Mackey, B. H. (Bill Harry), 1906-1996

Bill Harry Mackey was born on May 8, 1906, at Denver, Colo., and received his Ph.D. in industrial chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1929. He joined E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company as a chemical engineer at the Belle, W. Va., Plant in 1930, and from 1932 to 1941 he worked as a research chemist at the Explosives Department's Burnside Laboratory in Carney's Point, N.J.

During World War II, Mackey worked at three defense plants that Du Pont built and operated for the government. He was assistant technical superintendent of the Indiana Ordnance Works (1941-1942), then then technical superintendent and eventually assistant plant manager of the Alabama Ordnance Works (1942-1943), and plant manager of the Chickasaw Ordnance Works (1943-1944). In 1944, Mackey was transferred to the Hanford Engineer Works in Richland, Wash., as a technical specialist, and was later promoted to plant manager.

Mackey moved to Wilmington as manager of the Technical Division of the Explosives Dept. in 1946. He became manager of the Atomic Energy Division upon its organization in 1950 and was promoted to assistant general manager of the Explosives Dept. in 1958 and general manager in 1961. Mackey retired on December 31, 1969.