Robert McCulloch

Born in Scotland October 27, 1903, began his career in aviation when he served as a marine engineer and became a foreman of the Aircraft Division of Beardmore Naval Construction Company before coming to the United States in 1927 at the age of twenty-two. After a minor job with a machinery company, he joined Atlantic Aircraft Corporation, which then became Fokker Aircraft, General Aviation and later North American Aviation (FAA) Company. Robert became factory manager in 1941, but moved to Convair as general manager of that company’s in Nashville Tennessee. In 1943, he returned to NAA and by the end of World War II, he was head of the Dallas facility. When NAA Dallas closed, McCulloch and H. L. (Bert) Howard (another NAA executive) formed Texas Engineering and Manufacturing Corporation, later TEMCO Aircraft Corporation. Thus the aerospace industry remained in Dallas, for by keeping the massive government plant open and in production, Bob McCulloch inadvertently made it possible for Chance Vought to be moved into the partially occupied facility in 1948.

The following is an anecdote from Alex McCulloch, nephew of Robert McCulloch, and former Temco employee who retired from Vought:

“We received a letter from Dr. Robert Gillies who lives in Newton Stewart, Scotland. His sister, Sarah, was married to Andrew McCulloch (Uncle Bob McCulloch’s brother) Sarah and Andrew are Alex’s mother and father. Uncle Robert Gillies wrote the following:”

“You mention the possibility of being asked to contribute your recollections of Uncle Bob’s life and career for a company publication: My own memories of this great engineer and entrepreneur are not just of his business acumen – in the awful summer of 1940 with the British defeated and the Germans at our throats ready to cross the channel our only real defense was the Royal Air Force which was desperately short of planes to fight the Battle of Britain which was looming. In particular what was needed was an urgent review of the British aircraft industry in order to speed up production. Churchill appointed Lord Beaverbrook Minister of Aircraft Production who appealed to USA for help. This arrived in the form of a team of top executives of whom Uncle Bob was one. To understand the urgency of the situation, they were flown to England – in those days flying the Atlantic was still in the pioneering stage.  While here he paid a quick visit to Dumbarton, Scotland and this is when I met him. I was only 17 at the time and was overawed at being in the presence of such an important person but he was so modest and down to earth – I remember years later Alistair” (Alex)  “he told me how he loved your dear Mother’s “mince and tatties” made in Scottish style.  A truly great character who rendered valuable service to the old country in her time of need.”

John McCulloch

John McCulloch brother of Bob McCulloch born in Scotland August 20, 1912 spent his early career in shipyards at the Clyde Bank and the Blackburn Aircraft plant in Scotland.  He had also been a professional soccer player. He migrated to Texas in 1946 and went to work for Temco, the company co-founded by his brother, who sponsored his migration to the United States.  John was with Temco and successor companies for thirty-one years and retired from LTV in 1977 as a Manufacturing Superintendent.