Skromme, Arnold B., 1917-2008.

Arnold Burton Skromme was born to Austin and Belle (Holmedal) Skromme on April 1, 1917, in Zearing, Iowa. He graducated from Kelley (Iowa) Consolidated High School and received his B.S. (1941) in agricultural engineering from Iowa State College (University).

During World War II, Skromme was employed as a Development Engineer (1941-1945) for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. of Akron, Ohio. He was hired by Auto Specialties Manufacturing Co. of St. Joseph, Michigan, as a Sales Engineer (1945-1947) and then worked as a Research Agricultural Engineer (1947-1950) at the Pineapple Research Institute in Honolulu, Hawaii. Skromme then joined Deere & Company, working as Assistant Chief Engineer (1950-1955) at the John Deere Ottumwa Works in Ottumwa, Iowa. He was promoted to Chief Engineer (1955-1970) of the John Deere Spreader Works in East Moline, Illinois. He retired as Chief Product Engineer (1970-1984) for John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, Illinois, where he supervised the designing and testing of a variety of farm equipment.

Skromme was a Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (now the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers), serving as Vice-President (1965-1968) and on numerous committees including the Historic Commemoration Committee and the Standards Committee. He was also a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Society of American Value Engineers, and the Moline Rotary Club. During his career, he obtained over a dozen patents and authored two books, The 7-Ability Plan (Archives call no. LB1590.5 S57 1989) and The Cause and Cure of Dropouts: Seven Bell Curves for each Student (Archives call no. LC146.6 S57x 1998).

Arnold Skromme married Lois Lucille Martin on September 14, 1940. Together had four children: Roger, Keith, Debbie, and Erik. Arnold Skromme died on August 9, 2008.