Whitworth was called Whit by his family and friends. Some of his close friends and associates called him 'Fergy'. Whit's right hand man, Hans Haage, affectionately called him 'the old man'.
Whit was the son of Charles A. and Edna W. (nee Whitworth) Ferguson. He grew up in Victor, Iowa. After earning a degree in electrical engineering at Iowa State University, he received a teaching fellowship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology while enrolled in its graduate program.
Whit moved to Buffalo in 1922 and joined the old Robinson Electric Company as an Electrical Engineer. He became a Vice-President in the firm and was in charge of a project installing the electrical equipment in City Hall.
Whit married Dorothy Anger on April 23, 1923. Together they raised three children: Barbara, Witworth, Jr. and Donald in Amherst, New York, later moving to the City of Buffalo, New York.
Whit founded the Ferguson Electric Construction Co., Inc., one of the largest of its kind, on August 1, 1935. Whit always celebrated what he called the 'birthday of the company' with cake and ice-cream on August 1st. Ferguson Electric started out at 201 Oak Street in the City of Buffalo, New York eventually moving its main office to Ellicott Street in the City of Buffalo, New York with a branch office on Lockport Road, Niagara Falls, New York. The building on Ellicott Street dated back to the early 1900's. The warehouse was a horse stable. You could still see the outline of the horse stalls and the rings in the wall where the horses were fasten in the back of the building. Whit became President of Ferguson Electric Construction Co., Inc. He was going to retire and appoint Brendy Burke who was Vice President of Engineering (a brilliant man) as President, but Brendy died suddenly of a heart attack while skiing with his family. Whit was heart broken. Brendy and Whit were good friends. Whit started a college trust for each of Brendy's eight children. Eventually Whit, Jr. became President and Whit, Sr. became Chairman of Ferguson Electric.
Some of Whit's larger jobs was the electrical work for the State Power Authority's Niagara hydroelectric plant near Lewiston, a $2.5 million expansion project at Harrison Radiator Division of General Motors and the electrical work for nuclear reactors at the State University of Buffalo and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Whit is partially credited with bringing the New York State Nuclear Research Center to the State University of Buffalo.
He was an original commissioner and former vice chairman of the State Atomic Research and Development Authority.
Some of Whit's awards: the 1972 UB Chancellor's Medal; honorary science doctorate from Weber College, Florida; Canisius College Distinguished Citizens Achievement Award; 1963 Marston Medal from Iowa State University, for outstanding graduates; and in May 1982, the President's Distinguished Service Award from Buffalo State College.
Whit was past Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Buffalo branch, past President and former Chairman of the Greater Buffalo Area of Commerce and former United Way Chairman.
Boards Whit served on: Millard Fillmore Hospital, Canisius College, the YMCA and Buffalo Seminary. He was a former Chairman of the Creative Education Foundation at Buffalo State College.
Whit died in Millard Fillmore Hospital, Gates Circle, Buffalo, New York, after a long illness.
Whit was always well dressed with a shirt, tie and suit. He never came into the office without a suit and tie. Whit was a great man who was a very caring and humble person. Whit was also a very good speaker. He never talked above you, but to you. Whit believed in education. He would pay for continued schooling of his employees careers if their grades were excellent. Whit always had a cigar in his hand or in the ashtray on his desk. He also had a great sense of humor. His deep blue eyes would always twinkle when he told a humorous story. Whit believed in the family. He always made sure everyone in the Company received money or a ham at Christmas time so all employees would have a Christmas dinner with their family. Whit was respected and loved by his employees and business associates.
Rest in Peace.
Whitworth was called Whit by his family and friends. Some of his close friends and associates called him 'Fergy'. Whit's right hand man, Hans Haage, affectionately called him 'the old man'.
Whit was the son of Charles A. and Edna W. (nee Whitworth) Ferguson. He grew up in Victor, Iowa. After earning a degree in electrical engineering at Iowa State University, he received a teaching fellowship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology while enrolled in its graduate program.
Whit moved to Buffalo in 1922 and joined the old Robinson Electric Company as an Electrical Engineer. He became a Vice-President in the firm and was in charge of a project installing the electrical equipment in City Hall.
Whit married Dorothy Anger on April 23, 1923. Together they raised three children: Barbara, Witworth, Jr. and Donald in Amherst, New York, later moving to the City of Buffalo, New York.
Whit founded the Ferguson Electric Construction Co., Inc., one of the largest of its kind, on August 1, 1935. Whit always celebrated what he called the 'birthday of the company' with cake and ice-cream on August 1st. Ferguson Electric started out at 201 Oak Street in the City of Buffalo, New York eventually moving its main office to Ellicott Street in the City of Buffalo, New York with a branch office on Lockport Road, Niagara Falls, New York. The building on Ellicott Street dated back to the early 1900's. The warehouse was a horse stable. You could still see the outline of the horse stalls and the rings in the wall where the horses were fasten in the back of the building. Whit became President of Ferguson Electric Construction Co., Inc. He was going to retire and appoint Brendy Burke who was Vice President of Engineering (a brilliant man) as President, but Brendy died suddenly of a heart attack while skiing with his family. Whit was heart broken. Brendy and Whit were good friends. Whit started a college trust for each of Brendy's eight children. Eventually Whit, Jr. became President and Whit, Sr. became Chairman of Ferguson Electric.
Some of Whit's larger jobs was the electrical work for the State Power Authority's Niagara hydroelectric plant near Lewiston, a $2.5 million expansion project at Harrison Radiator Division of General Motors and the electrical work for nuclear reactors at the State University of Buffalo and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Whit is partially credited with bringing the New York State Nuclear Research Center to the State University of Buffalo.
He was an original commissioner and former vice chairman of the State Atomic Research and Development Authority.
Some of Whit's awards: the 1972 UB Chancellor's Medal; honorary science doctorate from Weber College, Florida; Canisius College Distinguished Citizens Achievement Award; 1963 Marston Medal from Iowa State University, for outstanding graduates; and in May 1982, the President's Distinguished Service Award from Buffalo State College.
Whit was past Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Buffalo branch, past President and former Chairman of the Greater Buffalo Area of Commerce and former United Way Chairman.
Boards Whit served on: Millard Fillmore Hospital, Canisius College, the YMCA and Buffalo Seminary. He was a former Chairman of the Creative Education Foundation at Buffalo State College.
Whit died in Millard Fillmore Hospital, Gates Circle, Buffalo, New York, after a long illness.
Whit was always well dressed with a shirt, tie and suit. He never came into the office without a suit and tie. Whit was a great man who was a very caring and humble person. Whit was also a very good speaker. He never talked above you, but to you. Whit believed in education. He would pay for continued schooling of his employees careers if their grades were excellent. Whit always had a cigar in his hand or in the ashtray on his desk. He also had a great sense of humor. His deep blue eyes would always twinkle when he told a humorous story. Whit believed in the family. He always made sure everyone in the Company received money or a ham at Christmas time so all employees would have a Christmas dinner with their family. Whit was respected and loved by his employees and business associates.
Rest in Peace.
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