DeForest, Sherwood

Sherwood Searle DeForest was born September 20, 1921, in Ames, Iowa, to Frank Ray and Maude Searle DeForest. He received his B.S. (1943) and his M.S. (1947) in agricultural engineering from Iowa State University.

DeForest joined the Air Army Corps as a 1st Lieutenant (1942-1946) where he trained to be an engineering officer in charge of aircraft maintenance and a flight engineer on B-29 bombers. He became an Extension Agricultural Engineer (1947-1952) at Iowa State University, where he specialized in rural electrification and farm structures. DeForest left Iowa State to join the staff of Successful Farming magazine, as Engineering Editor (1952-1959). He also worked for the Agricultural Marketing Department (1954-1977) of US Steel (USX) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and held the positions of Marketing Representative and Manager of Marketing--Agricultural Equipment. After he retired from US Steel, DeForest started his own consulting service, DeForest Agri-Services (1977-1999). In addition, DeForest ran a farm (1960-1995) in Fredonia, Pennsylvania, and was Vice President of Walt Montgomery Associates (1977-1997).

DeForest was a member of several professional and honor societies including Sigma Delta Chi, Society of Professional Journalists, Society for Engineering in Agricultural, Food and Biological Systems, and the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE; President, 1975-1976; Fellow, 1977). He also received the ASAE Metal Buildings Manufacturers Award (1964). In addition, he holds three patents.