About Willis Whitfield
Lived 1919 – 2012 (aged 92). Willis Whitfield was an American physicist and inventor.
Willis Whitfield (December 6, 1919 – November 12, 2012 ) was an American physicist and inventor of the modern cleanroom, a room with a low level of pollutants used in manufacturing or scientific research. His invention earned him the nickname, "Mr. Clean," from Time Magazine.
Whitfield was born in Rosedale, Oklahoma, the son of a cotton farmer.
An employee of the Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, Whitfield created the initial plans for the cleanroom in 1960.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Willis Whitfield?
physicist
When was Willis Whitfield born?
Willis Whitfield was born on 6 December 1919 in Oklahoma.
When did Willis Whitfield die?
Willis Whitfield died on 12 November 2012 in Albuquerque.
What was Willis Whitfield's occupation?
Willis Whitfield was a physicist and inventor.
What nationality was Willis Whitfield?
Willis Whitfield was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Willis Whitfield. https://biography.guide/willis-whitfield/
MLA: "Willis Whitfield." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/willis-whitfield/.
Chicago: "Willis Whitfield." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/willis-whitfield/.
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