Print
Lee Doran Remembered
11/12/14

NATIONAL BOARD ANNOUNCES PASSING OF
RETIRED CHIEF INSPECTOR AND STAFF MEMBER LEE DORAN

The National Board regrets to announce the November 12 passing of retired staff member and Florida chief boiler inspector Leroy J. Doran (Commission Number 8028). He was 80.

A Native American of Apache-Indian descent, Mr. Doran was a respected teacher and commissioned inspector with more than 50 years’ experience in the boiler and pressure vessel industry.

Mr. Doran was a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Navy retiring as a Lieutenant Commander. He was first elected to membership in the National Board in August of 1991 as chief boiler inspector for the Florida Bureau of Fire Protection. The following year, Mr. Doran joined the Bureau of Indian Affairs where he helped organize a boiler school program at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) in Albuquerque. In 1993, he was credited with creating the country’s first boiler operator course for Native Americans.

In 1995, Mr. Doran went to work for the National Board as a field staff representative. In 1998, he was promoted to government affairs/international representative and retired in 2002. During his tenure with the National Board, Mr. Doran taught numerous training classes and was a frequent contributor to the National Board BULLETIN.

“Lee literally trained thousands of boiler professionals through his work at the Bureau of Indian Affairs and The National Board,” commented National Board Executive Director David Douin. “His legacy will live on in the knowledge he instilled in all of his students. The pressure equipment industry has lost not only a great teacher but a humble professional whose dedication to safety was without limit.”

Mr. Doran is survived by his wife of 46 years Coletta, two grown daughters, and two grandchildren.

Interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery.