Louis S. Cates
Louis S. Cates | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 20, 1881 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | October 29, 1959 (aged 77) |
| Occupation(s) | Mining engineer, corporate executive |
| Years active | Early 1900s–1947 (president), until 1959 (chairman) |
| Known for | President of Phelps Dodge (1930–1947) |
Louis S. Cates (December 20, 1881 – October 29, 1959) was a prominent American mining engineer and corporate executive who held the position of president at Phelps Dodge between 1930 and 1947.
Biography
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Cates graduated with a degree in mining engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1902. At the outset of his professional journey, he oversaw operations at the Boston Consolidated copper mine located in Utah, which was subsequently merged into the Utah Copper Company. Recognizing his capabilities, Utah Copper's General Manager Daniel C. Jackling appointed him to direct the Ray Consolidated copper mine in Arizona. There, Cates introduced the economically advantageous block-caving extraction technique. Throughout the 1910s and 1920s, his accomplishments within the Jackling-managed Kennecott Corporation solidified his status as a diligent and competent leader.
From 1930 until 1947, Cates served as president of Phelps Dodge, during which time he guided significant acquisitions such as Nichols Copper Company, Calumet and Arizona Mining Company, and United Verde Copper Company. His tenure saw Phelps Dodge transform into a fully integrated copper producer, expanding its presence in Bisbee, Jerome, Ajo, and most notably developing the exceptional Clay copper ore deposit at Morenci, Arizona—one of the largest copper mining sites worldwide. Despite the challenges posed by the Great Depression, the company’s capital stock value increased more than fourfold under his administration.
Although he stepped down from the presidency in 1947, Cates continued to act as chairman of the board until his passing in 1959. Phelps Dodge maintained its position as a major copper producer until its 2007 acquisition by Freeport-McMoRan, with principal mining operations in Bagdad, Morenci, Sahuarita, Safford, and Miami, Arizona, along with assets in New Mexico.
Honors
- Recipient of the William Lawrence Saunders Gold Medal – 1939
- Served as president of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers – 1946
Other sources
- Cleland, Robert Glass (2012) A History of Phelps Dodge, 1834–1950 (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.)
- Schwantes, Carlos A. (2000) Vision and Enterprise: Exploring the History of the Phelps Dodge Corporation (Tucson: University of Arizona Press)