Benjamin E. Chapman, Jr.
Benjamin E. Chapman, Jr., grew up on Maryland Avenue, in Salem, and was a 1962 graduate of Andrew Lewis High School where he was a member of the Beta Club, Latin Club, Science Club, and a member of the tennis team. He served as president and treasurer of the Science Club.
After graduating from high school he entered the Georgia Institute of Technology (Ga. Tech) and earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering in 1967. Ben was immediately employed by Procter & Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, and, over the next 33 years, he engaged in the research and development of new product lines and improvements to existing ones covering a broad range of P&G consumer and industrial market items.
His initial research in the late 60’s and early 70’s was directed to making improvements in Pampers disposable diapers. Next, he led development of surgical non-woven products that included drapes, gowns, surgical sponges, and towels. During the next 5 years he led production of clinical pharmaceutical products for human research. Ben then served as International Technical Manager for Orange Crush (owned by P&G) over the next 7 years, followed by 2 years in process/product development of Bounce and Downy fabric softeners. This was followed by 10 years as Global Process Manager for hand wash laundry products. At the time of retirement in March of 2000, he was P&G’ Principal Engineer for global laundry product development.
Ben obtained significant international experience in the research field and through leadership positions with P&G. He was responsible for building and managing several multi-million dollar scale pilot plants in the pulp/paper, pharmaceutical, beverage, fabric conditioners and laundry research areas. He is also the inventor and holder of approximately 20 patents (U.S. and International) involving a number of products. In the final 12 years before retiring from P&G, Ben specialized in new chemical development and commercialization during which he led a number of global teams concerned with significant product/process improvements related to “Quality of Life” benefits in both the U.S. and many under-developed and developing countries.
Following retirement from P&G, Ben chose to remain active and currently serves as a consultant with the Odin Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio. The firm is engaged in posting technology and patent abstracts on the Internet (worldwide web) for several major U.S. corporations to sell, license, technologies developed in-house but no longer of strategic interest to the developing company.
While living in Cincinnati, Ben took an active part in community affairs serving as an advisor to Junior Achievement programs, as assistant scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America, and as a deacon in the Presbyterian Church. Considering the general quality of life improvements for consumers worldwide that have resulted from products he has been directly involved in developing, Ben’s contribution to world betterment has indeed been significant.
He has long been interested in philately and was a board member of the Memphis Philatelic Society and the U.S. 1869 Philatelic Research Associates, non-profit educational organizations dedicated to research and study of U.S. postal history. Ben has won gold medals at Phoenix, AZ, and Memphis, TN, for exhibits of U.S. Postage Stamps & History. He has also served as editor for several non-profit philatelic publications including the Memphis Stamp Collector’s Society, Chairman’s Chatter - U.S. Philatelic Society, and the Register - U.S. 1869 P.R.A. quarterly research publication.
Ben and his wife, Sally, have two daughters, Angela Brigman and Christina Di Venere.
In recognition of his outstanding career achievements, Benjamin E. Chapman, Jr., was inducted, in the year 2000, into the Salem Alumni Hall of Fame established by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association.
