Industrialist, Automotive Innovator. Howard attended Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana and then at the University of California where he was obtained a degree in engineering. The Marmon family prospered in the manufacturing of flour milling machinery with the Nordyke and Marmon Company which was established in 1851. Sons of the co-founder, Howard and Walter Marmon stepped into the family business after completing their education. The influence of the brothers' interests in growing the company led them to branch out into other machinery in the late 19th century. Howard leaned toward automotive design and built his first automobile along with his brother Walter in 1902. This interest developed into formation of the Marmon Motor Company later in 1902 where worked to perfect the V-8 engine, then devoted his attention to the V-16, his favorite, and introduced the use of aluminum in building the mechanical parts greatly reducing the weight of the motor. Walter, his brother Howard, and Marmon company designer Ray Haroun collaborated to build the Marmon Wasp race car. Haroun drove that car to win the first Indianapolis 500 race in 1911. During World War I, Howard worked in Dayton, Ohio, where he helped to design the famous Liberty airplane engine. He retired from the service as a lieutenant colonel. After the war he returned to the automobile manufacturing. The Marmon Motor Company eventually fell on hard times during the depression and was sold in 1933.
Industrialist, Automotive Innovator. Howard attended Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana and then at the University of California where he was obtained a degree in engineering. The Marmon family prospered in the manufacturing of flour milling machinery with the Nordyke and Marmon Company which was established in 1851. Sons of the co-founder, Howard and Walter Marmon stepped into the family business after completing their education. The influence of the brothers' interests in growing the company led them to branch out into other machinery in the late 19th century. Howard leaned toward automotive design and built his first automobile along with his brother Walter in 1902. This interest developed into formation of the Marmon Motor Company later in 1902 where worked to perfect the V-8 engine, then devoted his attention to the V-16, his favorite, and introduced the use of aluminum in building the mechanical parts greatly reducing the weight of the motor. Walter, his brother Howard, and Marmon company designer Ray Haroun collaborated to build the Marmon Wasp race car. Haroun drove that car to win the first Indianapolis 500 race in 1911. During World War I, Howard worked in Dayton, Ohio, where he helped to design the famous Liberty airplane engine. He retired from the service as a lieutenant colonel. After the war he returned to the automobile manufacturing. The Marmon Motor Company eventually fell on hard times during the depression and was sold in 1933.
Bio by: Rick France
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