Charles Lacey joined Centron films as a major stockholder in 1949 after
serving in WWII and graduating from Kansas State University with a
degree in Electrical Engineering. His first duties were as a film sound
engineer. He soon began editing films, while continuing to do sound
work, and even occasionally acting through the 50s. As the company
expanded, he became vice president in charge of production, primarily
in charge of coordinating production and post-production of Centron's
films. During this period in the 60s, Centron was producing more and
more corporate films and sale meetings, in additon to their educational
product. The 70s ushered in a period of corporate 'documentaries',
especially for John Deere, in which Lacey wrote and directed many short
films in addition to his duties coordinating production company-wide.
Centron's films remained in that vein, alongwith a renewed emphasis on
educational product with the early 70s launching of Centron Educational
Films, a distibution arm. Lacey continued with Centron up until its
sale to Coronet Films in the mid-1980s. Charles Lacey was born (1922)
and raised in Republic County, Kansas. He married Ruthanne Finley in
1947. They had four children; Philip, Jean, Bruce, & Marilyn. He died
in February, 2002, in Lawrence, Kansas.
