Marshall Edison "Doc" Rinker, Sr., Rinker Materials Corporation founder and philanthropist, was born December 8, 1904 in Cowan, Indiana, son of Jacob E. and Alberta May (Neff) Rinker. He is survived by his wife, Ruby Stewart Rinker. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Vera Lea Keesling Rinker March 20, 1985. He is survived by three sons and their wives, Mr. & Mrs. Marshall E. Rinker, Jr. of Belleair, Fla., Mr. & Mrs. David B. Rinker and Mr. & Mrs. John J. Rinker both of Atlantis, Fla.; a step-daughter, Ms. Elizabeth L. Dennis; two stepsons and their wives, Mr. & Mrs. Bert Klawonn and Mr. & Mrs. Brad Klawonn all of West Palm Beach, Fla. He was blessed by 21 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, a brother and his wife, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Rinker of Lexington, Ky., and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Rinker attended Ball State University, and received an honorary doctorate from Palm Beach Atlantic College in 1988. Mr. Rinker was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Rinker Materials Corporation from 1926 to 1988 when he sold it to CSR, Ltd., an Australian conglomerate. He established the M.E. Rinker, Sr. Foundation in 1988 after selling Rinker Materials Corp. He was the recipient of the Free Enterprise Medal from Palm Beach Atlantic College in 1985, and named the John D. MacArthur Business Leader of the Year, 1985. Several educational programs have been named in his honor: M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Business, Palm Beach Atlantic College, 1989; M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Building Construction, Univ. of Florida, 1989; and M.E. Rinker, Sr. Institute of Tax and Accountancy, Stetson Univ., 1989. His past activities include: Chairman, West Palm Beach Community Chest, 1954; Board of Directors, West Palm Beach Chapter American Red Cross, 1930-50; Board of Directors, Florida East Coast Industries, 1978 to 1995; Trustee Emeritus, Stetson University, 1988 (DeLand, Fla.); Life Trustee, Palm Beach Atlantic College, 1990 (West Palm Beach, Fla.); Life Deacon and Chairman of Board of Deacons, First Baptist Church, West Palm Beach, 1960-62. He also served as an officer in the Civil Air Patrol during World War II.
Mr. Rinker was a director of the National Concrete Masonry Association serving as President in 1954; member of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association and President in 1973 and recipient of its Joseph E. Carpenter Award in 1990; member of Florida Concrete and Products Association and President in 1967; West Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce President 1954-55; and honorary member of Sigma Lambda Chi. He was a Rotary Club member and was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 1988, a member of the Old Guard Society, Life member of the Governor's Club, member of the Everglades Club, Garden of Gods in Colorado, and The River Club of Jacksonville, Florida.