Laurence P. Richmond Papers (MS-594)

Laurence Palmer Richmond was born September 19, 1900, in Lodi, Wisconsin, to Albert E. Richmond and Minnie (Palmer) Richmond. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 1923 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. Following graduation, Laurence worked for 5 years at General Electric Company, Schenectady, New York, in the Test Course and Engineering Laboratory of the Radio Department.

In 1929, Laurence Richmond started working as a Radio Engineer for the U.S. Army at Wright Field near Dayton, Ohio. He specialized in engineering problems connected with installation of radio and radar equipment in service aircraft. By 1949, he held the position of Assistant Chief of the Components and Systems (Radio) Laboratory in the Engineering Division of Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He appears to have retired sometime prior to 1960. Additionally, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and remained in the service thereafter, eventually achieving the rank of Colonel.

Laurence Richmond was married twice. He married his first wife Dorothy Andrews, about 1928, and she died in January 1938. He married his second wife, widow Minnie Belle (Porter) Trace, sometime prior to 1940. Laurence does not appear to have had any children, though he had two step-daughters, Susan and Patricia Trace. During his time at Wright Field, Laurence resided in Dayton and later Oakwood. Eventually, Laurence and Minnie moved to Irvine, Orange County, California, where Minnie died in 1985, and Laurence died on January 30, 1988. Laurence is buried with his wives in Garden Bluff Cemetery, in his hometown of Lodi, Wisconsin.