Harry L. Fichter Jr. was born on December 19, 1919 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He lived in Pittsburgh until high school when he moved with his family to Chester, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Grove City College in 1942 with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
After college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force. He served from October 1943 to March 1946 with the 4000th Army Air Force Base Unit at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Fichter was assigned to the Materials Laboratory to work in research and development on engines, oils, and aircraft fuels, including jet propulsion fuel. He developed testing methods and apparatus, and instructed others in the operation of equipment and laboratory techniques. He left the Army Air Force with the rank of Sergeant.
After his military service, Fichter started his civilian career with Powers Chemco Photoproducts in Glen Cove, New York. He later moved to Northeast Ohio, working for Grant Photo Company, Horizons Incorporated and General Electric. He also worked as a contract administrator for projects with the Navy and Air Force.
Fichter's career is distinguished as the sole inventor of three patents and a total of sixteen patents bearing his name. He was also the author of numerous publications that resulted from his work as a chemical engineer. The range of his research and development activities was broad and included petroleum products, film for the graphic arts, high-resolution photo systems for intelligence gathering, non-silver photographic materials and radiation detection devices. Metal-sensitized photo processes developed along with his patents were used to prepare plaques taken by NASA astronauts on their first lunar landing.
Fichter maintained active memberships in professional associations including the Society of Photographic Scientists and Engineers and the American Chemical Society. In his private life, he served as an elder in the United Presbyterian Church. His hobbies include golf, woodworking, photography, bridge and ice skating.
Harry Fichter married Laura Jane Spitler on July 10, 1943. He is father to three children: Karen Hale, Janis Purdy and Harry (Hank) L. Fichter III. He is the grandfather of Andrea Purdy Uhlir, Erin Purdy and Jon Fichter. He also has two great-granddaughters, Vivian and Claudia Uhlir.
He currently resides at the Laurel Lake Community in Hudson, Ohio.