Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 04:54:33 :
Independent Journal
Wednesday, December 17, 1980
ESTHER BULLARD
Kentfield – Esther Bullard of Kentfield, an amateur artist and musician and also designer of the modern construction hard hat, died Tuesday in a local hospital after a short illness.
She was 82.
Mrs. Bullard was the widow of Edward Wheatley Bullard, president of the E. D. Bullard Co., which manufactured industrial safety equipment in Sausalito for more than 75 years.
After her husband returned from World War I and conceived the idea of a safety hat based on the concept of doughboys’ helmets, Mrs. Bullard designed the hat with its characteristic three ridges on top.
She was born and reared in San Francisco, the descendent of two pioneer California families. She attended schools there including the old Girls’ High School.
She and her husband were married in 1918 and in 1938 they moved to Mill Valley. After his death in 1963, Mrs. Bullard moved to Kentfield.
She had begun her study of art after her children were grown and became accomplished in oils and pen and ink. She also was a jazz pianist.
Mrs. Bullard served as a director of the family firm for many years. Her son, Edward W. Bullard Jr., who also served as president of the family firm, died in 1971 at the age of 47.
Surviving are her twin daughters, Ann Allen of Stinson Beach and Esther Griffith of Greenbrae; her sister, Newell Burland of Greenbrae; two brothers, Alpheus Bull of San Francisco and Henry H. Bull of Menlo Park; and 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held.
The family suggests contributions to a favorite charity.
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