Breck Harrison Camp

Breck Harrison Camp, Certified Master Locksmith, age 83, of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on November 11, 2021. Breck was born and educated in Knoxville, Tennessee, but lived much of his early life at the family compound on Lea Lakes in Blaine (Grainger County), Tennessee, just outside Knoxville. Even as a very young child, keys and locks held a fascination for Breck, as exemplified by his inserting his father’s car key in a light socket in their home. This early interest in seeing what makes keys work resulted in Breck’s becoming a leader in the locksmith and security industry.

However, Breck’s career had a slight detour before he entered the locksmith profession. In 1956, while a junior at West High School in Knoxville, Breck became the assistant manager of the Tennessee Theatre, and later rose to house manager. During that period, he resurrected the grand Wurlitzer theatre organ and took on the additional duties of house organist. Two years later, Breck moved to Atlanta to start a pipe organ service company that became the largest in the Southeast. His love for the grand Tennessee Theatre never wavered, and he served on its restoration board and the board of directors until just a few years before his death.

In 1969, his love of hardware manifested itself in the creation of Security Engineering Consultants, Inc., an organization dedicated to the design and implementation of high-security locking systems for large office buildings, banks, hospitals, detention facilities, and government properties. As security system technology has evolved over the years, the company also expanded and is now known as Metro Lock and Key, Inc.

Throughout his locksmith career, Breck served as a member, board member, vice-president, and president of the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA), a professional trade organization with over 10,000 members worldwide. One of his proudest accomplishments while serving in ALOA was his participation and leadership in the Proficiency Registration Committee where he helped guide the standardization of certification for the industry, from terminology to key blank identification, and generation of the first comprehensive glossary published by the Lock Industry Training and Standards Council.

Breck was preceded in death by his parents, John Harrison Camp and Dorothy Waldrop Camp, his younger brother, Henry Nathan Camp, III, and his life partner of more than 50 years, M.W. (Buzz) Whitman. He is survived by his cousin, Tim Keller, of Knoxville. Just as he wished, Breck died peacefully at home in his own bed, surrounded by close friends. He will be remembered by all those who knew him for his loving spirit and generosity to family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers.

Following cremation, Breck’s ashes will be spread at Lea Lakes, Blaine, Tennessee.