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It was 1930, a tough economic and political time around the world. In the Russian village of Butka, a man known as Iggy was a bit better-off financially than most. He was a peasant, but a landowner, and therefore considered an enemy of the poorer peasants. The Marxist/Leninist regime called such well-off peasants “kulaks,” and under Stalin attempted to destroy this social class.
After his mill, land and other valuables were confiscated, Iggy fled from the further persecution he felt would surely follow. About a year later, Iggy’s son, Nikolai, became a father himself and moved his wife and new son to the city of Kazan where he worked in construction. As if the political torment had been passed from father to son, Nikolai was convicted of “anti-Soviet agitation,” in 1934. He spent three years in one of Stalin’s notorious labor camps.
So, even at his young age, the grandson of Iggy and son of Nikolai, who had both
been declared enemies of the state, was probably well-known by government officials. Nonetheless, he was able to complete his high school education and then went on to the Ural Polytechnic Institute majoring in construction engineering.
His career progressed quickly. He became skilled at construction trades such as masonry, glazing, plastering, etc., then accepting a position as foreman.
Continuing to climb the career ladder, he became a chief engineer and
then later chief engineer of an integrated plant.
However, in 1961, he joined an organization that led to his biggest career move of all. What was that organization and who is this engineer known for more than just engineering?
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