Abstract :
Summary form only given, as follows. Mr. Richard C. Wareham, the founder of The Special Electric Co., Inc., passed away on Jan. 13, 2004 in Brookfield, WI. Mr. Wareham was born in Peterson, Iowa on July 26, 1923. Following a term of service as 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, he went on to earn a B.S. in general engineering at Iowa State University. Hired by Louis Allis Co. in 1948, he worked for 9 years before leaving to build his own businesses, including Special Electric Co., Special Shipping, Texas Mooring, and Eastern Transvaal Container Depot. During his career, Mr. Wareham traveled the world, making the trip to Africa and back more than 70 times. Mr. Wareham founded and directed the Special Electric Co. from its inception in 1957 through 1982, when he sold the business to the existing employees. During that time, he pioneered the development and use of water-based varnishes for electric motors and expanded the company from a local entity to a multilocation national sales and distribution company. Retiring in 1988, he devoted himself to philanthropic work, inventing the SunStove and designing water distillation units for use in underdeveloped countries. Mr. Wareham founded the self-supporting, non-profit SunStove Organization. His designs for solar water distillation units are currently being tested at New Mexico State University. Mr. Wareham is survived by his wife, Rita; children, Laurie Wareham, Jill Wareham Gruver, Steve Wareham, and David Wareham; and several grandchildren.
