Press Release
June 27, 2012
Bruce Wilson Woolpert
Bruce Wilson Woolpert was born on May 30, 1951, in Watsonville, California, to Bruce Gideon Woolpert and Mary Elizabeth Wilson Woolpert. He attended MacQuiddy Elementary School, E. A. Hall Junior High School, and graduated from Watsonville High School in 1970, where he was subsequently elected to the Watsonville High School Hall of Fame. He went on to study for his undergraduate degree in economics at the University of California Los Angeles, graduating summa cum laude in 1974. He continued his education at Stanford University and obtained his Master’s Degree in Business Administration in 1976, graduating first in his class.
In 1976, he began his ten-year career with Hewlett Packard in San Diego as a Product Marketing Manager, where he was instrumental in creating HP’s graphics business. In the early 1980s, he moved to HP’s Cupertino Campus to serve as Marketing Manager, and played a key role in establishing HP in the personal computer business.
Bruce’s grandfather, Arthur R. Wilson, founded the Granite Rock Company in 1900. Throughout his childhood and summer vacations, Bruce worked at various Graniterock locations. On February 1, 1986, he returned to the Company as Co-President, along with his brother Steve. In 1997, the Graniterock Board of Directors elected Bruce to the position of President & CEO, ushering in a new era for the venerable Company.
Bruce was a gifted leader and set a fresh and enduring vision for the Company founded on core values that he held dear, including safety, dedication to customer service excellence, the growth and development of Graniterock People, honesty and integrity, and continuous improvement and lifelong learning. Under his leadership, the Company grew to include the Pavex Construction Division in addition to the construction materials business, and developed a multitude of business improvements and innovations resulting in frequent recognition by the industry and widely respected awards, including the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Bruce had a strong belief that a person’s life’s work was a noble calling, which he embraced by his dedication to the work of the Company and the growth of the Graniterock Team. He was a most principled person, and always emphasized the need to “tell the truth – even when it is not popular.” Bruce’s sense of humor, creativity, and fundamental belief in people were treasured by all who knew him.
Above all else, Bruce is remembered for his generosity to the community and to Graniterock People. No Graniterock Team Member’s personal issue was too small and no community need was too great for Bruce to give of his talent, time and resources. Under Bruce’s leadership Graniterock supported numerous community needs, particularly in the area of education, for which Bruce had a great passion.
1951–2012
Bruce always found time for his friends and family. He nurtured and maintained rich friendships formed from early childhood and throughout life. He loved to attend his son Arthur’s many sporting events and supported his daughter Marianne’s passion for business and equestrian sports. Bruce would always come home and make sure that everything was perfect. He would eat dinner and then make the rest of the family relax while he would finish the dishes. On the weekends Bruce would make sure that everybody was squared away before he would do anything for himself. Bruce is survived by his wife Rose Ann and his children Marianne and Arthur and his brother, Steve. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Services will be held on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 13716 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga, California 95070. In lieu of flowers the Family has requested contributions to the Woolpert Family Foundation, to continue Bruce’s legacy in educational programs, Post Office Box 50001, Watsonville, CA 95077.
In 1976, he began his ten-year career with Hewlett Packard in San Diego as a Product Marketing Manager, where he was instrumental in creating HP’s graphics business. In the early 1980s, he moved to HP’s Cupertino Campus to serve as Marketing Manager, and played a key role in establishing HP in the personal computer business.
Bruce’s grandfather, Arthur R. Wilson, founded the Granite Rock Company in 1900. Throughout his childhood and summer vacations, Bruce worked at various Graniterock locations. On February 1, 1986, he returned to the Company as Co-President, along with his brother Steve. In 1997, the Graniterock Board of Directors elected Bruce to the position of President & CEO, ushering in a new era for the venerable Company.
Bruce was a gifted leader and set a fresh and enduring vision for the Company founded on core values that he held dear, including safety, dedication to customer service excellence, the growth and development of Graniterock People, honesty and integrity, and continuous improvement and lifelong learning. Under his leadership, the Company grew to include the Pavex Construction Division in addition to the construction materials business, and developed a multitude of business improvements and innovations resulting in frequent recognition by the industry and widely respected awards, including the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Bruce had a strong belief that a person’s life’s work was a noble calling, which he embraced by his dedication to the work of the Company and the growth of the Graniterock Team. He was a most principled person, and always emphasized the need to “tell the truth – even when it is not popular.” Bruce’s sense of humor, creativity, and fundamental belief in people were treasured by all who knew him.
Above all else, Bruce is remembered for his generosity to the community and to Graniterock People. No Graniterock Team Member’s personal issue was too small and no community need was too great for Bruce to give of his talent, time and resources. Under Bruce’s leadership Graniterock supported numerous community needs, particularly in the area of education, for which Bruce had a great passion.
1951–2012
Bruce always found time for his friends and family. He nurtured and maintained rich friendships formed from early childhood and throughout life. He loved to attend his son Arthur’s many sporting events and supported his daughter Marianne’s passion for business and equestrian sports. Bruce would always come home and make sure that everything was perfect. He would eat dinner and then make the rest of the family relax while he would finish the dishes. On the weekends Bruce would make sure that everybody was squared away before he would do anything for himself. Bruce is survived by his wife Rose Ann and his children Marianne and Arthur and his brother, Steve. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Services will be held on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 13716 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga, California 95070. In lieu of flowers the Family has requested contributions to the Woolpert Family Foundation, to continue Bruce’s legacy in educational programs, Post Office Box 50001, Watsonville, CA 95077.
