Agustin 'Gus' Ramirez

Chairman & Founder / HUSCO International / 1946 / Inducted 2014

Agustin 'Gus' Ramirez has a deep conviction that technical innovation must enable significant value to the ultimate end-user. HUSCO has been granted 107 U.S. patents since Ramirez took the helm in 1983, with his conviction leading the company to develop advanced hydraulic systems that enable superior safety, controllability and fuel efficiency for equipment operators. Often, these technical advances were implemented without adding significant cost to the machine thanks to more cost-effective system designs.

Ramirez's technical vision deployed at HUSCO also contributed to the wave of hydraulically enabled innovation that is sweeping the mobile equipment market. But perhaps his most lasting legacy is advancing hydraulics system research and development in the United States: he funded the HUSCO Chair of Fluid Power at Georgia State Tech, establishing hydraulics as a key research priority at one of America's top engineering schools. The foundation provides approximately 120 university scholarships each year, many to minority students, for pursuit of engineering degrees.

Ramirez has also invested millions of dollars to reform urban K-12 education in his hometown of Milwaukee. He became so passionate about urban education that he helped found Schools That Can Milwaukee, an organization focused on transforming outcomes in urban education.

Ramirez has received many honors and awards including the Georgia Tech Distinguished Alumni award, Entrepreneur of the Year, Hispanic Business Leader of the Year, and the Friedlander/Ladky Award for Philanthropic Leadership. Ramirez serves as a director for numerous organizations including past chair of the National Fluid Power Association.