Louis Henry Miner

Louis Henry Miner of Kennett Square, PA, who had a leading role in the development of Kevlar special products, along with an immensely satisfying career traveling the world on behalf of ballistic protective garments, has died at age 84.

Lou died of heart failure on the morning of May 28th at ChristianaCare in Newark, DE.  

Known for his kindness, his easygoing nature and his desire to get along with people, Lou died with family members gathered at his bedside expressing their love for him. All were comforted that he had an easy transition into the mystery that awaits us all.

A native of Rutland, VT and the youngest of three children, Lou was blessed that his mother was, not just a capable and loving presence in his life, but she had been a teacher instructing several grades in a one-room school house. His father was a school superintendent and later a consultant with the Veteran’s Administration to GI’s returning from WW II, helping them overcome trauma. And he served as a savings & loan officer.

Lou fulfilled his parent’s high expectations for him, graduating from Burlington High School among the top students in a class of 283. Until 11th grade he never earned anything lower than an A. And when a guidance counselor -- and his father – said he should be an engineer, he followed their advice.

A self-described “nerd” who loved cars, Lou decided to break free of this mold and become more social. So he pledged Kappa Sigma fraternity, which was strong on athletics. To join, Lou ran cross country and track. “I hated both but it was enough to get me into the fraternity,” he said.

While earning his bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Vermont, Lou married his girlfriend, Patricia Vierling. The couple raised two children together, with Lou reported to be a fun guy to have as your father.

In 1965, he received a master’s degree in engineering mechanics. The program was one of the nation’s first to emphasize composite engineering components, such as carbon fibers, resins, and glass. Because of his success in the program, a university professor, who had worked at the DuPont Co., opened the door for a job interview in Wilmington.

Impressed by the quality of the science at DuPont, Lou joined the company in 1965, though the salary was less than he hoped. Over the course of his 35-year career that compensation improved with numerous promotions.

During his career, he served at the Experimental Station and Chestnut Run, most often as a bench scientist. He also worked in applied research, technical services and, for most of his career, he had a hand in marketing products that he helped to create.

The product he would spend most of his career finding uses for was Kevlar, a high-strength material developed by DuPont’s Stephanie Kwolek in 1965.  While Kevlar was first marketed as a replacement for steel in tires, as it was considered stronger than steel, Lou found significant uses for Kevlar.

Because of the material’s lightweight structural integrity, he proposed it for the third stage of the Trident missile, a submarine-launched ballistic missile. Lou told the Hagley Business Archive that he sold 41,000 pounds of Kevlar during the early phase of the Trident missile program.

Lou also had success in selling Kevlar for use in the hulls in high-performance racing boats, arguing that Kevlar could outperform other materials. In visiting places such as Miami, Lou found that racing enthusiasts -- along with drug runners -- were interested in his product, a discovery that made him uncomfortable, when men showed up with briefcases filled with cash wanting to buy his product.

As someone who loved camping and the outdoors, he was excited when, in 1974, Jim Henry of Mad River Canoe wanted his assistance in designing and building a Kevlar racing canoe. As Lou told the Hagley Business Archive, the canoe went on to win a number of races. “That was a fun accomplishment,” he said.

Lou was especially proud of developing bulletproof vests for police officers, as the vests saved many lives. He often told the story of a police officer’s daughter bringing him cookies as a thank you for saving the life of her father.

In police departments around the country, Kevlar earned a stellar reputation for stopping bullets shot at officers. As it happens, Kevlar has a high strength-to-weight ratio – a ratio that made it an ideal choice for personal protective equipment.

At DuPont, Lou had his own ballistics lab, which allowed him to improve the design of body armor. He loved going to work most days. “I had a fascinating career,” he said. “So much of it was luck, being in the right spot.”

Through his work with the Kevlar team, Lou earned six U.S. patents in protective apparel and several overseas. He always enjoyed seeing Navy Seals wearing his helmet design on television shows. As he would explain to those who asked, Kevlar fibers are used for soft armor body vests and hard armor for helmets.

His favorite time with the company came in traveling to Washington, DC in the fall of 1991 for the dedication of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, a monument that honors officers who die in the line of duty. There for the dedication was President George Herbert Walker Bush, who sat to talk with Lou after the memorial’s dedication.

The President was relaxed and asked that Lou tell him something about his work. Lou told Mr. Bush that he had designed the use of the fabric in the vest that the president usually wore.

The President thanked Lou and said he wore the vest faithfully, though he was told by the Secret Service that it was not needed for the dedication. “The conversation was a thrill,” said Lou.

While at DuPont, Lou taught courses in advanced science at Widener University for 17 years, and, after his retirement, he became an adjunct instructor at West Chester University.

As a retirement avocation, Lou learned clock repair and set aside a basement workbench dedicated to this purpose. In addition to repairing the clocks of neighbors and friends, he had more than 40 in his home that he kept running.

During the course of his life, Lou pursued many avocations and pastimes, such as the study of the Civil War, working with model trains and spending time at the beach. He was particularly proud of a 1972 Sunfire Yellow Oldsmobile Cutlass that was in mint condition, with only 1,100 miles on it, when he purchased it.

Lou was married twice, with his marriage to Trish Vierling ending in divorce. Later, he was introduced to an attractive and vivacious educator, Carolee Sheeler, by a friend he knew at the Wilmington Drama League. Enjoying their time together, Carolee became his second wife.

In addition to loving his son and daughter -- Shawn and Sharon and their children, and grandchildren -- he was proud of their accomplishments. Lou often made time to spend with his family, meeting them for meals, and family celebrations.

A favorite pastime was traveling to Philadelphia, with Shawn, for sporting events. A well-known seafood lover, Lou was a respected fixture at the steamed crab table for Shawn’s annual Fourth of July party.  And at Thanksgiving, it would be bad form to get between Lou and the steamed shrimp.

Lou also had a heartfelt fondness for Carolee’s extended family, often spending time with them in Maine. And he formed a close relationship with a nephew by marriage, Andrew Donahue. They could be found at MidAtlantic car shows exhibiting the Cutlass.

Lou is predeceased by his parents, as well as his brother, Solymn “Steve” Donald Miner Jr. of Wichita, Kansas; and his sister, Carol J. Milne of Burlington.

He is survived by his wife, Carolee Miner of Kennett Square; a son, Shawn Miner and his wife, Julie, of Glen Mills, PA; a daughter, Sharon Miner of Wilmington, DE.; five grandchildren (Caitlin, Justin, Steven, Shane and Stephanie); and four great grandchildren (Nora, Finn, Logan and Ashton).

A memorial service will be held at Kuzo Funeral Home, 250 West State St., Kennett Square, PA. on Saturday, June 22. Visitors may pay their respects to the family from 5 to 6 p.m.  A memorial service will follow at 6 p.m. If attendees wish to speak briefly to share stories and memories of Lou, they are invited to do so.

Arrangements by the Kuzo Funeral Home, Kennett Square, PA

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