Born in Cleveland, Ohio. Attended Dartmouth. Graduate of Tuck School of Business Administration in 1916. Married to Catherine Ruth Connelly in 1917. They had two sons. (The NYT obit notes Ruth C. Brett as first wife and Mary Lynn Marburg as second wife.)

Entered the army in 1917 and served as a first lieutenant until 1918.

Employed as an industrial engineer 1919 to 1921 with Scovell-Wellington Company. In 1921 he became vice president and director of the Enamel Products Company. He moved to Alliance, Ohio, in 1943 to become vice president and director of Alliance Ware, Inc.

Appointed Director of the Mint by President Eisenhower in June 1954 and served until January 1961. During his term the San Francisco mint was closed. He appeared on an episode of To Tell The Truth on August 13, 1957 and on What’s my Line on November 25, 1956. He died at home in Palm Desert, California.

Brett was honored with a mint medal (USM 317) as part of the Directors of Mint series. The design was by Engelhardus von Hebel.

bio: Failor

obit: NYT 4/13/89 DOD:SSDI