Bio for Harold Lee Brumfield - January 5, 1928 - 1999

Quick (1st Rev) Bio Overview

My father was born in Farmington, Missouri to Harold Eaton Brumfield and Eva Irene Brumfield (Burroughs).

He grew up in Leadwood, MO, which is the topic of some of his childhood stories.

The family moved to Galesburg, Illinois and lived there many years.

Dad attended Knox College for his undergraduate work, and Northwestern University for his graduate studies.

Dad worked for Underwriter Laboratories in the 1950's, and then for Sandia National Labs after moving to California where he met my mother.

He was a Chemist by training and by trade. He pioneered the development and use of polymer foams, and his work led to top secret security projects that involved the use of foams in nuclear weapons. He traveled a lot for work - and in the 1960's received a 100,000 mile award from United Airlines. Back then - that was a LOT of air travel.

By the end of the 1960's Dad became partially disabled. Through most of my early childhood he was not working.

In the 1980's he re-hired on at Underwriters Labs.

Eventually he retired and moved to North Carolina, where he died in 1999 from heart failure.