Ralph A. Erickson

Ralph Albin Erickson (September 18, 1924 – November 28, 2006) was an American architect who also served Florida as a politician. Erickson was a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives.^[2][3]

Ralph A. Erickson
Erickson in 1961
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from Sarasota County
In office 1961–1962 Serving with G. M. Nelson
Preceded by	William S. Boylston George E. Youngberg Sr.
Succeeded by	John W. Hasson Russell C. Jordan Jr.
Personal details
Born	Ralph Albin Erickson (1924-09-18)September 18, 1924 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	November 28, 2006(2006-11-28) (aged 82) West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Irene Erickson[1]
Children	5[1]
Alma mater	Illinois Institute of Technology University of Florida
Military service
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps
Battles/wars	World War II

Erickson was born on September 18, 1924, in Chicago to Swedish immigrants.^[4]

Erickson served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.^[5] He attended the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Florida.^[5] He got into the Fulbright program to learn about architecture in 1953 in Finland.^[5] He was a musician and had a passion in fishing.^[5]

In 1961, Erickson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives alongside G. M. Nelson, succeeding William S. Boylston and George E. Youngberg Sr.^[2] In 1962, he and Nelson were succeeded by John W. Hasson and Russell C. Jordan Jr.^[2] Erickson was involved in assisting with minority voter registration in Florida.^[4]

After leaving Sarasota in the late 1960s, Erickson lived in Washington, D.C., and served briefly as the chief architect of the Panama Canal Co. He also was chosen to design the Hatserim Israeli Air Force Base after Israel ceded land and a military base to Egypt as part of the Camp David Accords in promoting Middle Eastern peace.^[5]

Erickson (right) with James N. Beck in 1961

Erickson died on November 28, 2006, at the age of 82, in West Palm Beach.^[5]