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GEORGE EDWARD HOLBROOK
1 909-1 987
BY EDWARD G. JEFFERSON
GEORGE E. HOLBROOK, a retired vice president and member of
the Executive Committee of the Du Pont Company, diec} Febru-
ary 26, 1987, at the age of seventy-seven.
Elected one of twenty-five charter members of the National
Acaclemy of Engineering in 1964, George was an exceptionally
talented chemical engineer and an executive of broadvision and
foresight, who made important contributions both to Du Pont
and to the many professional and educational institutions with
which he was affiliated.
He joined Du Pont in 1933 at age twenty-four and before his
thirtieth birthday was head of new products research at the
company's Jackson Laboratory in Deepwater Point, New Jersey.
He became assistant director of that laboratory in 1943, and in
1949 served as general superintendent of product development
at Du Pont's Chambers Works, which was then the largest
chemical plant in the world. Later he was transferred to Du
Pont's home office, first as manager of process development for
the company's organic chemicals business, and later as assistant
director of Du Pont's Development Department.
George was given leave from Du Pont in 1952 to serve as
deputy director of the Chemical, Rubber, and Forest Products
Bureau of the National Production Authority, en cl subsequently
became director of the Bureau. Upon returning to Du Pont he
resumed his duties at the Development Department and under-
119
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120
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
took an additional assignment as chairman of Du Pont's Corpo-
rate Committee for Educational Fellowships and Grants, which
became a lifelong interest. In 1955 he was appointed assistant
general manager of Du Pont's Organic Chemicals Department,
and in 1957 he became general manager of the newly created
Elastomer Chemicals Department. He was named a vice-presi-
dent, a director, ant} a member of the Executive Committee of
the Du Pont Company in 1958.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1909, George attended the
University of Michigan where he received a B.S. in 1931, M.S. in
1932, and Ph.D. in 1933, all in chemical engineering. In 1959 he
was honored by his alma mater for outstanding career achieve-
ment, and in 1967 the university granted him the honorary
doctor of science degree. Deeply concerned with the quality of
higher education, George served on the Visiting Committee for
the Department of Chemical Engineering at Carnegie Institu-
tion of Technology, the Board of Directors of the Development
Council of the University of Michigan, the Chemical Engineer-
ing Advisory Board of the University of Rochester, the Board of
Engineering Eclucation of the University of Pennsylvania, and
the Board of Overseers of Newark College.
George wrote many articles for technical publications and
scientific organizations, and was issued several patents covering
inventions in the organic chemicals field.
He was a member of the Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi,
and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies and the Phi Lambda Upsilon
chemistry society. He was also a member of the American
Chemical Society, American Physical Society, Society of Chem-
ical Inclust~y, New York Academy of Science, Franklin Institute,
American Association for the Advancement of Science, the
Chemical Society (London), an honorary member of the Insti-
tution of Chemical Engineers (Lonclon), a member of the Board
of Trustees of the University of Delaware Research Foundation,
and an adviser on engineering matters to the Ford Foundation.
George was a member ant! treasurer of the American Institute
of Chemical Engineers, a director in 1950-1952 and 1954-1956,
and president in 1958. In 1953 he received the Institute's Profes-
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GEORGE EDWARD HOLBROOK
121
signal Progress Award, and in 1961 its Founders' Award for
outstanding contributions to the field of chemical engineering.
In addition, he served as vice-presicient of the Engineers Joint
Council and was for several years a member of its board of
directors, its Executive Committee, and Planning Committee.
He also served as a director and member of the Executive
Committee of the Manufacturing Chemists' Association.
George Holbrook was a talented en cl dedicated professional.
His contributions to human welfare were numerous and impor-
tant, and he is greatly missed.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
chemicals department
