Harlow Platts, now deceased, moved to Boulder in his early teens and graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in engineering. During World War I, he served in France. In 1919 he entered the family business, Western States Cutlery, one of Boulder’s oldest manufacturers of sheath and pocket knives and axes and known internationally for their quality.
When his father retired, he and his brother Reginald managed the business for several decades. He was active in Rotary and the Elks and served on the Boulder planning board from 1930 to 1960. The park at Viele Lake was named after him for his service on city boards. He died at age 90 in 1983.