Jefferson Co., TX - Obits: Henry L. Ward ***************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: H. J. Dalton, Jr USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************** Beaumont City Library 695 Pearl Street Beaumont, Texas 77701 Microfilm BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE, January 22, 1970 Page 1 HENRY L. WARD 81, OF PIONEER FAMILY, DIES Henry L. Ward, 81, of 2545 Louisiana, retired Western Electric Co. official, died at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday at Hamilton Nursing Home after a lengthy illness. Ward was a member of a prominent pioneer Beaumont family, son of John C, and Belle Carroll Ward. Chief Engineer He joined Western Electric in 1991 and retired in 1948 as chief engineer of all plant operations in the United States. Ward attended schools in Beaumont, Baylor University in Waco, Texas A&M and later received a bachelor of arts degree in chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Upon graduation in 1911, Western Electric placed him as an engineer in the manufacturing division, methods department, where he was instrumental in contributing to many new inventions and processes in the communications field. Executive Planner He later was named chief of the manufacturing division in Hawthorne, Ill., and was subsequently promoted through the various departments to become executive head of factory planning. In 1939, he became chief engineer of all plant operations in the United States for Western Electric, with headquarters in New York. He held this position until he requested retirement after 37 years, in 1948. Returning to Beaumont after retirement from Western Electric, Ward entered into the active operation of the Texas Ice Co., a Family-owned property with Carroll Ward, Mrs. Seawillow Ward Stafford and Hugh Martin. He introduced new methods in merchandising the (Turn to page 2, column five) HENRY L.WARD, 81 - (Continued from page one) product and different innovations until the firm was sold to the American Service Co., in 1955. Michigan Alumnus Ward was a member of the First Baptist Church in Waco. He was prominently associated with the alumni of the University of Michigan, and was a lifelong member of the Presidents Club of that institution. He was a life member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, his college fraternity was Sigma Chi; social affiliations included a long-time membership in the Beaumont Country Club. He was a former member of the Beaumont Club and was a former Rotarian. He was a contributor to several private philanthropies. Business Promoter Throughout his entire career in business, Ward worked as a promoter for the business potential offered to industry in the Gulf Coast area. He was cited on several occasions for having been instrumental in helping locate factory installations in Texas. During the first World War, his knowledge of cable communication to foreign countries proved invaluable to this nation in the war effort. He was a strong believer in the conservation of natural resources, and worked untiringly against pollution of waterways. Ward was an ardent golfer, and considered this to be his only hobby. Several trophies were awarded to him for amateur championships over the country. Ward is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Seawillow Ward Stafford and Mrs. Emma Ward Kelso; two nieces, Mrs. Maybelle Martin Bryant, and Mrs. Louella Ward Walden, all of Beaumont; three nephews, Dr. Kyle Ward of Appleton, Wisc., Clark Ward of Lake Charles and Jerry D. Ward of Manhattan Beach, Calif. Grandnephews surviving Ward are Smyth Walden Jr., of Beaumont, Kyle Ward Walden of Houma, La.; George Earl Bryant III of Beaumont, Tom Kyle Ward of Houston, Hal Ward of Lake Charles, and many cousins. Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Carroll-Wallace Funeral Home chapel, 1680 Park. Dr. Dallas Bivins, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will officiate.