The Dearborn Foundation’s Founder

Born on May 11, 1918, near Cleveland, Ohio, Howard Dearborn attended high school and one year at Case School of Applied Science. After being fired several times from his father’s machine shop, Howard borrowed $400 on his car and $1,000 from his uncle and started his own machining business in an old warehouse next to a railroad track amongst three coal yards. He hired a high school friend and designed and built unique and specialized machines. Thus began the Howard Manufacturing Company of Berea, Ohio. Most of the products made were used for wartime equipment. Howard and his family moved to Maine in the early 1960’s where he built a second manufacturing plant in Fryeburg, ME, Dearborn Precision Tubular Products, which grew to over two hundred employees. During his many years in business, Howard’s two companies produced components for tanks, airplanes, space vehicles, nuclear submarines, nuclear reactors, medical equipment and deep water drilling equipment. These two plants with highly specialized machines designed and built by Howard, provided him with the financing to establish The Dearborn Foundation. Howard developed many inventions, some of which hold patents. Howard passed away at the age of 95 on July 21, 2013.

Howard understood that while scientists and engineers work as a team to develop technological advances, the detailed activities of these two groups differ. The scientist seeks new knowledge and discovers new technogical principles. The engineer puts this knowledge and principles to practical use.