La Verne W. (La Verne Ward) Spring

Born in Coldwater, Michigan, in 1876, La Verne Ward Spring studied chemistry at the University of Michigan, where he earned an A.B. degree. He went on to work as a chemist and metallurgist, building a career in the steel industry and related manufacturing fields.

Spring is best remembered for Non-technical chats on iron and steel, and their application to modern industry, first published in 1917. As the title suggests, the book was written to explain iron and steel in plain language, opening up a complex industrial subject to general readers rather than specialists alone.

He died in 1932 at age 56. Although not widely known today, his work remains of interest as a snapshot of early modern industry and as an example of practical scientific writing meant for everyday readers.