Dr. William E. Bazzelle Sr.: A Life of Science & Service

A documentary about the life of Dr. William E. Bazzelle Sr. who worked as a chemist, manager, and mentor at the DuPont Company for nearly 40 years. Born in Hope, Arkansas to a family of educators in 1942, Dr. Bazzelle excelled in academics at Texas Southern and Wayne State University, ultimately earning his PhD in chemistry. During his time at DuPont, Dr. Bazzelle was employed in many positions related to research, manufacturing, and marketing. Dr. Bazzelle is influenced by the important work of his uncle Dr. Bridges Turner, an early champion for the training and hiring of Black engineers and scientists. As a result, Dr. Bazzelle has served as an board member, mentor, and most importantly, a tireless advocate for minority education through programs such as FAME, Inc. Beyond his contributions to science and STEM education, Dr. Bazzelle’s has dedicated his life to other types of community service. His wife Minnie has described his works as “pulling others up as you move forward.” The service work Dr. Bazzelle pursues, notably with the Wilmington Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, continue his family’s legacy of community building and uplift. The documentary was produced by the Hagley Museum and Library with generous support from Delaware Humanities and the Department of Community Services, New Castle County, Delaware.