NEW CARLISLE — Howard Dufour, of New Carlisle, made a name for himself as a brilliant machinist who once worked on the Manhattan Project for the Atomic Energy Commission.
But locally, he was best known among aviation enthusiasts, where he was widely regarded as an expert on Charlie Taylor, a model maker who designed the engine that powered the Wright Brothers’ initial flight in 1903.
Dufour died Sunday at 94 years old. He is being buried today in New Carlisle - ironically at the same time and day of the anniversary of the Wright Brothers first powered flight.
Dufour wrote “Charles E. Taylor: The Wright Brothers’ Mechanician” which was initially published in 1999.
Amanda Wright Lane, a great grandniece of the Wright Brothers, said the book is generally considered the most complete work produced about Taylor’s contribution to the history of flight.
“If anyone has brought (Taylor’s) name forward in the history books, it’s been Howard,” Wright Lane said.
Dufour’s contributions are also well-known at Wright State University, where the machine shop he created was named in his honor.
Dawne Dewey, head of special collections and archives at Wright State University Libraries, said she knew Dufour for about 30 years. She said he will also be remembered for leading a team of volunteers who built a full-size replica of the Wright Brothers’ 1903 Flyer.
Dufour’s personality was what stood out the most to her, Dewey said.
“His greeting was no handshake, it was a hug,’ she said.
Although he had little formal education, Dufour had an inquisitive nature and seemed to have a natural feeling for machines and how they work. Dewey said Dufour seemed to feel like Taylor was a kindred spirit as he continued to research his life for 12 years.
“When you had a question about the Wright Brothers’ engine, Howard Dufour was the one you’d turn to,” Dewey said.
She noted it seems fitting that Dufour’s burial service today, Dec. 17, is scheduled at the same time as an annual ceremony marking the Wright Brother’s first flight at the Wright Brothers Memorial.
“He’s one of the can-do people and just a fantastic ambassador for aviation history in Dayton,” Wright Lane said.
Dufour’s graveside service is 11 a.m. today at New Carlisle Cemetery, 1545 Musselman Road.
The 106th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first powered flight is 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Wright Memorial, next to the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center, off Kauffman Road on the grounds of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.