Sunday, March 11, 2012

Arthur Hunter, Chief Electrical Engineer

Hello~

I would like to post the following on the Budd Company Blog Website for all my Father's old Budd Co. Friends & co-workers.

In Memory of ~~~
Arthur Hunter Budd Company Chief Electrical Engineer. 1918---2009

My father Arthur Hunter former Chief Electrical Engineer for all of Budd Co's, many worldwide plants sadly passed-away on May 7. 2009 .
Arthur's office was based in Budd's Hunting Park Philadelphia Pa. Plant's Engineering Office.
My father Arthur worked for Budd for almost 50 years.
Before being hired by Mr. Budd's son Arthur was the Chief Electrical Engineer for The Philadelphia Navy Yard & Cramp Ship Yard from just before his Graduation from Drexel University (BS EE) & University Of Pennsylvania (MS EE) as our nation was just beginning to gear up for WW II .
His first job with our Navy was getting old four stack WW I Destroyers & cruisers out of the Navy mothball fleet and getting the up-and-running for Brittan under President Roosevelt's Lend-Lease Program.
Dad knew very well that the war was coming fast.
He designed complete electrical & electronic systems for Naval Warships & Submarines ; and had a large team of 1500 engineers & electricians working under him.
Immediately after Pearl Harbor Dad tried to enlist as a Naval aviator fighter pilot~~~
He was then told that he was needed much more as a Naval Warship systems designer and could not enlist into the US Navy.
After WW II ended he was brought to the Budd Co. by Mr. Budd's son to head up the Budd Co's then just new Electrical Engineering Design Department.
My father loved working for the Budd Co. and had made many life-long friends working there over his many decades of employment.
He retired shortly after the German's at Thyssen bought the Budd Co. ; and moved all major engineering operations to the Detroit Plant & Engineering offices area.
He did not wish to re-locate out of the Philadelphia area so near his impending retirement.
Arthur is known for many innovations at Budd Co. ,& in the US automotive industry. His many innovations include plant electrical power & substation systems, electrical & electronic multi welder controls & systems, lighting systems, Machine & punch press Safety control systems, Early computer machine & welding control systems, early robotic steel & stamping handlers.
He designed complete press lines from the steel de-coilers to the end ol line scrap steel bailers & stamping handlers.
He also designed many of the very first Monster automatic multi-welders in the automotive parts industry..
Since Arthur retired from Budd he has stayed very active well into his early 90s using his fishing & 80 MPH speedboats at his vacation home in Ocean City NJ almost every day until only six weeks before his passing from stomach & esophagus Cancer at age 91 1/2 .
His wife of 50 years had passed-away 15 years earlier.
He was also very active in the Antique Automobile restoration hobby ; and was working on the complete restoration of our 1926 Springfield Mass. USA built Rolls~Royce Silver Ghost just shortly before his passing..
This was his new pet project.
Over the decades~~~
I have never heard anyone who ever worked at Budd Co. with my Father ever say anything bad about my father.
They always said he was a very kind & very sharp & smart person who had compassion for his fellow Budd Co workers.
He was also my Best friend & lifetime buddy.
We did everything together~
Fishing, sailing, boating, and restoring Antique & Classic Cars.
We lived together since my mother's passing.
I sure miss my father Arthur today.
I am sure others who once worked beside him at Budd Co. will miss him too.
I would love to hear from anyone who knew, & worked with, my father Arthur Hunter at Budd Co.
I would surely appreciate hearing from you all !
You may call or email me at any time to talk about my Father & Budd Co.
I have followed in my father's footsteps and am today a Professional Mechanical Engineer.
I too~~~graduated from Drexel University.
Thank You~
Brad Hunter
1 215 947 4676
silverghost1926@msn.com