Overview: Known as the "Father of Propane", Dr. Walter Snelling made breakthrough discoveries that birthed entirely new industries. His 1910 isolation of propane paved the way for portable LP gas to improve life worldwide. An ingenious inventor, he held 179 patents advancing fields from cryogenics to aerospace explosives. Snelling‘s work enabled progress from rural America to the Panama Canal.
Early Life as the Son of an Inventor
Born in 1880 Washington D.C., Snelling’s knack for innovation was inevitable given his family heritage. His father held a patented telegraph invention while his mother had an unmatched resume – educated in both medicine and law with travels spanning the globe. After attending prestigious D.C. prep schools, Snelling graduated George Washington University in 1904. He became the consummate student of science earning a Harvard chemistry Bachelors in 1905 followed by a Ph.D. in Chemistry from GWU in 1907.
Solving Problems for the U.S. Government
Fresh from his Ph.D. research, Snelling quickly put his skills to use in government labs. Working for the U.S. Geological Survey from 1907-1910, he helped advance mining safety standards. His invention of a new underwater explosive detonator enabled huge cost savings for the monumental Panama Canal project. This early success established Snelling as an ingenious inventor able to practically apply chemical theories – a talent he would soon demonstrate on an even larger scale.
On Customer Complaint, New Industry Born
| Year | Global Propane Consumption |
|-|-|
|1910|<10,000 metric tonnes|
|Today| Over 280 million metric tonnes|
In 1910, an angry customer walked into Trojan Powder Company researcher Snelling‘s lab fuming over rapidly evaporating gasoline. Intrigued, Snelling distilled samples to reveal propane gas escaping the mixture. Building on this discovery, he published the first characterization of liquefied petroleum gas "LPG" (patent filed 1912). With portable, energy-dense fuel unlocked, an era of rural gas utilities, convenient camp stoves, and forklift innovation followed. The LP gas industry was born from this chance query – proving that even seemingly small customer issues can yield billion-dollar innovations.
Prolific Inventor: 179 Patents Spanning Decades
Snelling continued solving pressing problems in his forty year tenure as Research Director for Trojan Powder ending in 1954. When he retired, few could claim his volume of innovations:
Just Some of Snelling‘s 179 Patents
- 1912: Patent for liquefied petroleum gas production
- 1915: Patents for manufacturing explosives
- 1930: Refrigeration methods patent
- 1940: Oil refining and upgraded fuel patent
- 1946: Locking rocket fin system patent
His patents contributed to breakthroughs in mining, energy infrastructure, cryogenics, aerospace and defense. Even after retiring in 1954, he continued consulting for Trojan Powder until 1957. Later appointments included advisory roles assisting the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
Pioneering Legacy Sealed with High Honors
Snelling received the industry‘s highest honors including the 1962 Edward Longstreth Medal from the Franklin Institute recognizing lifetime achievement in science and engineering. Reflecting the prestige of this award, only 9 Longstreth Medals were conferred in the entire 1960s.
Even beyond direct technical honors, Snelling’s work bettering society was acknowledged with an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Lehigh University. His early isolation of propane improved quality of life across societies. Unlocking this portable fuel powered innovations allowing cold rural areas warm homes while increasing convenience through gadgets like the propane-fueled fork lift.
Family of High Achievers, Lasting Legacy
In his personal life, Snelling married Helen Gahring in 1919 settling down in Pennsylvania where they raised seven accomplished children. His eldest son chaired the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority while another son became the Governor of Vermont in the 1970s. When Governor Richard Snelling summarized his father’s work in a 1985 New York Times obituary, he aptly captured Dr. Walter Snelling’s legacy. The Governor wrote “His life spanned the entire development of modern weapons technology from simple iron shells to intercontinental rockets.” From liquefied gas to launch vehicles, few inventors can claim such a broad and lasting impact across critical fields as Walter O. Snelling.
