Alexander McCormick Sturm

Alexander McCormick Sturm was born on June 23, 1923, in Westport, Connecticut. He was the son of Justin Sturm, a sculptor, author, and Yale football player, and Katherine "Kit" McCormick, a member of the McCormick mercantile family. Sturm had a younger brother named Justin Jr., commonly known as "Dusty." His maternal uncle was Alexander Agnew McCormick Jr., a World War I officer and pilot.

Sturm attended Yale University, where he graduated with a degree that complemented his diverse interests in art and writing. Prior to completing his education, he authored and illustrated two children's books, "The Problem Fox" and "From Ambush to Zig-zag," both published before his graduation. His artistic talents extended beyond writing, as he was also recognized as an artist and a collector of guns, swords, canes, and heraldry. During his university years, he was noted for his distinctive fashion style, often wearing custom-tailored clothing and dining at upscale establishments. A classmate described Sturm’s nature as a "Renaissance type" with a "true brilliance" and a "voracious" interest in collecting.

In addition to his indoor pursuits, Sturm was an accomplished polo player, demonstrating athletic versatility. Despite a preference for staying indoors, he was known for his involvement in recreational sports and his artistic sensibilities.

During World War II, Sturm served as an officer with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in Washington, D.C. While in D.C., he met Paulina Longworth, daughter of Alice Roosevelt Longworth. The couple married in 1944, with Sturm's brother Dusty serving as best man. They had a daughter named Joanna Mercedes Alessandra Sturm, born in 1946. Paulina Longworth was involved in supporting Sturm’s entrepreneurial endeavors, including their joint effort in founding Sturm, Ruger & Co.

In 1949, Sturm co-founded the firearms manufacturing company Sturm, Ruger & Co. with William Batterman Ruger. Sturm contributed $50,000 in start-up capital and designed the company's emblem, a Germanic heraldic eagle that appeared on all Ruger firearms. Ruger supplied technical expertise as a gunsmith and business acumen. Their partnership was characterized by mutual contributions: Sturm handled financing and design elements, while Ruger managed technical operations.

The company initially gained success and increased its financial stability within a few years. During business meetings, Sturm was described as having a distinctive appearance, with a beard and green suits decorated with bells and other embellishments, giving him a prewar German baronial impression. Ruger noted Sturm’s artistic and sensitive personality.

Sturm's health declined in 1951 when he contracted viral hepatitis. He died on November 16, 1951, at the age of 28, after a ten-day hospitalization. In his memory, Ruger changed the company's logo from a red eagle to a black eagle to mourn Sturm's death.

Following Sturm's death, the company continued to operate and develop. His widow, Paulina Longworth Sturm, died in January 1957 at age 31 from an overdose of sleeping pills. Their daughter was subsequently raised by Paulina's mother, Alice Roosevelt Longworth.