Obituary, The Courier Journal, 2/18/1964
S. A. Rapier, An Exporter, Dies At 78
Stephen A. Rapier, a Bardstown native who headed an exporting firm in New York City,
died Sunday at his home in South Orange, N. J. He was 78.

Rapier was graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1909 and was awarded an honorary doctor-of-law- s degree from the university in 1954.

Early in his career he traveled abroad as a representative of the General Electric Company. He worked with the late inventor Thomas A. Edison before starting his electrical exporting business many years ago.

At the time of his death, he was owner of Electrical Manufacturing Company in New York City.

Herman L. Donovan, former president of the University of Kentucky, described Rapier as
"a great friend of the university."

Rapier was a son of the late Judge and Mrs. F. Boone Rapier, Bardstown.

Survivors include his wife, the former Jeanne Pesant; a brother, J. Ekro Rapier, New
Haven; three sisters. Mrs. W. O. Stiles and Mrs. J. LaMotte Spalding, both of
Bardstown, and Mrs. R. H. Edelen, Louisville, and five daughters.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas Catholic Church near Bardstown.
Burial will be in the church cemetery. The body will be at the home of Mrs. Spalding after
9 p.m. Tuesday.

-

Deputy Nelson County Clerk.

Worked for GE in 1910, in Schenectady, NY. Headed GE of Cuba until 1918. Started his own Elecrical Manufacturers Export Company, operating in 102 foreign countries.

Traveled to 102 countries, some of them dozens of times, including in Algeria, Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azores, Bahamas, Barbaldos, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Malasia, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Ceylon,
Chile, China, Chosen (Korea), Colmbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Czelchoslovakia, Danzig, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Eucador, Egypt, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, British Hungary, India, Indo-China, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Madeira Islands, Manchuria, Malta, Martinique, (Mesopotamia) Iraq, Mexico, Morooco, Netherlands, Netherlands, East Indies, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Phillippine Is., Poland, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Romania, Salvador, Scotland, Siam, Symrna, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Switzerland, Tahiti and Samoa, Trinidad, Tripoli, Tunis, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezeula, Wales, and Yugoslavia.

Built power plants in Cuba and Mexico. Electrified sugar mills and sent electrical equipment to railroads in Cuba. Head of Square D Company export department for 32 years. Head of Harvey Hubbell Co. export department for 20 years. Supplied electrical equipment for the Panama Canal and Strategic Air Command bases in Spain, Alaska, and elsewhere throught the world.

Honorary Doctorate degree from University of Kentucky in 1954. Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Commerce and Industry. He was director of a world-wide electrical manufacturing export company at that time.

Founder of the Beard School, Orange, NJ, a girls private school, which his daughters attended.

Lived in South Orange, NJ.5

Owned about 250 acres in Knob Creek, KY. Owned the old Cpt. Richard Rapier brick residence known as the “Mansion,” built in 1796, and 147 acres of land near Bardstown. Also known as “Rapier’s Ridge”

Kept a home in France for many years, where his daughters spent time growing up.

Spoke Spanish and French fluently, and learned something of the ancient philosophy of India.

Purchased the oldest and first house built by Cpt. Richard Rapier just outside of Bardstown. He propbably had plans to restore it, however, he died of a stroke on February 16, 1964 before his desires could be accomplished. The house was sold out of the Rapier family in 1965, and was later torn down by its owners, the Cassidy family.

Stephen was an exporter, engineer, & world traveler. He maintained a home in France for many years. Stephen started out on his own as an exporter of electrical equipment. He met his wife in France. Stephen spoke Spanish & French fluently & had learned something of the ancient philosophy of India. He died of a stroke.