Refrigeration pioneer Ed Bottum Sr. passed away Oct. 21 at age 89. At the time of his death, he was chairman of the board of Refrigeration Research Inc. of Brighton, MI, a company he founded in 1944 and that continues today under the leadership of second-generation family members.
Following graduation from the University of Michigan in 1933 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Mr. Bottum was hired by Kelvinator Corp. in the inspection department. From 1935 to 1938 he worked in the Kelvinator Commercial Engineering Lab. He then joined Copeland Corp. and was placed in charge of the engineering lab, during which time the first Copelametic compressors were developed.