Rail car research chief, engineer at Pullman Co. Posted on July 19th
William H. Peterson was a third-generation employee of Pullman Co. who claimed dozens of patents during his research, including one to protect the contents of rail cars, but also knew how to have fun with his mechanical skills.
Mr. Peterson, 87, died Wednesday, July 9, at the Rockford, Mich., home of his daughter, Linda Brauer. A 50-year resident of Homewood before moving to Michigan six years ago, he had Parkinson’s disease and leukemia, his daughter said.
Mr. Peterson’s career at Pullman Standard, as the company was known in those years, began not long after his 1947 graduation with a degree in mechanical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, his daughter said. He started as a project engineer and in 1958 was promoted to associate director of applied research.
In 1960, he helped design a cushioned underframe system to protect against the jarring collisions of coupling, his daughter said.
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