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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is mourning the loss of alumnus, philanthropist and construction innovator Ralph F. Korte, a 1968 business graduate, who died Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the age of 90.

Korte, the namesake of SIUE’s Ralph Korte Stadium, was a pioneering figure in the design-build industry and the founder of The Korte Company, a nationally recognized firm headquartered in Highland and St. Louis. His journey from farm fields to construction leadership shaped communities across the country and strengthened his alma mater in enduring ways.

Born Nov. 10, 1934, in Highland, Korte was one of 14 children raised on a family farm. He left school after the eighth grade and later earned his GED during Army service in the Korean War. In 1958, with a $79 electric saw and a guiding philosophy of working hard and keeping prices fair, he founded the construction company that would become The Korte Company. Over time, he grew the business from local projects into a firm that helped establish national design-build standards, became a founding member of the Design-Build Institute of America and completed projects across 42 states. His leadership set benchmarks for adopting technologies such as tilt-up concrete, Building Information Modeling and LEED-certified construction.

While building his company, Korte also pursued higher education, but not without skepticism. In a 2018 interview with SIUE’s Stephen Hansen, PhD, faculty emeritus and former interim chancellor for the Madison County Historical Society, Korte admitted he never believed college was for him. Only the urging of his Army companions and the GI Bill pushed him to consider higher education.

“I got hooked on taking classes,” said Korte. “I knew how to build buildings, but now management would be learned. Those principles driven into me, expanded my thinking.”

For nearly a decade, he took night classes at SIUE and in 1968 earned a bachelor’s degree in business. He often credited his education for giving him the confidence to take risks and hire visionary leaders who transformed his company.

A self-declared unabashed supporter of SIUE, Korte gave more than $1 million to establish the Ralph and Donna Korte Fund for Leadership and Innovation in Business Education, contributed $500,000 to help create The Gardens at SIUE, and played a leading role in establishing the University’s Construction Management program. In 1998, the SIU Board of Trustees named the University’s soccer facility in his honor, now home to Cougar Athletics and the site of countless student and community gatherings.

Beyond his professional success, Korte’s legacy is defined by his generosity. He supported organizations including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the City of Highland and numerous regional initiatives. He was a founding member of the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois in 1983 and served on boards such as the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Korte’s life was defined by hard work, integrity and generosity. His legacy endures beyond the limits of Highland with the communities he built, the students he inspired and University he loved.

Korte married Donna on Oct. 4, 1959, and together they raised four children. He is survived by his wife, Donna; children Susan (Rob) Bowman of Highland, Greg (Nicole) Korte of Las Vegas, Todd (Julie) Korte of Highland, and Vicki (Brian) Solheim of Valrico, Fla.; 11 grandchildren: Marissa, Alex, Ryan, Gavin, Rachel, Grant, Tess, Gabe, Austin, Logan and Garrett; and three great-grandchildren: Melia, Quinn and Rosie Bowman.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, and from 8-9:45 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland. A funeral Mass will follow at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland. Memorials may be made to the SIUE School of Engineering Construction Management Fund or the Highland Area Community Foundation Korte Recreation Center Operations Fund.

PHOTOS: Ralph Korte