Paul W. Litchfield

Paul W. Litchfield
Paul W. Litchfield
Born	Paul Weeks Litchfield (1875-07-26)July 26, 1875 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	March 18, 1959(1959-03-18) (aged 83) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Occupation	Businessman, author, inventor and founder of the City of Litchfield Park, Arizona
Spouse(s)	Florence Printon Litchfield

Paul W. Litchfield (July 26, 1875 – March 18, 1959) was an American inventor, industrialist, author, CEO of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and the founder of the town of Litchfield Park, Arizona. Among his accomplishments as Chairman was the establishment of a research and development department that produced the first practical airplane tire, long-haul conveyor belts, hydraulic disc brakes for airplanes, the first pneumatic truck tire, and a bullet-sealing fuel tank for military airplanes. Litchfield was also the author of books on air power, trucks, employee relations, and business.

Litchfield (birth name: Paul Weeks Litchfield) was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Charles M. Litchfield and Julia W. Litchfield. He was a direct descendant of Mayflower pilgrims. He received his primary and secondary education in his native city and continued his higher education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1896, he graduated and earned a degree in chemical engineering. His first job in the rubber business was with a bicycle-tire manufacturer.

Litchfield went to work for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company plant in Akron, Ohio. He soon became superintendent of the plant. In 1899, he designed and patented the first pneumatic wheels (tubeless tires) which were used in New York City's busses on Fifth Avenue. He became the superintendent and plant manager by 1900. In 1903, he met Florence Pennington Brinton, who worked for the Akron Beacon Journal. They were married on June 23, 1904.

Under his direction, Goodyear began to experiment in the development of airplane parts. In 1910. he advocated for the establishment of an aeronautics department in the company. The company accepted his ideas and began to be involved in the production of aircraft that was lighter-than-air. The new department also produced observation balloons and after World War I, would team up with the German Luftschiffbau Zeppelin Company to produce zeppelins, and dirigibles. Some of these set size and altitude records.