Born in Mexico in 1892 where his father was a ranch manager, Endicott R. Lovell graduated from the Michigan College of Mines (later Michigan Technological University) in 1922 and "began his career as assistant superintendent of the Smelting and Refining Department of Calumet and Hecla. He was promoted to the position of department superintendent in 1933. He was appointed general superintendent in 1940, general manager in 1941, a director and vice president in 1942, and president in 1944. Lovell was a member of the Michigan Tech Board of Control from 1944 to 1951 and served two years as chairman. He was a trustee of the College Alumni Foundation and served on several high-level government councils. During his term as president of Calumet and Hecla, the company expanded its operations to include the Wolverine Tube Division in Detroit and Decatur, Alabama. Exploratory and lead-zinc mining operations were initiated in Shullsburg, Wisconsin. Operations of the Calument Division included the expansion of productive copper mines and output of copper from secondary sources, foundry products, chemicals and drill bits" (Michigan College of Mining and Technology, July 1953, Volume 7, #2).