Alex Manoogian - Portrait of a Man of Charity

Ալեք Թագավորի Մանուկյան (հունիսի 28, 1901, Զմյուռնիա, Այդինի վիլայեթ, Օսմանյան կայսրություն - հուլիսի 10, 1996, Դետրոյթ, Միչիգան, ԱՄՆ), հայ հասարակական գործիչ, մեծահարուստ բարերար, ճարտարագետ, արդյունաբերող։ Հայաստանի ազգային հերոս...
Alexander ‘Alex’ Manoogian was an Armenian American industrial engineer, businessman, and entrepreneur, who is most famous for manufacturing the single-handled faucet. Born in Smyrna, (Izmir) Turkey.
Manoogian immigrated to the United States in 1920 at the age of 19, escaping Turkish persecution of Armenians. For about four years, Manoogian worked as a machinist in Bridgeport, Connecticut, also working for brief periods in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
n 1924, Manoogian moved with his family to Detroit, Michigan to take advantage of the many opportunities that had grown out of the city’s booming auto industry. By 1929, Manoogian had founded Masco Screw Products, later known as Masco Corporation. He was able to expand throughout the 1930s, even in the midst of the Great Depression. In 1954, Manoogian manufactured a single-handled faucet that produced hot and cold water, allowing for one-handed use. He purchased the patent rights from an inventor who had yet to perfect the idea. The Delta faucet improved upon the standard faucet in terms of both convenience and sanitation, and became a best-selling plumbing fixture that generated substantial profits for the company. By 1996, the Masco Corporation held 38% of the domestic market for faucets.
Manoogian married Marie Tatian (1902-1993), also an Armenian immigrant. Their daughter Louise Manoogian Simone (1933-2019) succeeded him as President of AGBU (see below). Their son Richard A. Manoogian (b. 1936) was CEO of the family business Masco and is a major collector of American art.