Dyckerhoff, Otto Rudolf

Engineer

born: 05.10.1870 in Biebrich

died: 03.05.1954 in Wiesbaden

Dyckerhoff initially completed practical training as an engineer in Mannheim and studied at the Technical Universities of Munich and Hanover from 1892-95. He then worked as a trainee in the cement works of Hilton, Anderton and Brooks & Co in Hallig near London. In 1897-98 he undertook a trip around the world with his brother Wilhelm, from which a diary has survived. The trip was on behalf of Dyckerhoff & Söhne and served to maintain and expand important business relationships. At the time, Dyckerhoff & Söhne was advertising a special waterproof cement, which was to be used primarily for port facilities in the Far East.

After his return, Dyckerhoff joined Dyckerhoff & Söhne and became managing director in 1911 after the company was converted into a limited liability company. He took an active part in the First World War as an officer. After the war, he returned to Dyckerhoff & Söhne.

In 1920, he was appointed a member of the Parliamentary Committee of the French-occupied territories. In 1922, he became a member of the Committee of 15. He took part in negotiations in Koblenz under French President Tirard regarding the demanded cession of the Rhineland to France. In 1931, following the merger with the Westphalian cement group Wicking, Dyckerhoff - like his brothers - moved to the Supervisory Board of the new stock corporation, where he accompanied the fortunes of the company until 1950.

In the 1930s, as a member of the road construction commission, he was intensively involved in concrete road construction in Germany. It is to his credit that roads in Germany were built almost exclusively with concrete until the Second World War. He was also a city councillor for many years, first in Kastel and after the incorporation in 1908 in the Mainz city parliament.