scope:

Preface

The ASHRAE Historical Committee proposed compiling biographical information on men and women who had made substantive contributions to the art and science of the industry ASHRAE serves. The project, part of the celebration of ASHRAE's 125th anniversary, received many suggestions as to the coverage, format, and possible author. I volunteered to write this book because, although other biographical works already existed, they did not go much beyond a brief description of the individual and their contribution. During my 53 years of researching the history of HVAC&R, the interesting backgrounds of industry pioneers struck me. Often their contributions were infl uenced by the events of their personal lives as well as the socioeconomic and political situations of their time.

So, why not combine the background with the achievement? I began by proposing that the list of pioneers did not have to be restricted to those who were well known but would be limited to those who were deceased for at least fi ve years and to those who have suffi cient and accurate biographical and visual material available in order to develop an interesting or unusual story that will grab the reader. The short time span necessitated a smaller list of entries, considering the work required in researching and compiling information and visual material, as well as the actual writing and then production of the book.

This turned out to be an easier-said-than-done project. Although I already had a lot of information from past research, there was still more to discover, particularly since much more information can now be accessed electronically. And the information I already had was in need of reexamination.

ASHRAE already had some biographical programs in place, such as the Hall of Fame, Pioneers of the Industry, and Leadership Voices. Previously published works that contained biographical information included A History of Refrigeration Throughout the World, Heat & Cold-Mastering the Great Indoors, Proclaiming the Truth, The Comfort Makers, and The Men Who Created Cold, as well as many serial-published articles. These sources were used as a starting point. A list of possibilities for inclusion was initially researched to see if sufficient information was not only available, but that the individual's background would be unusual and interesting. Those individuals who had interesting stories but already had wellknown biographies, such as Willis Carrier, were excluded to make room for lesser-known pioneers. After considering the available information and visual material, as well as the time restraint, the list was reduced to what you see here. Randy Schrecengost, of ASHRAE Historical Committee, volunteered to assist with the project, authoring five of the chapters. His assistance ensured the timely completion of this work.

The individuals presented here were different in many respects, coming from many different backgrounds and times. However, they were homogeneous in one respect-all of them possessed a vision that was pursued with a single-mindedness of purpose, despite their surroundings, relationships, and societies. During their lifetimes, they endured triumphs but also setbacks and even disasters. Some of them achieved recognition and financial rewards during, at the end, or only after their lives. Some of them had little financial success. Some were not appreciated for their contribution for many years after they had passed away. Their stories do show the ultimate triumph of an idea continuously pursued, no matter what. But you also see the conflict of single-mindedness with personal relationships and surrounding society. And there is the role that mentors, supporters, and backers can play in encouragement and promotion of a good idea. Those you will read about here had to balance pursuit of an idea with life as it was. Some did it well, some not so much, but I trust you will find their stories both interesting and inspirational.