Statler Hilton Hotel (later known as Wilshire Grand Hotel) Los Angeles, California (1952) – (Demolished)<ref>{{Cite web |title=El Paso Herald-Post 13 Oct 1958, page 39 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/798152110/ |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wilshire Grand Hotel (Demolished) {{!}} Los Angeles Conservancy |url=https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/wilshire-grand-hotel-demolished |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=www.laconservancy.org}}</ref> * [[Nellis Air Force Base]] Ammunition Storage Depot, Clark County, Nevada (1953)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nevada State Journal 19 Mar 1953, page Page 3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/78867234/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Grady Memorial Hospital]], Atlanta, Georgia (1954)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Atlanta Constitution 04 Mar 1954, page 17 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/397930663/ |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Strategic Air Command]] Control Headquarters, [[Offutt Air Force Base]], Nebraska (1955–56)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apr 06, 1955, page 1 - Omaha World-Herald at Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/883743879/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Apr 08, 1955, page 1 - The Air Pulse at Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/864906417/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[United States Air Force Academy]] Cadet Quarters, Colorado Springs, Colorado (1956–58)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fort Collins Coloradoan 10 Apr 1958, page 13 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/589115764/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Los Angeles International Airport]] and [[Theme Building]], Los Angeles, California (1957–61)<ref name=":2" /> * United States Air Force Academy Planetarium, Colorado Springs, Colorado (1958)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fort Collins Coloradoan 02 Oct 1957, page 2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/589112866/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Federal Building (Little Rock, Arkansas)|Federal Building]], Little Rock, Arkansas (1959–61)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Courier News 21 Sep 1959, page Page 3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/19743807/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel]], Colorado Springs, Colorado, (1959–62)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-08-31 |title=Cadet Chapel groundbreaking turns golden |url=https://www.usafa.af.mil/News/News-Display/Article/429143/cadet-chapel-groundbreaking-turns-golden/https://www.usafa.af.mil/News/News-Display/Article/429143/cadet-chapel-groundbreaking-turns-golden/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=United States Air Force Academy |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> * [[Kaiser Center]], Oakland, California (1960) * [[Harbor–UCLA Medical Center|Harbor Medical Center]], Torrance, California (1960–62)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jul 25, 1960, page 1 - News-Pilot at Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/605722388/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Tucson House]], Tucson, Arizona (1960–63)<ref>{{Cite web |title=3 Aug 1962, Page 11 - Arizona Daily Star at Newspapers.com |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/164613568/?terms=%22tucson%20house%22&match=1 |access-date=2022-07-05 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[East–West Center]], [[University of Hawaiʻi|University of Hawaii]], Honolulu, Hawaii (1961–62)<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |date=1961-11-15 |title=1961_McKee Los Angeles Advertisement |pages=136 |work=The Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36145017/1961mckee-los-angeles-advertisement/ |access-date=2022-12-21}}</ref> * [[Mount St. Joseph University]], Cincinnati, Ohio (1961–62)<ref name=":8" /> * [[One San Jacinto Plaza (El Paso)|One San Jacinto Plaza]], El Paso, Texas (1961–62)<ref name=":1" /> * [[The 800 Apartments]], Louisville, Kentucky (1961–63)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nov 02, 1961, page 21 - The Courier-Journal at Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/107148681/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * Temple Mount Siani, El Paso, Texas (1962)<ref name=":5" /> * [[Gammage Memorial Auditorium]], [[Arizona State University]], Tempe, Arizona (1962–64)<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |title=ASU Tempe Campus Buildings Survey: 1960–2007 |date=29 June 2005 |url=https://prism.lib.asu.edu/items/76797 |language=en}}</ref> * [[Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building]], Salt Lake City, Utah (1962–64)<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=January 16, 1962 |title=GSA Approves Pact For S.L. Federal Building |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s69h0jv9/25373253 |newspaper=[[Deseret News|Deseret News and Telegram]] |location=Salt Lake City |page=B1 |access-date=April 27, 2025}}</ref> * [[University of California, Irvine]] (initial six buildings) Irvine, California (1964–65)<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Robert E. McKee Contractor, Inc. at Emporis |url=https://www.emporis.com/companies/292423/robert-e-mckee-contractor-inc-el-paso-tx-usa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706025520/https://www.emporis.com/companies/292423/robert-e-mckee-contractor-inc-el-paso-tx-usa |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |website=Emporis}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1964-04-26 |title=UC Irvine |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-telegram-uc-irvine/132609497/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |work=Press-Telegram |pages=51}}</ref> * [[First National Bank Tower (Dallas)|First National Bank Tower]], Dallas, Texas (1965)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The National at Emporis |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/118466/the-national-dallas-tx-usa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706025606/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/118466/the-national-dallas-tx-usa|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 6, 2022}}</ref> * [[Wright Tower]], Louisville, Kentucky (1965–66)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaden Tower – Louisville History and Souvenirs |url=https://louisville.cc/kaden/ |access-date=2022-07-05 |website=louisville.cc}}</ref> * [[Glendale Community College (Arizona)|Glendale Community College]], Glendale, Arizona (1965–66)<ref>{{Cite news |date=1965-04-28 |title=GCC Groundbreaking |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic-gcc-groundbreaking/119723368/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |work=Arizona Republic |pages=4}}</ref> * [[New Mexico State Capitol|New Mexico State Capital Building]], Santa Fe, New Mexico (1966)<ref>{{Cite web |title=TOURISM Santa Fe New Mexico State Capitol |url=https://www.santafe.org/visiting-santa-fe/about-santa-fe/new-mexico-state-capitol/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=www.santafe.org}}</ref> * [[VA Long Beach Healthcare System|Long Beach Veterans Hospital]] (additions and modernization) Long Beach, California (1965–68)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Press-Telegram 12 Jan 1965, page 19 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/705403618/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Marin County Civic Center]] Hall of Justice, San Rafael, California (1965–69)<ref name=":2" /> * [[Salt River Project|Salt River Project Administration Building]] addition, Tempe, Arizona (1967)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arizona Republic 07 May 1967, page Page 167 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/18025733/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Cañada College]], Redwood City, California (1967–68)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Times 06 Sep 1968, page Page 49 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/52060658/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Los Angeles Convention Center]], Los Angeles, California (1969–71)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Los Angeles Times 28 Jan 1969, page 20 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/383092634/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[City National Plaza]], Los Angeles, California (1969–71)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dec 20, 1970, page 100 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/384791285/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Martin Luther King Jr. Outpatient Center|Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital]], Willowbrook, California (1969–72)<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=The Los Angeles Times 01 Apr 1973, page 155 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/382670993/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Olive View–UCLA Medical Center|Olive View Medical Center]], Sylmar, California (1970) * [[John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial]], Dallas, Texas (1970)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Prairie Daily News 09 Jun 1969, page Page 3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/15330094/ |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[El Paso Civic Center]], El Paso, Texas (1970–72)<ref>{{Cite web |title=El Paso Times 13 Dec 1971, page 1 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/435484014/ |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Capital Plaza Office Tower (Frankfort, Kentucky)|Capital Plaza Office Tower]], Frankfort, Kentucky<ref>{{Cite web |title=May 18, 1969, page 49 - The State Journal at Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1013836914/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse|Earl Cabell Federal Building]], Dallas, Texas (1971)<ref name=":1" /> * [[Wells Fargo Plaza (El Paso)|Wells Fargo Plaza]], El Paso, Texas (1971)<ref name=":1" /> * [[William Beaumont Army Medical Center|William Beaumont General Hospital]], El Paso, Texas (1972)<ref name=":5" /> * [[St. Vincent Medical Center (Los Angeles)|St. Vincent Medical Center]], Los Angeles, California (1973)<ref name=":6" /> * [[Cedars-Sinai Medical Center]], Los Angeles, California (1972–76)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Valley News 09 Feb 1971, page Page 105 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/30284811/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> * [[Dallas City Hall]], Dallas, Texas (1972–78)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-01-12 |title=City Facilities – Dallas City Hall |url=http://www.dallascityhall.com/html/dallas_city_hall.html |access-date=2022-07-05 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112032917/http://www.dallascityhall.com/html/dallas_city_hall.html |archive-date=12 January 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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[[Category:1889 births]] [[Category:American business executives]] [[Category:Washington University in St. Louis alumni]] [[Category:1964 deaths]] [[Category:Construction and civil engineering companies of the United States]] [[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]] [[Category:Businesspeople from El Paso, Texas]]