World War II Honoree

Herbert Dale Hiatt

Hometown

Portland, Indiana

Honored By

Gene Maresca

WORKED TO DEVELOP SYNTHETIC RUBBER FOR THE NATION'S WARTIME FLEET OF AIRCRAFT. AS A RESEARCH CHEMIST AT U.S. RUBBER COMPANY, HE PLAYED A KEY PART IN A NATIONAL WAR-TIME EFFORT TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE TO NATURAL RUBBER, THE SUPPLY OF WHICH WAS JEOPARDIZED BY CONFLICT IN ASIA. HIS EFFORTS WERE SUCCESSFUL, AND ENABLED THE U.S. TO BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT IN THE PRODUCTION OF SYNTHETIC RUBBER AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE IN ITS HISTORY.