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H. Tracy Hall

AKA Howard Tracy Hall

Born: 20-Oct-1919
Birthplace: Ogden, UT
Died: 25-Jul-2008
Location of death: Provo, UT
Cause of death: Diabetes complications

Gender: Male
Religion: Mormon
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Chemist, Inventor

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Synthetic diamonds

Military service: US Navy (Ensign, 1944-46)

As a research chemist at General Electric, H. Tracy Hall was assigned to the company's artificial diamond project, seeking to find an affordable diamond for industrial, aerospace, and manufacturing uses. In 1954, using a press of Hall's design exerting pressure of about 1.5 million pounds per square inch at temperatures in excess of 4,800°F, Hall and his team achieved success. Since he was working in a GE lab, the patent was owned by his employer, but as a symbol of its gratitude the company awarded Hall two US savings bonds.

After leaving GE, Hall entered academia at Brigham Young University, where he developed an even more powerful tetrahedral press in 1957, and a later improved design called the cubic anvil press. In 1966 he founded MegaDiamond, a diamond-manufacturing company that also sells high pressure equipment.

Father: Howard Hall (farmer, b. 22-Jun-1887, d. 20-Oct-1972)
Mother: Florence Almina Tracy Hall (b. 7-Nov-1886, m. 14-Aug-1918, d. 23-May-1966)
Brother: Eugene Melvin Hall (b. circa 1921)
Brother: Wendell Herbert Hall (b. circa 1922)
Brother: Donald Rey Hall (b. circa 1924)
Brother: Delbert Henry Hall (b. circa 1929)
Wife: Ida-Rose Langford Hall (b. 20-Feb-1921, m. 24-Sep-1941, d. 7-Mar-2005, seven children)
Daughter: Charlotte Hall Weight
Son: David Hall
Daughter: Elizabeth Hall Neil
Son: Howard Tracy Hall, Jr.
Daughter: Nancy Hall Mecham
Daughter: Sherlene Hall Bartholomew
Daughter: Virginia Hall Wood

    University: BS, University of Utah (1942)
    University: MS, University of Utah (1943)
    University: PhD, University of Utah (1948)
    Professor: Chemistry, Brigham Young University (1955-)

    Religious Mission: Mormon Africa (1980s)
    Mormon Bishop (1980s)
    Novatek International
    MegaDiamond Co-Founder (1966)
    General Electric Research Scientist (1948-55)
    American Chemical Society
    Risk Factors: Alzheimer's

Official Website:
http://www.htracyhall.org/


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