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Lewis
DeBlois
Class of 1996
Background:
Lewis A. DeBlois was born in 1878 on a United States gunboat
afloat on the Rio Grande River. He was a graduate of Boston
Latin School and the Harvard School of Engineering, where
he received a S.B. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1899.
He lived in Schenectady, New York; St. Louis, Missouri; traveled
in Europe in 1903 and 1909; and was in San Francisco, California
on April 18, 1906, during the earthquake. He died on February
26, 1967 at his home in Sharon, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Professional
Experience:
Mr. DeBlois was employed by E.I. DuPont de Nemours Co. from
1907 to 1926. After working in the Light, Heat, and Power
Division handling mostly fire protection matters for four
years, in 1911 DeBlois was named first chairman of the Safety
Commission of the High Explosives Operating Department. His
range of functions expanded to include all of DuPont , and
his titles changed to meet these functions. In January 1920,
he was named manager of the Safety Section of the Service
Department. Then in November 1923 he was named manager of
the Safety Division. In February 1926, he became manager of
the Safety and Compensation Division. In World War I, DeBlois
served as an inspector of government arsenals and investigated
disasters involving munitions for private firms and governmental
agencies. Also while at DuPont, DeBlois was active with the
National Safety Council serving as vice president, a member
of the board of directors and the executive committee. He
was instrumental in forming the engineering and chemical sections
of the Council, served as vice president in charge of local
safety councils, and was president of the Council from 1923-24.
On June 1, 1926, he left DuPont to become the director of
the Safety Engineering Division at the National Bureau of
Casualty and Surety Underwriters in New York City. While there,
he engaged in nationwide research concerning the relationship
of safety and industrial efficiency. He resigned in 1930 to
become a consulting engineer in New York City. His consulting
work focused on research and practical studies in the field
of accident and occupational disease prevention.
Career
Highlights:
Mr. DeBlois served as the first chairman of the Prevention
of Accidents Commission at DuPont. Throughout his career at
DuPont, DeBlois established a program that continues to be
praised for its tradition of excellence in safety management.
In 1923, DeBlois was named 9th President of the National Safety
Council, a volunteer position that was held for one year.
He also established and was president of the Delaware Safety
Council. On July 27, 1939, DeBlois was unanimously elected
executive vice president of the Greater New York Safety Council.
When the organization of the National Conference on Street
and Highway Safety was considered, DeBlois was one of five
men selected to confer with Secretary Hoover on organizing
plans. He served on the Steering, Finance, and Public Relations
committees of the conference.
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