James Palmer was born December 13, 1923, in Elmcreek, Nebraska. He graduated in 1944 from the Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. After graduation, he attended U.S. Naval Officers' Training and was commissioned as a U.S. Navy ensign, serving as an electronics officer in the Pacific region during World War II. Palmer moved to State College, Pennsylvania in 1953 to become a project engineer with Haller, Raymond, and Brown (HRB Systems Inc.). While still at HRB in 1954, he became president and chief executive officer of C-COR Electronics, an early manufacturer of cable television equipment. From 1956 through 1972, he was also the president of Centre Video, a cable system operator. Palmer is an honorary alumnus of Penn State, was the founding president of Pennsylvania Centre Stage, and a member and past president of the Palmer Museum of Art Advisory Board. With Barbara, his wife, he donated the lead gift for the museum that bears their name and was co-chair of the museum expansion campaign. The Palmers also funded the Palmer Graduate Fellowship in electrical engineering and the Palmer Chair in telecommunications. He was honorary chair of the College of Communications Grand Destiny Campaign and on the executive committee for the Penn State Grand Destiny Campaign. Palmer was a member of the University's Industrial and Professional Advisory Council for the College of Engineering, a former member of the Radio-Television-Film Professional and Alumni Relations Committee, and a member of the Telecommunications Liaison Advisory Board. From 1949 until his death on November 1, 2001, Palmer was a registered professional engineer. He was a senior member of the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers. In addition to many honors and appointments throughout his lifetime, in 2001, he received the Centre County United Way Award for Exemplary Philanthropy.
From the description of James R. Palmer papers, 1948-1989. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 367613490
