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MILTON HARRIS
1 906-1 991
BY ALFRED E. BROWN
MILTON HARRIS chemist and retired vice-presiclent for re-
search at the Gillette Company, died of cancer on September 12,
1991, at the age of eighty-five.
Dr. Harris was born on March 21, 1906, in Los Angeles,
California, but grew up in Portland, Oregon. He received a B.Sc.
in 1926 at Oregon State University and then attended Yale
University, where he received a Ph.D. in 1929.
The accomplishments of the ebullient Dr. Harris were legion.
During his lifetime, he rendered outstanding service in five
areas: pure and applied sciences, industrial research and devel-
opment, professional society activities, government and public
service, and academic activities. To these areas, Dr. Harris
brought his enviable energy and optimism. In addition, many
people sought his counsel.
His career began in 1931 as a research associate at the
National Bureau of Standards, where his early work was in basic
research. In 1938 as director of research of a textile industry
research group, he moved into industrial research. Here, shrink-
proof woo] was developed for the Army and cited by the Army
Quartermaster General as having saved the Army several hun-
dred million dollars cluring World War II. Dr. Harris was also
involved in engineering clothing for extreme climatic condi-
tions, and he modified fabrics to make them selectively water
repellent, flameproof, rot proof, radiation-resistant, and resis-
tant to chemical warfare agents.
47
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48
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
In 1945, at the end of the war, numerous industrial people
who had worked with Dr. Harris suggested that he organize a
consulting laboratory. He assembled a small group of scientists
and founded Harris Research Laboratories. This was a very
successful organization, which was acquired by the Gillette
Company in 1956.
During his industrial research and development activities as
vice-president for research at Gillette, many innovations took
place, such as polymer-coated blades that dramatically reduced
the cutting force in shaving and made obsolete all prior shaving
systems. He was also involved in improving ballpoint writing
products.
During these research years, Dr. Harris was very active in
professional society activities. He became a member of the
American Chemical Societ,v (ACS) in 1931 and served there in
various capacities before being named chairman of the board in
1966, a position he held for six years. He continued to serve the
ACS until his death.
Dr. Harris was also active in many other scientific and profes-
sional societies, both inside and outside the United States. He
was president of the American Institute of Chemists in 1960 and
chairman of its board of directors. He served on numerous
advisory boards such as those of Science, Textile Research fournal.
and the Journal of Polymer Science. In addition to his government
service in active research, Dr. Harris also served as chairman of
the White House Committee on Civilian Technology in 1961-
1962, as consultant to the White House Office of Science and
Technology (1962-1965), and as a member of the President's
Panel on the Environment (1968-1972~.
Dr. Harris was elected to the National Academy of Engineer-
ing in 1976 and was a member of its Finance Committee for a six-
year term beginning July 1987. He was active in the Panel of
Jojoba and several other National Research Council (NRC)
committees. He supported the NRC financially as a major bene-
factor for the Milton Harris Building at the NRC Georgetown
facility.
Dr. Harris often spoke of the interrelationship among indus-
try, government, and academia and of his activities in nurturing
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MILTON HARRIS
49
this relationship. Milton gave his time, expertise, and wisdom to
several universities, including his alma maters. In 1967 Oregon
State honored him with the Oregon State University Distin-
guished Service Award. From 1961 to 1967 he was president of
Yale Chemists' Association and active in several Yale bodies. For
these contributions Yale conferred on him the Yale Medal and
the Wilbur Lucius Cross Medal. Dr. Harris established chairs in
chemistry at Yale and also the first chair in chemistry at Oregon
State. In addition, he provided scholarships at both of these
universities aswel1 as atAmerican Universitywhere he was active
in the chemistry department.
Dr. Harris receiver! numerous awards and other special recog-
nition. He received the Priestley Medal, the highest award given
by the American Chemical Society; the Washington Academy of
Sciences Award; the Naval Ordnance Development Award; the
Perkin Medal; the Honorary Fellow Award of the American
Institute of Chemists; the OIney Medal; and the Harold DeWitt
Smith Memorial Award.
Dr. Harris was a member ofthe Cosmos Club and the Chemists
Club of New York. He was a prolific author, having published
over two hundred scientific publications. He was also issued
thirty-five patents.
I had a wonderful relationship with Milton Harris for forty-
seven years, and I worked closely with him at Harris Research
Laboratories in technical and other activities for twenty-one of
those years. He was a most enthusiastic leader and had an
unlimited capacity for friendship.
Finally, I do want to mention his great interest in advising and
helping people. For career advice, scientific direction, or guid-
ance in financial matters, he was always available. Above all else,
Milton remained throughout his busy life a devoted family man.
His wife of fifty-seven years, Carolyn, was ever the object of his
solicitous concern, and he was a dear father of his two sons.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
oregon state
