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Harold W. Brainerd, Jr.

Harold W. Brainerd, Jr. graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1944 with a degree in chemistry. Immediately upon graduating he was enlisted in the U.S. Navy to fight in World War II. After the war and into the early 1950’s he became a phosphate and detergent technical expert for Monsanto in the early 1950's. Yearning to return to his chemistry roots he left Monsanto and became a research chemist for Standard Oil until the late 1950's. His field of expertise was detergents for secondary recovery projects in oil production.

Seeking a path of his own Mr. Brainerd founded Brainerd Chemical Company, Inc. in 1959. Detergents were a cornerstone of his business. Knowledge of laboratory research lead him to begin distributing for Mallinckrodt in 1962 and he developed a substantial market in reagent grade chemicals for research facilities. Brand naming was popular in the 1960’s so Mr. Brainerd developed his product line under the Brama Brand. Products included solvents, detergents and agricultural products. A well know laundry detergent developed by Mr. Brainerd was trademarked NuBrite and sold widely to commercial and institutional customers. During his career as a well known chemist he developed a total of 21 patents.

Mr. Brainerd turned the business operation responsibilities over to the youngest of his three sons in 1979. Left with a legacy of integrity and customer commitment, Mathew Brainerd has continued to expand the company and its markets to better serve our customers throughout the United States.