Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee Bios

(The Founders clockwise from top: Erich J. Schrader, William M. Lewis, Isaac B. Hanks, Elwin L. Vinal)

Erich J. Schrader, Alpha ‘05

Erich Julius Schrader was born in Bermen, Germany, in 1881. His family later moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he attended elementary and high school. He received a degree in mining from the University of Minnesota in 1905. After graduation, he practiced his profession in Mexico and the western states, always devoting much attention to Theta Tau. Founder Schrader established a record of service unequaled in the Fraternity’s history. He served as its first Grand Regent until 1919, and then for thirty-five years as Grand Scribe. At its Founder’s Golden Anniversary Convention in 1954, the Fraternity established the position of COunsellor to be held only by him. During his later years, he lived in retirement in Reno, Nevada, and then with his sister, Mrs. Thomas H. Niles, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He never married. His unselfish service to Theta Tau continued until his death in 1962, at the age of 81.

Elwin L. Vinal, Alpha ‘07

Elwin LeRoy Vinal, was born in 1886 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. At the end of his senior year in 1907, he left Colorado School of Mines where he and Founder Lewis had established Gamma Chapter. His long and interesting career included employment with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and as an engineer with several private firms in the Seattle area, and with the Design Division of the Public Works Office, 13th Naval District. He was also self-employed in building and property development, and as a consulting mining and civil engineer. In 1909, he established on Mercer Island in Lake Washington near Seattle, the home where he and his wife, Grace, lived until his death in 1971. He was the last of the four Founders.      

William M. Lewis, Alpha ‘08

William Murray Lewis, the third Founder, graduated from Colorado School of Mines in 1907. His early professional work included assignments in mines and mills in Minnesota, Alaska, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico. In 1911, he joined the Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation. From 1924, he was associated with the Layne New York Company, Inc., serving in various positions, including that of President. Living in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, in retirement, he and his wife, Florence, celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in 1963. He died in 1969.

Isaac B. Hanks, Alpha ‘07

Founder Isaac Baker Hanks was born in 1884. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1907. Following graduation, he was employed in the lumbering and milling business in the northwest, and in Canada. Later, he located in Spokane, Washington, and operated the I.B. Hanks Lumber Company. Late in life, he was to comment that he had worn his Theta Tau badge every day over the years. In common with the other Founders, he maintained his interest in the Fraternity until his death, in 1967.

1986 – Charles W. Britzius, Alpha ‘33

Charles Britzius, who hails from Deephaven, Minnesota, near Minnneapolis, became a Theta Tau brother at the University of Minnesota. He received a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1933 and continued with a M.S. in 1938. Brother Britzius’ career exemplifies the ideal Hall of Fame inductee. He has served the fraternity on the Executive Council through various offices from 1954 to 1982. He has served as Grand Regent, Grand Vice-Regent, Grand Treasurer, and Delegate- at- Large. Currently he serves as the office Historian  to Theta Tau and authored A History of Theta Tau Fraternity in 1980.

Brother Britzius has made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession. In 1938, he bought Hall Laboratories, a testing firm for construction materials. The name was then changed to Twin City Testing and Engineering Laboratory, Inc.

Since then, Twin City has grown into various areas of the testing service field including product testing, hazardous waste investigation, and chemical analysis. Britzius ran the company from 1938 to 1979. As president, he saw his company flourish as a well known leader in the testing services for the Midwest.

In 1955, Mr. Britzius became the president of Soil Exploration Company. He resigned as president of both companies in 1979 and became Chairman of the Board for Twin Cities for the following six years.
Brother Britzius was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame in 1986.

Ramond Hanes, Sigma ‘24

Brother C. Ramond Hanes earned his nomination from fellow brothers at Sigma Chapter. He is respected for his contributions to Theta Tau and to the engineering profession.

He was one of the founding members of Sigma Chapter at Ohio State University. As president of the Engineers Club at O.S.U. he helped guide the organization into chapterhood in November, 1924.

After graduating he served the national fraternity as Grand Regent, Grand Vice-Regent, Grand Inner Guard and Eastern Regional Director. He has also been active with the Sigma Chapter House Corporation.

In his profession, Brother Hanes is well respected as an expert in the area of professional highway construction. In 1985, he was selected to partake in the Citizen Ambassador Program of People to People International. He was called upon as a touring consultant to the Peoples’ Republic of China for highway construction and maintenance. Brother Hanes gained his expertise while employed as an engineer for the Ohio Department of Highways in Columbus. He retired from this position in 1973.

Joseph W. Howe, Omicron ‘24                          

Paul L. Mercer, Omicron ‘21

One cannot say the name Paul L. Mercer without uttering the name of Brother Joseph W. Howe. The two go together like the letters H and T. The duo was most notably revered for their long dedication to the fraternity as Co-Editors- in- Chief of The Gear of Theta Tau from 1929 to 1961. Brothers Howe and Mercer were also instrumental in the establishment of Omicron Chapter.

At the University of Iowa, Brother Mercer organized the Mecca Club, an on-campus engineering organization. In 1921, club members petitioned for chapterhood in Theta Tau National Fraternity. Soon afterwards, Joseph Howe entered the picture. He had been head of Chi Delta Sigma, a local radio fraternity, which was looking to be affiliated with a national organization. Theta Tau National Fraternity regarded the members of Chi Delta Sigma as potentially good Theta Taus and thus came about the merger, founding Omicron Chapter on the Iowa campus. The merger became official on May 20, 1926.

The combination of the newly united brothers’ efforts was the beginning of the Mercer and Howe team. More was yet to come. Starting in 1929, the two took over the responsibility for publishing The Gear of Theta Tau. For over 30 years they produced magazines of consistent quality with interesting, informative copy for the brothers of the fraternity. But more importantly, their continual production of The Gear, even through the hard years of the Depression and World War II, provided the fraternity with a running historical record of events and achievements for Theta Tau brothers.

Brother Joseph Warner Howe established a strong reputation in the instructional area of engineering. After returning to his alma mater, the University of Iowa, he became Chairman of the Department of Mechanics and Hydraulics. During his tenure there from 1942 to 1970, he co-authored a book with colleague Hunter Rouse named Basic Mechanics of Fluids. To his professional credit he served on the board of directors to the American Water Resources Association. He was also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Born in Omaha, Nebraska on January 19, 1902, he died at age 81 on October 19, 1983 in Iowa City, after a long illness.

Brother Mercer was active with Theta Tau National in other pursuits. He served on the Executive Council from 1950 to 1962 and 1941 to 1946 in positions of Grand Treasurer and Grand Inner Guard respectively. He spent his professional life with the Mississippi River Power Company. He died in 1970.

Robert E. Pope, Zeta ‘52

Brother Robert E. Pope is perhaps one of the most highly regarded members of Theta Tau for his devotion and dedicated hard work to the fraternity, from his beginnings as an active brother to his dedicated service as an alumnus. This brief biography cannot do justice to his long list of accomplishments and services to the national fraternity.

His list of accomplishments for the fraternity include serving on the Executive Council as Grand Scribe since 1956, and being Executive Director of the Central Office since 1963. His dedication was shown by the offering of his home to be the sire of Theta Tau Fraternity’s Central Office from 1963 to 1984. Brother Pope was also directly responsible for the establishment of six chapters. Through his hard work, along with brother Dean Bettinger, Tau ‘81, Bob implemented a computer system for fraternity operations. He has assembled a library of books authored by Theta Tau brothers and has edited and carried out the publication of various That Tau documents including the Ritual and Officer’s Manual, as well as the current Executive Council Bulletin.

Outside of Theta Tau, Brother Pope is respected for his service to the Professional Interfraternity Conference (PIC), which merged into the Professional Fraternity Association (PFA) in 1977. He served as the PIC as National Treasurer and Secretary, and was appointed Executive Secretary in 1975. After the merger, he continued as Executive Secretary of the PFA and Editor of the PFA Newsletter, until his resignation in 1986.

Born in Wellington, Kansas, Bob studied at Kansas University where he received his master’s degree in Chemical Engineering. He has earned his Professional Engineer’s License and since leaving Mallinckrodt Inc. in 1959 he has been fully employed by the fraternity. 

Stephen J. Barth, Lambda Beta ‘67

Brother Stephen Barth was instrumental in establishing Lambda Beta Chapter while attending Tennessee Technological University. In 1967, he helped lead the founding of the local engineering fraternity Sigma Delta Phi. After being officially recognized by the University, the fraternity successfully petitioned Theta Tau to become a colony. Eleven months later, Brother Barth and 20 other charter members had successfully established Lambda Beta Chapter.

After graduating with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1967, Brother Barth became active with the fraternity on a national level. The National Convention in 1972 elected him Grand Outer Guard, which began his 14 year span on the Executive Council. He served as Grand Regent from 1976 to 1982, after holding the office of Grand Vice Regent in 1974. Since leaving the Executive Council in 1986 he has served as the director of the Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame.

In 1969, after a brief period working for General Electric, Stephen joined Howard J. Barth & Associates, Inc., a consultant engineering firm for the construction industry, as a design engineer. Started in 1954 by his father, the late Howard J. Barth, Phi ‘38, the Greenburg, Indiana based company specializes in consulting for structural, architectural, and civil design of commercial buildings, bridges and roads. In 1972, he became a partner in the company, and held this position until 1978, when he became President. With years of experience in this field, Brother Barth has attained his Professional Engineer’s License and is a licensed land surveyor.

Dr. George D. Louderback, Epsilon 1896

The late Dr. George Davis Louderback,  , is honored by the Alumni Hall of Fame for both his renowned achievements in the geological sciences and accomplishments for Theta Tau Fraternity.

During his period as Grand Regent, the Fraternity experienced its greatest rate of growth in history with the installation of nine chapters. He served in this office from 1919 to 1925. During this period, Delta Chapter was reorganized under his leadership. Prior to his years as Grand Regent, Brother Louderback served the young national fraternity as Grand Vice Regent from 1913 to 1915. He was also a dedicated alumnus of Epsilon Chapter at the University of California at Berkeley, serving as the local chapter adviser.

Dr. Louderback established an outstanding reputation at the University of California in the field of geological sciences. He served as Dean of the College of Letters and Science from 1920 to 1922 and from 1930 to 1939, and also as Chairman to the Department of Geological Sciences. He was named Professor Emeritus in 1944.

His career achievements included leading a geological expedition to China and the Philippines. He had drafted several publications covering the fields of geological science, including faults and earthquakes, mineralogy, and engineering geology. He also studied the geological history of San Francisco Bay, perhaps due partially to the fact that he survived the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Dr. Louderback died in Berkeley, California on January 27, 1957.

Dr. Simon Ramo, Lambda ’33

Dr. Simon Ramo has a lifetime of nationally acclaimed achievement in the world of scientific advancement and discovery. A scientist, engineer, business entrepreneur and author, Dr. Ramo, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah with highest honors. He earned a Ph. D., magna cum laude, from the California Institute of Technology at the age of 23. As a General Electric scientist he attained world recognition as a pioneer in microwaves and developed G.E.’s electron microscope. Before age 30 he had accumulated 25 patents, was made a Fellow of leading professional societies, and was voted America’s “most outstanding young electrical engineer.”

Dr. Ramo became one of the nation’s top experts in guided missiles, being chief scientist in developing the nation’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System. As the leading civilian contributor to the “largest single program in the country’s history,” he was awarded a special citation of honor by the U.S. Air Force.

Dr. Ramo has played a key role in the building of several outstanding technological corporations. As the organizer of Hughes Aircraft Company’s Electronics and Missile Operations, he participated in raising the company to national stature, becoming its Vice President of Operations. He was co-founder of the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation in 1953, and first president of its subsidiary, Space Technology Laboratories. After the merger of Ramo-Wooldridge with Thompson Products to form Thomson Ramo Wooldridge, now TRW Inc., he became Vice Chairman of TRW’s Board of Directors and Chairman of the Executive Committee, serving in the latter two capacities until retirement.

Our nation’s leaders have sought Dr. Ramo’s leadership and expertise in the advancement of science and engineering. He has been one of the nation’s key advisers to the government on scientific and technological matters. He was Chairman of the President’s Committee on Science and Technology under former President Gerald R. Ford, and was Co-Chairman of the Transition Task Force on Science and Technology for former President Reagan. He has been a member of the National Science Board and the Council of Scholars of the Library of Congress. He is the author of a number of texts on engineering, science, and management, which are widely used throughout the world.

Joseph W. Skovholt, Alpha ‘31

Brother Joseph Skovholt has given a lifetime of service to Theta Tau Fraternity. He is greatly commended for his energies put forth for Alpha Chapter and for the Twin City Alumni Association.

Brother Skovholt guided the Alpha Chapter house and brotherhood successfully through the Great Depression of the 1930’s while serving as their Chapter Advisor. After taking over this position in 1934, he worked closely with chapter members, helping to manage the delicate financial situation of the time. Due to his selfless patience and persistence, Theta Tau’s founding chapter survived and in 1937, Joe was honored at the local Founder’s Day Banquet for his achievement.

Brother Skovholt was instrumental in pulling funds together to build a new chapter house. Fundraising through the Twin City Alumni Association started in the late 1930’s. Joe served as President of the Association for 21 years. Unfortunately, progress was interrupted during the years of World War II. After years of patience and determination by Joseph Skovholt and fellow brothers, chapter members were able to move into their new house in 1957.

Brother Skovholt has been active with the fraternity on a national level as well. He served for two years as Grand Outer Guard, starting in 1939. In 1941, at the onset of the enormous U.S. war effort, Brother Skovholt had to relinquish his fraternity obligations in order to work for E.I. DuPont Corporation, and then later for Honeywell.

Joe began his nearly 60 years of service to Theta Tau as an initiate of Alpha Chapter in 1930. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1931 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

Jamison Vawter, Zeta ‘16

The late Brother Jamison Vawter was nominated to the Alumni Hall of Fame by fellow brothers of Zeta Chapter at the University of Kansas. He has been honored for his distinguished career in engineering education at the University of Illinois, and for his service to Theta Tau.

While at the University of Kansas, Brother Vawter was an active scholar as well as a hard worker, combining academics with his experience working for the Gulf-California-Santa Fe Railroad. After graduating with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in  1916, as a member of Tau Beta Pi, he continued to work for the railroad and also served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1917 to 1920.

In 1920, he returned to his alma mater and taught as an assistant professor of mechanics. He moved to the University of Illinois in 1922, taking a post as a professor of Civil Engineering. He remained in this position until his retirement.

During his career in engineering education Brother Vawter published two books: Theory of Simple Structures, co-written with Thomas C. Shedd, and Elementary Theory and Design of Flexural Members, co-written with James G. Clark.

In his service to the National Fraternity, Jamison Vawter served as Grand Regent during the Golden Anniversary biennium from 1952-1954. Jamison Vawter also served as Grand Treasurer for 27 years, starting in 1923. He has the distinction of having served in this office for the longest duration of anyone in Theta Tau history. In 1935, he was the first Theta Tau ever to have a National Convention named in his honor. 

Douglas E. Aldrich, Omega ‘62

Brother Douglas Aldrich is an exemplary inductee to the Alumni Hall of Fame for his involvement with and contributions to college students, and his successful and challenging career at Dow Corning in Midland, Michigan.

Dow Corning is a manufacturer of high tech silicone and silicon materials. He has held 12 different technical and management jobs since his arrival at the company. He attributes his success to a continual willingness to learn about new ideas and technologies as well as a determined professional work ethic. His motto is “never stop learning”. His responsibilities include overseeing a research laboratory, computer facilities, and also training and safety programs. Prior to assuming the position of Director, Brother Aldrich was Manager of Research and Development Facilities. He was responsible for overseeing the planning, design and building of a $30 million laboratory facility.

Aldrich has Recruited at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for over two decades, served on a chemical engineering advisory board, and developed job-hunting tools for students. He has orchestrated the technical communications curriculum there, and gives many talks on professional development and career guidance. His interaction with students and activities are “most stimulating”.

Brother Aldrich’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering at S.D.S.M. and T. and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1968. While an active brother at Omega Chapter, Aldrich was active with the chapter newsletter, public relations and fundraising activities. As a student he also studied in the disciplines of forensics and music. Upon graduation he completed an Advanced R.O.T.C. program and served two years at Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland.

Brother Aldrich lives in Midland, Michigan with his wife Karolyn. Although his positions at Dow Corning keep him busy, he finds time for involvement with professional societies. He has been a member and regional director of AICHE, and is now a member of the International Facilities Managers Association and Chairman of the Research and Development Council.

Norman B. Ames, Gamma Beta ‘17

The late Brother Norman Ames, called the “Father” of Gamma Beta Chapter, was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame for his dedication to career and to Theta Tau Fraternity.

Brother Ames was a pioneering member of Theta Tau. While a faculty member and student at The George Washington University in 1935, he became initiated as a charter member of Gamma Beta Chapter; roll number 1. It was Norman “Deacon” Ames who persuaded the members of Phi Theta Xi, the local engineering fraternity at G.W.U., to petition the Executive Council for a Charter.

In 1937, Brother Ames began his lengthy service at a national level when he was elected to the Executive Council as Grand Outer Guard. Over the following 19 years he held various national offices including Grand Regent, Grand Vice-Regent, and Delegate-at-Large. He succeeded Erich J. Schrader as Grand Scribe in 1954.

Brother Ames involvement with Theta Tau reflected his dedication to the engineering profession. From 1929 to 1960 he was Professor and head of the Department of Electrical Engineering at The George Washington University. He had attended many universities, earning degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering at G.W.U., Harvard University and M.I.T. as well as a Doctorate in Technical Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He also had the distinction of being a Fullbright Lecturer at the University of Ceylon.

George G. Dodd, Zeta ‘60

Brother George G. Dodd is honored by the National Fraternity for his service on the Executive Council from 1966 to 1976 and his exemplary career at General Motors.

George Dodd reflected upon his experiences with Theta Tau as a series of “significant emotional events. It is something that definitely makes a difference in one’s life”. That is how Brother Dodd explains the change in his life since being initiated into Zeta Chapter.

“Joining Theta Tau as a student taught me leadership, communication skills and the ability to assume responsibility. Until then, my life as a student was rather hollow; textbooks and exams.”

One significant event in Dodd’s early years with Theta Tau was his participation as a delegate to the 1958 National Convention. He was voted Outstanding Delegate for his painstaking work in rewriting the Theta Tau Constitution to eliminate the ‘white clause,’ which had previously restricted membership to non-white students.

As Grand Outer Guard in 1968, Dodd developed the Theta Tau Ritual for Colony Installation. He continued with the Executive Council as Grand Regent (1972 to 1976), Grand Vice-Regent (1970-1972), and Grand Inner Guard (1968 to 1970). THe decision to admit women in 1976 was a big milestone for Theta Tau Fraternity and George Dodd as Grand Regent.

George Dodd’s successes and dedication with Theta Tau mirror his career achievements at General Motors. He was head of the Computer Sciences Department at G.M. Research Laboratories in Warren, Michigan. His responsibilities were overseeing computer research, operation of computer systems, and other technical support and development towards G.M. facilities. Brother Dodd has been involved with robotics and artificial intelligence implementation in the factory as well as automotive computer and electronics systems.

Brother Dodd joined G.M. in 1964 after receiving his Doctorate in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Kansas in 1960. He and his wife Virginia live in Rochester, Michigan.

Russell G. Glass, Sigma ‘24

A successful businessman in the construction materials industry, the late Russell G. Glass was also a highly energetic brother.

While earning his degrees in Civil Engineering at the Ohio State University, Brother Glass was active on campus as a Charter member of Sigma Chapter, roll number 16. At the 1989 National Conference, fellow founding member C. Ramond Hanes, Sigma ‘24, shared anecdotes about himself and Brother Glass as schoolmates and members of the Engineers Club. The Engineers Club later became Sigma Chapter.

Following graduation, Brother Glass worked as Sales Manager for Stoker Division of Pocahontas Fuel Co. Soon afterward, he and two others formed their own company, Wheatcroft, McFadden, Glass, Inc., a construction materials supplier. After serving in the Mediterranean during World War II as Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves, Brother Glass returned to serve as Vice President and Treasurer of Moore and Glass, Inc. After the purchase of More and Glass by Macomber, Inc., a subsidiary of Sharon Steel, he became Vice Chairman of Macomber and held this post until his retirement.

As an alumnus, Brother Glass was an enthusiastic member of the Executive Council for 16 consecutive years, starting in 1933. He served as Grand Regent from 1939 to 1946. In 1940 he made a historic nationwide tour, visiting nearly every Theta Tau chapter. During the years of World War II, activities with the national fraternity were at a stand still. Brother Glass assumed his post in the Mediterranean campaign with the U.S.N.R. In 1948, the Executive Council officially named, in his honor, the 17th Biennial Convention held in Chicago, Illinois.

Due to his demonstrated skills in business and activities with the Cleveland Engineering Society and the American Institute of Timber Construction, Brother Glass earned the Distinguished Alumnus Award at the 1969 Annual Conference for Engineers and Architects at Ohio State University.

Howard C. Peterson, Omega ‘50

Beginning his career in geological engineering, Brother Howard C. Peterson eventually found happiness and success in the educational services field. For his dedication as Dean of Students at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and his service to the Fraternity, Theta Tau has inducted him into the Alumni Hall of Fame.

In 1950, Howard Peterson left S.D.S.M. & T. for Wyoming to put his geological engineering degree to work. He worked for Mountain Geophysical Corporation on an oil exploration project for Sinclair Oil. One year later, he moved back to South Dakota to teach mathematics at Redfield High School. At the same time he entered a  masters program at Northern State College in Aberdeen, S.D. He earned his M.S. in Education in 1955 and then returned to his alma mater to become the Assistant Dean of Students in 1957. While serving as Assistant Dean, he continued to study in the discipline of education. He also had to manage teaching, counseling and administrative responsibilities. In 1969, he received his Doctorate in Counseling and Educational Psychology and became Dean of Students. His responsibilities now include overseeing student housing, food services, student activities, admissions, financial aid, registration, and placement.

In addition to his position with the college, Brother Peterson is involved with Omega Chapter activities as well as the local Theta Tau Alumni Association, which owns the Omega Chapter house. Starting in 1958, he served as Secretary and Treasurer until 1967. Every five years there is an Alumni Reunion at S.D.S.M. and T. campus. Each time, Brother Peterson and other local alumni look forward to planning a Theta Tau Alumni get together.

Brother Peterson commented, “I feel I have been blessed with a wonderful life and family. It has been a rewarding experience working with the students at S.D.S.M. and T. Being inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame is an honor which I will forever cherish.”

Charles L. Brown Jr., Pi ‘43

Brother Charles Brown is honored by Theta Tau for his distinguished career at AT&T. He is retired Chairman of the Board of that company, after a professional career in the organization working his way up through the ranks.

A native of Virginia, Brother Brown had been exposed to the telephone industry even as a youth. His father was a telephone company manager, and his mother was an operator and supervisor prior to her marriage. Brother Brown spent summers digging holes for telephone poles. After getting his degree in electrical engineering at the University of Virginia, where he was initiated into Pi Chapter of Theta Tau, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Afterwards, he returned to AT&T, working as an equipment attendant in Hartford. He then went through a number of assignments in different departments and at different locations with the Long Lines Department. In 1963, he joined Illinois Bell and later became President in 1969. He became the Chief Financial Officer of AT&T, located in the New York office, from 1974 to 1979. After a short time as President and Chief Operating Officer in 1979, he became Chairman of the Board of AT&T the same year.

John Morrow Daniels, Sr., Nu ‘20

The late Brother John Morrow Daniels has been honored by Theta Tau for his contributions of time and service as a consistently devoted National Officer.

Brother Daniels showed leadership as an Executive Council member from 1931 to 1939, the last two years of which he served as Grand Regent. Delta Beta Chapter was installed during his tenure. From 1949 to 1958 he served continuously as Grand Marshall.

After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, he began his teaching career in 1922 at Carnegie Tech where he was initiated as an honorary member of Nu Chapter. At Carnegie, he established his long career in the field of education. He started in 1932 as an instructor in the Civil Engineering Department. After handling the responsibilities as Chairman of Admissions and Assistant Professor, he became Dean of Students in 1944.

Brother Daniels was affiliated with many professional and civic activities including the American Society of Engineering Education. He served on the National Board of College Entrance Examinations and was elected Secretary-Treasurer and President of the Middle States Association of College Registrars. He was also a member of the local Masons, Coudersport Consistory and Board of Trustees of the Kiskiminetas Elementary School.

Curtis Emerson LeMay, Sigma ‘32

The late General Curtis E. LeMay was nominated by fellow Brothers at Sigma Chapter at The Ohio State University. He is honored for his military career and accomplishments which have paralleled the history of the United States Air Force.

Curtis LeMay entered college at Ohio State University in the fall of 1924 and became a member of Sigma Chapter in February of 1926. Throughout his enrollment at Ohio State, he was a member of the Army R.O.T.C. He was listed as an Honors Graduate when he received his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.

After graduation, LeMay joined the National Guard, where he became an Air Cadet and subsequently earned his wings with the Army. He spent some time as a fighter pilot, but was then transferred to a bomber group, where he earned a reputation as an excellent navigator.

When World War II began, Brother LeMay became a Major, assigned to a Squadron of B-17’s. He distinguished himself as a squadron leader quickly and acquired increasing responsibilities and rapid promotion as the war continued. He was later transferred to the Pacific, where he organized the B-29 bombing campaign against the Japanese islands. Towards the end of the war, LeMay became a Lieutenant General, in charge of the Twenty-First Bomber Command, whose bombing raids of critical Japanese industries were instrumental in crippling the Japanese war effort.

After the war, LeMay took charge of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. It was during this time that the Soviet Union blockaded all land routes to West Berlin, and LeMay became responsible for organizing the now famous Berlin Airlift, which brought needed supplies to the blockaded area.

In 1949, he was appointed head of Strategic Air Command. When he assumed command, SAC was a poorly organized unit, which would be incapable of fulfilling its purpose as a deterrent to nuclear war. Within a few years, LeMay had transformed it into an efficient, extremely formidable force, which is now our country’s first line of defense against nuclear attack.

One of the many famous stories about General LeMay was that he once found a SAC sentry who had put down his weapon to eat a sandwich. “This afternoon, I found a man guarding a hangar with a ham sandwich,” General LeMay’s subsequent memo said. “There will be no more of that.”

In 1957, General LeMay became Vice Chief of Staff for the Air Force, and was responsible for overseeing its day to day operations. In 1961, he was promoted to Four Star General, and made Air Force Chief of Staff.

Brother LeMay retired from the Air Force in 1965. He was George Wallace’s running-mate in the 1968 Presidential election.

Brother LeMay devoted nearly forty years of his life to the service of his country, a worthy endeavor by any standards. He passed away on October 1, 1990 at the 22nd Strategic Hospital. Brother LeMay was 83.

Robert L. Miller, Omicron ‘41

Nominated by Omicron Chapter, Brother Miller was inducted into the Hall of Fame and was the featured speaker at the National Convention Awards Banquet in Iowa City last summer.

Brother Miller has had an exemplary career in industry and is a tribute to the fraternity. He is the Founder and President of Northern Ohio Engineering Company of Barberton, Ohio, and of Prime Plastics, Inc. of Clinton, Ohio. Brother Miller began in the plastics industry 40 years ago as one of the pioneers. Prime Plastics is now a worldwide leader in applications requiring fabrication with plastic material.

Northern Ohio Engineering Company provided consulting and technical support in the plastic materials industry, tackling projects such as the installation of plastic extruding operations and building operational facility prototypes.

Brother Miller has been a contributor to development in the plastics industry. He has authored various articles and course materials on extrusion and corrugation techniques.

In addition to his contributions to industry, he is affiliated with many technical societies related to the field. He is a founding member of the Corrugated Plastic Tubing Association and is a member of the Society of Plastic Engineers.

Brother Miller’s contributions to the education community are considerable. He helped found the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Akron.

Civic commitments include membership on the Board of St. Thomas Hospital, the Planning Committee of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis International and United Fund.

Brother Miller passed away in 2015.

Maxwell Stanley, Omicron ‘26

The late Brother C. Maxwell Stanley was nominated to the Hall of Fame by the brothers of Omicron Chapter. He is honored by Theta Tau for his distinguished career in industry.

Brother Stanley combined several careers: professional engineer, business executive, author, civic leader, and world citizen. He was founder and chairman of two companies, Stanley Consultants, Inc. and Hon Industries, Inc., one of the three largest U.S. Manufacturers of officer furniture.

Born in Corning, Iowa in 1904, he earned a B.S. in General Engineering in 1926 and an M.S. in Hydraulic Engineering in 1930 from the University of Iowa. He became a leader in his profession as a member of several engineering societies and also wrote The Consulting Engineer, a definitive book on the professional aspects of private consulting practice.

For his contributions to the profession, he has been the recipient of many awards and honors from various organizations. These include Consulting Engineer Magazine’s American Consulting Engineers Council, honors by the Iowa Engineering Society and the National Society of Professional Engineers, and receipt of the Alfred Nobel Prize for outstanding technical papers.

Brother Stanley had been actively interested in foreign policy as it was related to world peace and world politics. He traveled widely, chaired many international conferences, and wrote and spoke extensively on subjects related to foreign policy. His book, Waging Peace examined U.S. foreign policy from the viewpoint of a businessman.

In memory of Brother Stanley, The Stanley Foundation was founded in Muscatine, Iowa. It is an organization devoted to world peace.

James E. Ashton. Omicron ‘64

James E. Ashton was honored for service to his profession. As a varsity athlete and class valedictorian, he received his chapter’s “Outstanding Senior Award.” graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. Later, he was to earn his MS and PhD degrees from MIT. and his MBA from Harvard, and to receive from his first alma mater’s Alumni Association its highest accolade, the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Brother Ashton has authored two books, and is now Vice President and General Manager, Naval Systems Division of the FMC Corporation, and President of Ashton and Associates.

Formerly with General Dynamics for 15 years, he directed a team of 8,000 personnel plus international subcontractors to produce the F-16 fighter aircraft. He was Vice President of Engineering for the Electric Boat Division until he refused to allow continuance of the waste and mismanagement he discovered in production of its Trident and 688-Class Attack Submarines.

Harvill C. Eaton, Lambda Beta ‘70

Harvill C. Eaton was honored for service to his profession and to Theta Tau. A charter member of his chapter, he served as its first Regent. He later served the national Fraternity as Grand Outer Guard and Grand Vice-Regent. He has earned the degrees BS and MS in Engineering Science from Tennessee Technological University, and PhD in Materials Science from Vanderbilt University. He received the Guest Scholar Award from The Swedish Institute, Stockholm, in 1982.

Since 1990, Brother Eaton has been Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development at Louisiana State University whose faculty he joined in 1976 as an Assistant Professor of Engineering. He also served LSU as Associate Dean of Engineering (1986-89).

He has served on numerous national boards and committees and as a consultant to the Environmental Protection Agency and National Science Foundation. He is the author of over forty research papers.

Herman H. Hopkins, Beta ‘08

Herman Hopkins was honored posthumously for his service to Theta Tau. A member of the Rhombohedron Club at Michigan College of Mines, he was an alumnus initiate into Beta Chapter.

He was the first Editor of the Fraternity’s magazine, its first Grand Scribe (through 1919), and a founder and first President of the Chicago Alumni Association. He served as Grand Regent (1935-37) and as Acting Grand Regent for 27 months during World War II. Regional Meetings were inaugurated during his term as Grand Regent. He participated in the installations of Zeta, Sigma, and Gamma Beta Chapters, and the reinstallation of Xi Chapter. The Thirteenth Biennial Convention was named in his honor. As Past Grand Regent, he remained active in the Fraternity until his death in 1976.

In addition to dedication to Theta Tau Fraternity, he was active with the Professional Interfraternity Conference, now the Professional Fraternity Association. He had been instrumental in helping the Michigan Tech Alumni raise funds for a new Union Building on campus.

Charles Luckman, Kappa ‘31

Charles Luckman was honored for service to his profession. He served as chapter Scribe and Vice-Regent, and graduated magna cum laude from the School of Architecture, University of Illinois. He holds honorary doctorates from four universities. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi and of the College of Fellows, American Institute of Architects. He became President of Pepsodent Company at 33, and of all American companies of Lever Brothers at 37. He was Founding Partner of the Luckman Partnership in 1950.

Charles Luckman has established a strong reputation in the field of architecture. His firm has won 92 major design awards, with more than six billion dollars in completed projects. He is the only Trustee to have served 22 years on the Board of the California State University System. Named one of Ten Outstanding Young Men in America, he is a four-time winner of Freedom Foundation’s George Washington Honor Medal, has been adviser to the last eight US Presidents, and authored the autobiography Twice in a Lifetime, from Soap to Skyscrapers.

Roger R. Revelle, Epsilon ‘29

Roger Revelle was honored posthumously for service to his profession. A graduate of Pomono College, he received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied under Past Grand Regent George D. Louderback, Epsilon 1896. He was subsequently awarded honorary degrees by 13 universities.

Brother Revelle served in the Navy from 1941 to 1948 to the rank of Commander, USNR. In 1951 became director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Brother Revelle’s studies led him to become an early prophet of global warming. While Director of the Center for Population Studies at Harvard University, 1964-75, one of his students was Albert Gore, past Vice President of the United States. In 1961, he was appointed the first Science Adviser to the Secretary of Interior, and received the Medal of Sitara-i-Imtiaz from Pakistan for greatly improving agricultural productivity in the Indus Valley. He was founder of the University of California, San Diego, where he was Professor of Science and Public Policy, 1975-90. He was awarded the National Medal of Science in 1991. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and was President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Roger Revelle passed away in 1991 just prior to his induction into the Hall of Fame.

William K. Rey, Mu ‘45

William Rey was honored for service to his profession and to Theta Tau. He held the degrees BS in Aerospace Engineering and MS in Civil Engineering from The University of Alabama.

Brother Rey had been a strong supporter of Mu Chapter, being its adviser for over 30 years. He also served on Theta Tau’s Executive Council for 14 years, including two terms as Grand Regent during which four chapters were installed.

His professional career was at The University of Alabama where he was a Professor of

Aeronautical Engineering. Since 1976, he had been Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs in Engineering. Listed in numerous biographical references, and the recipient of many awards, he was named Distinguished Engineering Fellow of The University of Alabama in 1986.

Unfortunately, Brother Rey passed away just eight months after his induction into the Hall of Fame at the 1992 National Convention.

Randall J. Scheetz, Omicron ‘79

Radall Scheetz was honored for his service to Theta Tau. As a student, he served his chapter as Regent, graduating with the BD is Mechanical Engineering. His professional career has been with John Deere Waterloo Works in Iowa where he is currently Manager, Cab Operations, a focussed factory with about $120 million in sales.

He has served on the Executive Council from 1982-1990. Under his leadership during two terms as Grand Regent, the Fraternity experienced unprecedented growth with eight chapters installed and thirteen candidate chapters certified. As Delegate-at-Large, he continued his active participation in convention planning and chapter visitation.

In 1991, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Professional Fraternity Association where he served as Treasurer.

Charles E. Wales, Epsilon Beta ‘53

Charles Wales was honored for service to his profession and to Theta Tau. A charter member and Vice-Regent of his chapter, he graduated with the degree BSChE, later earning his MS from the University of Michigan and his PhD from Purdue.

Brother Wales’ entire professional career has been as an educational engineer. With Robert A. Stager, he developed the teaching-learning strategy described in the book The Guided Design Approach, the first of nine books to his credit.

In the 1990’s, he held joint appointments as Professor of Engineering and Education at West Virginia University where he is also Coordinator of Freshman Engineering and Director of the Center for Guided Design. He served on the Theta Tau Executive Council, 1958-76, including two terms (1968-72) as Grand Regent.

Brother Wales passed away in May 1999

Edward L. (Ned) Ashton, Omicron ‘25

Edward Ashton was honored posthumously for service to his profession and to Theta Tau. His nephew, William Ashton, Omicron ‘61, accepted the award at the 1993 National Conference.

Brother Ashton graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1925, and an M.S. in Civil Engineering in 1926 (both Structural and Hydraulic). He was Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Iowa from 1943-1957. He started his own consulting firm in 1936 and practiced consulting engineering full-time from 1957 until shortly before his death.

He was a member of the All-American swim team, captain of the Iowa team in 1925, and Midwestern AAU backstroke champion, 1921 to 1926.

His career included work on the Grand Coulee, Wheeler, and Boulder Dams; the St. Louis subway; and nine major Mississippi bridges. His designs were frequently years ahead of their time as demonstrated by the use of the Rock Island “Centennial Bridge” – a design of the 1940’s- as the logo for the 1983 “Bridges of the Future” National Conference. He designed the first all-welded girder highway bridge and the all-welded aluminum bridge.

He did pioneer work on pre-stressed concrete; welded bridges; and the development of radio telescopes. Most remarkable of his work was his design of the 140-foot radio telescope at the Greenbank National Radio Observatory in West Virginia. It remains one of the most accurate instruments.

Ned Ashton was proud to be a member of Theta Tau. In his work, he always sought to symbolize Theta Tau’s “light of courage.”

Samuel L. Higginbottom, Theta ‘43

Samuel Higginbottom, CBE, was honored for service to his profession. He holds an engineering degree from Columbia University and attended the U.S. Air Force Aviation School at Yale University and the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Training Program.

In 1946 Brother Higginbottom’s professional career began at TWA where he served in various supervisory capacities including vice president – engineering, flight test and inspection. In 1964, he joined the Eastern Airlines as vice president of engineering and maintenance and in 1970 was elected president, chief operating officer, and director. In 1974, he was appointed chairman, president and chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce, Inc., where he served until his retirement in 1986. In honor of his work with Rolls-Royce, Inc., Brother Higginbottom was made an honorary Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. He also received the Thomas Egleston Medal for Distinguished Engineering Achievement from Columbia University and was serving on the Board of HEICO Corporation at the time of his death.

Brother Higginbottom passed away in November 2016.

Andrew B. Marum, Chi ‘40

Andrew Marum was honored for service to his profession and to Theta Tau.

Following WWII, Brother Marum returned to Tucson working in various capacities before joining his brother in their own business, Marum and Marum Consulting Engineers, Inc., in 1952.

He has served as President of the Arizona Section of ASCE, President of the Arizona Section of the American Water Works Association, and President of the Arizona Water and Pollution Control Association. He recieved the Distinguished Citizen Award from the University of Arizona Alumni Association in 1978, and the Professor John C. Parks Outstanding Civil Engineer Award from the University in 1979. He was named Engineer of the Year by the Southern Arizona Chapter of NSPE in 1972.

Brother Marum has led an active Theta Tau life in addition to his professional life. He has been President of the Chi Chapter Building Corporation since 1961. Brother Marum was a guiding force in negotiations with the University of Arizona to find a suitable new location for the current larger chapter house. In January of 1991 the initial sixteen members moved into it.

Brother Marum passed away in February 2003.

Donald D. Curtis, Omicron ‘19

Donald Curtis is honored posthumously for service to his profession and to Theta Tau. He was initiated on April 19, 1925, as an Honorary Member and served as Adviser to Omicron Chapter in the early years.

Brother Curtis served as Editor of The Gear of Theta Tau from 1926-28. He was a member of the Executive Council for twenty-five years. He was Grand Marshal 1927-48, Grand Vice-Regent 1948-50, and Grand Regent 1950-52. A member of Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, and Phi Kappa Phi, he received his BS in Engineering in 1919 and his MS in Engineering in 1931 from the University of Iowa. He pursued further graduate study at the University of Washington. He served as Assistant Professor of Mechanics and Hydraulics, University of Iowa, 1921-29. He went to Clemson University in 1929 where he was Professor and Chairman of the Mechanics, Materials, and Hydraulics Department. He was a member of ASEE, ASCE, American Geological Union, and the South Carolina Society of Engineers. He passed away in 1966.

Harry E. Figgie, Jr., Delta ‘48

Harry Figgie is honored for service to  his profession. He received his BS in Metallurgical and MS in Industrial Engineering from Case Institute of Technology, his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1949, and his JD from Cleveland Marshall Law School.

Brother Figgie was chosen the 1991 Citizen of the Year by the Cleveland Area Board of Realtors. He is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Figgie International, a major diversified Fortune 500 company. He has also held positions with A. O. Smith, Booz Allen & Hamilton, Firestone Tire and Rubber, Parker-Hanifin, and Western Automotive Machine Screw. He is the author of Bankruptcy 1995: The Coming Collapse of America and How to Stop It and The Cost Reduction and Profit Improvement Handbook.

His civic activities include: Board of Directors, Associates of the Harvard Business School; Co-chairman, President’s Private Sector Survey on Cost Control (Grace Commission); and Trustee, Rawlings Memorial Scholarship Fund, Phillips Educational Foundation, and Figgie Family Foundation. Brother Figgie passed away in July 2009.

George R. Lightsey, Kappa Beta ‘65

George Lightsey is honored for service to his profession and to Theta Tau. He received his BS in Chemical Engineering in 1965 from Mississippi State University and his MS in 1967 and PhD in 1969 from Louisiana State University. Brother Lightsey is a charter member of his Chapter, a member of the chapter house corporation board, and serves as an Adviser to the chapter. He was also Delegate to the 1964 National Convention.

Brother Lightsey has received Certificates of Recognition from NASA, 1977 & 1992; the Faculty Achievement Award from Mississippi State University Alumni Association, 1989; and the Erskine Fellowship from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1986. He was a research engineer with NASA, 1969-71, and Proctor & Gamble, 1971-73; and was Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Georgia Tech, 1973-75. He has been Professor of Chemical Engineering at Mississippi State since 1975.

He has authored many publications and technical presentations and is the holder of two patents.

Carl H. Menzer, Omicron ‘21

Carl Menzer is honored posthumously for service to his profession. A member of Sigma Xi and Eta Kappa Nu, he received his BS, MS and EE degrees from the University of Iowa.

He was a Professor in Electrical Engineering at the University of Iowa from 1923-68. During that time he was the founder, director, engineer, programmer, and reporter for WSUI (University of Iowa’s station, the oldest educational radio station west of the Mississippi). He began work at the station as a freshman in 1917, three years before commercial broadcasting began.

He built the experimental television station W9XK in 1932 and planned an educational FM network for the state of Iowa.

He was also employed by the Atomic Energy Commission in tests of Atomic Weapons. He once confided that the most fun he ever had was working in the Pacific on atomic projects. During this period, he and a few other engineers founded the Little Gem Manufacturing Company, building whatever the military needed from Japan to Guam.

Brother Menzer’s professional achievements include: advanced design of various radio receivers, design of high and low powered radio transmitters, and development of synchronizing systems for two or more broadcast transmitters on the same frequency. He passed away in 1986.

Henry W. Coil, Jr., Epsilon ‘54

Henry Coil was honored for service to his profession. For the past 24 years, he has served as president of his company, Tilden-Coil Constructors, Inc., a general contracting and construction management firm that has projects throughout the western states. Included are commercial, industrial, medical, and institutional facilities.

He received his BS in Civil Engineering from the University of California and his JD from Western State University College of Law in 1971. Serving in the US Navy, 1955-57, he was in charge of construction for the Cubi Point Naval Air Base, a $350,000,000 project. Employed in civil engineering and construction during the next 14 years, he became chief engineer, Alcan Aluminum Corp. Riverside Plant.

He has served as board member, chairman or president of many community and professional organizations, including Boy Scouts of America, Inland Empire Council President; and Councilman, City of Riverside. He is Chairman of the Sweeney Art Gallery and on the Board of Trustees at the University of California, Riverside, Trustee of the Riverside Community College, Riverside Community Hospital, California Memorial Masonic Temple in San Francisco, and the Banking Board of the Bank of America.

In October of 2015, Brother Coil received the UCR Medallion for his contributions to Riverside university and the community. He also received numerous awards over the years, including the Boy Scouts’ Distinguished Eagle Award, recognizing his 50 years of continuous service, and the 2011 Roy Hord Volunteer of the Year Award presented by the Riverside Downtown Partnership.Brother Coil gave the Conference Banquet Address and the 1995 National Conference. He passed away in 2018.

Paul Ednacott, Zeta ‘23 

Paul Endacott was recognized for service to his profession. He was Captain of the 1923 National Championship KU basketball team and was Named National Collegiate Player of the Year. He was enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971. His player jersey was retired in 1992. He received his BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas, and was the first ever to be named Honor Man of the University. He is a member of Sigma Xi and Tau Beta Pi.

Brother Endacott’s entire professional career was with Phillips Petroleum Company, rising to the position of President, Chief Operating Officer, and Vice-Chairman of the Board before retirement in 1967. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council and the American Petroleum Institute. He participated in the latter’s early efforts to standardize oil field equipment, especially that relating to producing and transporting oil and gas. His special interests led to 20 patents mostly in the liquefied petroleum gas phase of the industry.

The University of Kansas honored him with its highest award, the Distinguished Service Citation, in 1948. He received the KU Engineering Council Award in 1951 and the 1977 Ellsworth Medallion. He is Trustee and Chairman of Frank Phillips Foundation, Inc. His family and the Endacott Foundation were instrumental in providing facilities for KU faculty and staff retirees in the K.S. (Boots) Adams Alumni Center at his alma mater. He passed away in 1997, just two years after his induction to the Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame.

Winfield S. Morris, Rho ‘24

Winfield Morris was honored posthumously for service to Theta Tau and to his profession. He received his BS in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State and his JD from the Oklahoma City School of Law. He was a charter member and first Regent of Rho Chapter.

The early years of his career were with the Old Empire Gas and Fuel Company which later became Cities Service Oil Company, the US Bureau of Mines, and the Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company. He became field chairman of East Texas Engineering Association in 1936 and then joined in organizing the East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company in 1942 as Executive Vice President and General Manager. He served as its President from 1958 until his retirement in 1967.

In 1956, he was appointed to the Atomic Energy Commission to study the disposal of atomic waste. The author of four books, and a contributor to several petroleum engineering oil and gas journals, he served as President of the American Society of Petroleum Engineers. In his hometown of Kilgore, Texas, he was a member of the Presbyterian Church where he taught the Men’s Bible Class for 27 years. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and served as President of the Chamber of Commerce and of the United Way. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. He passed away in 1991. His wife Thelma accepted the plaque and gave a touching response at the 1995 National Conference Banquet.

Lloyd E. Reuss, Iota ‘57

Lloyd Reuss was honored for service to his profession. He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Missouri at Rolla and is a graduate of the Senior Executive Course at MIT. He is a member of Pi Tau Sigma, Tau Beta Pi, and the Society of Automotive Engineers. He served as a First Lieutenant in the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Brother Reuss retired from General Motors in 1992 after 36 years of service and became a member of the GM Corporate Advisory Council. In May 1993, he was named Executive Dean of the Center for Advanced Technologies at Focus:HOPE in Detroit, Michigan, where he serves as head of the industry/university engineering and education programs. He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Lawrence Technological University and a Trustee of Vanderbilt University and of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is on the Executive Committee of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Chairman of the Endowment Committee. In 1992, Brother Reuss received the Engineering Society of Detroit Foundation’s prestigious Leadership Award, honored for his significant contributions to the engineering profession and his outstanding leadership in the fields of science and engineering. He received the Society of Automotive Engineers’ “Medal of Honor” in 1995 for his leadership of SAE technical and educational activities.

Charles E. Spahr, Zeta ‘34

Charles Spahr was recognized for service to his profession. He received his BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. He holds honorary doctorates from Fenn College (now Cleveland State University) and Baldwin-Wallace College, and the Distinguished Service Citation, KU’s highest honor.

Brother Spahr retired as Chairman and CEO of Standard Oil Company of Ohio in 1977. He had played a principal role in the financing and development of a major portion of the Prudhoe Bay oil field in Alaska and construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline which has been conveying oil since early 1977. This is perhaps the most significant engineering and construction achievement by private enterprise during this century. Its construction required building a highway from Fairbanks north across undeveloped wilderness to Prudhoe Bay, 200+ miles north of the Arctic Circle, and spanning the Yukon River with a major bridge that remains the only one crossing that river.

He received the 1977 National Human Relations Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews; the 1978 Alumni Achievement Award, Harvard Business School Association: the 1980 Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement, American Petroleum Institute; and the 1983 Ellsworth Medallion, University of Kansas. The Spahr Library located at the KU school of Engineering was named in his honor. He is a Life Trustee of the KU Endowment Association and lifelong Honorary Chairman of the Board of the International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantations. Brother Spahr passed away in 2009.

Louis K. Acheson, Jr., Delta ‘46

Louis Acheson was honored for service to his profession. He received a BS in Electrical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology and a PhD in Theoretical Physics from MIT. Accepting a job offer from Hughes Aircraft in 1950, he joined a newly formed radar analysis and planning group and worked on a variety of air and space-based systems for defense against aircraft and missile nuclear weapon delivery systems. In 1958 he took a leave of absence from Hughes to work for the Advanced Research Projects Agency at the Pentagon. Returning to Hughes, he worked during the 1960s on a wide variety of Ballistic Missile Defense system studies.

Changing focus in the 1970s, his work involved the accommodation of science instruments in a number of scientific spacecraft, including The Galileo Jupiter atmosphere entry probe (which after long delays was finally able to accomplish its mission this last year.) In the mid 1970s, in connection with meteorological satellite studies, he compiled a handbook of meteorological satellites and sensors known as the SHREWD BOOK (acronym for: “Satellite Handbook for Remote Environment and Weather Determination”), and a second volume covering earth resource satellites.

When President Reagan launched the Strategic Defense Initiative in 1983, country and company interest in BMD was rekindled, and Brother Acheson again worked full time in this area, primarily on Kinetic Energy Weapon systems. His last few years at Hughes were mainly focused on satellite-based air traffic control systems. In 1988 he participated in an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Workshop in Washington, DC, on R & D Planning for Civil Aviation in the 21st Century.

Since retirement in November 1989, a major activity has been preparation of “Proceedings of the Worldview Exploration Seminar,” a multidisciplinary forum for the presentation of new models pertaining to major problems of our transition to a global civilization. The seminar, made up of people from a variety of professions, has been meeting since 1969, and this last year has been focusing on New Millennium Scenarios.

Everett P. Hailey, Jr., Kappa Beta ‘76

Everett Hailey was honored for service to his profession. He graduated in 1976 with honors from Mississippi State with a degree in mechanical engineering. His engineering grade point average was 3.9 out of 4.0. He is a member of Pi Tau Sigma, Tau Beta Pi, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Blue Key. He served on the Engineering Student Council, was President of the ASME student chapter, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and selected to the Mississippi State University Hall of Fame. He is a licensed professional engineer in Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas and South Carolina, and a real estate broker in Tennessee.

His entire professional career has been with the Trane Company. He was Sales Engineer, then Marketing Manager, Manager of Commercial Systems, and, since 1988, General Manager of the Trane Company’s Memphis Mid-South District. Under his leadership, the Memphis Mid-South District has been selected as the top performing region three times. It has annual sales of 40 million dollars. He is also an owner and partner in Hackmeyer/Hailey Properties which owns and manages 21 office buildings.

He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society, the Boy Scouts, and United Way. He developed the “ESS” earthquake scale as an alternative to the Richter Scale. He was honored as the Mississippi State University Engineering National Alumnus of the Year in 1992. In 1993, Brother Hailey was selected as the Memphis Area Outstanding Engineer from among 2200 Memphis area engineers.

David T. McMillen, Kappa Beta ‘75

David McMillan was honored for his contributions to this profession. He was born in 1952 in New Albany, Mississippi, where he grew up and received his early education in the Public School System. He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering through the cooperative education program at Mississippi State and did graduate work in Business Administration at the University of Mississippi. He was Regent of his chapter, and is a member of Pi Tau Sigma and Tau Beta PI honor societies.

His first job was a Machinery Design Audit Engineer with Exxon Research and Engineering Company in Florham Park, New Jersey, where he met and married Jane Hurtt in 1977. They have three children.

He was then employed by Piper Industries in New Albany as Manager of Engineering. In 1980, he began HMC Technologies, a business as a supplier of custom designed machinery and automation for industry.

David’s success can be attributed to his determination, persistence, and a vision of the greater battle. His philosophy is that a person should always keep an idealistic goal in mind, but should be satisfied with good performance as perfection is never achieved.

In his desire to help young people to be their best and to be ambitious toward their futures, David volunteers his time, effort, and financial support to many school programs and projects, and to organizations like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America. He has created and sponsored the New Albany Vocational Education “School-to-Work” programs in which high school students get the opportunity to work in a technical field during after school hours.

Albert Louis Riemenschneider, Omega ‘59

Albert Riemenschneider, honored for service in his profession and to Theta Tau, was born and raised in northwest Nebraska. He majored in Electrical Engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. In 1956, he was initiated into Theta Tau and subsequently served as Scribe, Housing Manager, and Athletic Chairman. Upon graduation, he went to work for Sperry Utah Company in Salt Lake City, Utah, as an environmental and systems test engineer. He received an MSEE degree from SDSM&T in 1962. He married Norma in June 1962. They had three children. Mrs. Riemenschneider died of cancer in 1991.

Dr. Riemenschneider was an Instructor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Wyoming while earning his PhD degree. He returned to SDSM&T as Assistant Professor from 1967 to 1974. He served as Adviser to Omega Chapter from 1969 to 1994. In 1974, he joined Dunham Associates, a consulting engineering firm, as chief engineer, and as Vice President and Chief Engineer for Symcom, Inc., a totally owned startup company under Dunham Associates.

In 1976 he became Secretary/Treasurer of Omega Alumni of Theta Tau, a position he held until 1995. He again returned to SDSM&T as Associate Professor in 1980. In 1983, he was promoted to full Professor and served as Electrical Engineering Department Head until 1995. He spent a year doing consulting for Gateway 2000 on an education/training program.

Dr. Riemenschneider has been an advocate for the use of computers as a tool in engineering education and practice and was instrumental in the development of computer laboratories and the new Computer Engineering program at SDSM&T. He is a Registered Professional Engineer and has authored or co-authored twenty-two technical publications. He received the Benjamin C. Dasher Award at the 1982 Frontiers in Education Conference and the John A. Curtis Award at the June 1983 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference.

Cliff Stearns, Gamma Beta ‘63

Cliff Stearns was honored for his contributions to his profession. He was an Air Force ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate of The George Washington University with the degree Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He served as Captain in the US Air Force, 1963-67, and was awarded the Meritorious Service Commendation Medal.

His early career was with Data Control Systems, Inc., CBS, Kutola Advertising Agency, and Images 70/Wilson Height Welch. From 1972-1988, he was in motel management as President of Stearns House, Inc.

A Republican,he was first elected to Congress in 1988, and is now in his fifth term representing Florida’s Sixth District. He serves on three Commerce Subcommittees.

He has been the recipient of numerous awards (including the Sound Dollar Award, Golden Bulldog Award, and from the US Chamber of Commerce, the Spirit of Enterprise Award) for his dedicated service in the House of Representatives. He has served as Trustee and Vice Chairman of the Monroe Regional Hospital and on the Board of the Boys Club of Ocala.

William C. Douce, Zeta ‘41

William Douce received the degree Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas. He is a member also of Phi Gamma Delta and of Tau Beta Pi. From 1942, his entire professional career was with Phillips Petroleum Company working in its refining and chemicals operations. Headquartered in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Phillips is involved with petroleum exploration and production throughout the world. He was named Senior Vice President and a member of its Board of Directors in 1969, President and Chief Operating Officer in 1974, Chief Executive Officer in 1980, and Chairman in 1982. He retired in 1985. He has been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the U.S. Jaycee’s Leadership Hall of Fame. His alma mater has honored him with its Distinguished Engineering Service Award, the Fred Ellsworth Medallion, and with induction into the K.U. Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Hall of Fame. In 1976, it conferred on him its Distinguished Service Citation, the highest award the University of Kansas can bestow. He currently serves as a Trustee of the K.U. Endowment Association and has been Trustee of the University of Tulsa and of the Philbrook Art Museum in Tulsa. He has been awarded the National Order of Republic of Ivory Coast, the highest honor bestowed by that nation, for his efforts in furthering its economic and resource development; and the insignia of Commander of the Order of Leopold, one of the highest awards of the Belgian government, for significant contributions to the Belgian economy. He passed away in 1999, two years after being inducted at the 1997 National Conference.

John W. F. Dulles, Chi ‘43

John Dulles received a BS degree in Metallurgical Engineering with highest distinction from the University of Arizona after earning a BA degree from Princeton and his MBA from Harvard. He is also a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi, Pi Mu Epsilon, and Phi Lambda Epsilon. He spent seventeen years with Compania Minera de Peñoles (American Metal Company subsidiary in Monterrey, Mexico), operator of non-ferrous mines, smelters, and a lead-gold-silver refinery. Brother Dulles worked at its converter, smelters, and sintering plant. His most fascinating years were spent as ore buyer, traveling by train and burro, visiting most of Mexico’s mines. Reports he wrote about these mines helped him earn the professional degree, Metallurgical Engineer. As General Manager of Peñoles,  and later, Executive Vice President, his responsibilities included negotiations with Mexican cabinet ministers on mining taxes, freight rates, and the allotment of lead and zinc exports to the United States. His talent in these areas might be expected. His father was John Foster Dullus who served as Secretary of State in the Eisenhower administration. During protracted negotiations in the 1950s, he called on makers of the Mexican Revolution and wrote Yesterday in Mexico, published while he was in Brazil serving as Vice President of a Hannah Mining Company iron ore subsidiary. Its assets included Brazil’s largest and deepest gold mine. The book led to professorship at the Universities of Arizona and Texas.

Brother Dulles is the author of twelve books, mostly about Brazil, he has been honored by the Brazilian government and since 1962 has been University Professor of Latin American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. During the spring semesters, 1966-91, he was also Professor at the University of Arizona.

Brother Dulles passed away in June of 2008.

Joe H. Engle, Zeta ‘56

Joe Engle received a BS degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Kansas where he was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force through the AFROTC program. After flight school, he was assigned to fly F-100 fighters with then Col. “Chuck” Yeager. He was selected for the USAF Experimental Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, and was then assigned to the Fighter Test Branch from there. One of two active Air Force pilots on the X-15 rocket research airplane program, he logged 16 flights, three of them exceeding the altitude of 50 miles, qualifying him for the rating of “astronaut” and making him in 1964 and to this day the youngest ever to achieve this rating. That year he was named the Outstanding Young Officer of the USAF, and was named by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce as one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Men of America.”

Brother Engle was selected in 1966 for the Apollo lunar landing program. In 1977 he flew the first test flights of the Space Shuttle off the top of a Boeing 747 carrier. He was commander of the second orbital test flight of the Space Shuttle, becoming the only pilot ever manually to fly a vehicle from the orbital speed of Mach 25 (17,400 miles per hour) to landing. As commander of Discovery in 1985, his Space Shuttle mission was acknowledged as the most successful yet flown. During that flight, three satellites were launched and the crew performed a rendezvous, manual capture and repair, and manual re-deploy of a 15,000 pound crippled satellite that was stranded in a useless orbit.

After nearly 31 years of active service, he retired from the Air Force as Colonel and the next day was sworn into the Kansas Air National Guard. He flew F-4 and F-16 fighter aircraft, and as the ANG assistant to U.S. Space Command, attained the rank of Major General. He was awarded the Department of Defense and Air Force Distinguished Service Medals, the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the NASA Distinguished Service, Exceptional Service, and Space Flight Medals. He has received the prestigious Harmon International Aviation Trophy, Collier Trophy, Goddard Trophy, White Trophy, Kincheloe Trophy, and the Nolen Trophy. In 1982, he received from his alma mater its Distinguished Engineering Service Award and its Distinguished Service Citation, the highest award the University of Kansas can bestow. He has flown over 180 different types of aircraft, logged over 14,000 hours flying time – over 200 hours in space.

Wesley H. Johnson, Alpha ‘34

Wesley Johnson received his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota. In the depression year, he was one of only ten from a class of fifty to find a job that spring. His first job was with the Quincy A. Hall Testing Laboratory as a result of his acquaintance with Charles W. Britzius, A ‘33, (later to become Grand Regent) who was employed there following his graduation a year earlier. Brother Johnson served in several posts in North Africa and Europe during World War II, in Korea during the Korean War, and retired from the Minnesota National Guard as Lieutenant Colonel in 1962. He was with the U.S. Steel Supply Division in St. Paul from 1947, taking early retirement as Supervisor of Engineering Services in 1972. He then served as Senior Engineer with the Bridge Department of the Minnesota Highway Department until 1977. He successfully completed courses in Advanced Structural Steel and Reinforced Concrete at the University of Minnesota at age 60. He served Alpha Chapter as Regent, and later as Chapter Adviser. First elected to the Board of Directors of Theta Tau Association of Minnesota, Inc., (Alpha’s House Corporation) in 1954, he served as its President, 1959-65, and as Treasurer from 1966. During these years, the current house site was purchased in 1955, Alpha’s house (the first to be built for a Theta Tau chapter) was dedicated in 1957, and the mortgage retired in the summer of 1996.

Brother Johnson passed away in 2004.

Charles H. Hewitt, Psi ‘51

Charles Hewitt was honored for outstanding service to his profession. A native of Butte, Montana, he is a geological engineering graduate of Montana College of Mineral Science & Technology. With a Research Assistantship and a Rackham Tuition Scholarship, he attended University of Michigan, became a member of Sigma Xi, and earned his MS and PhD in mineralogy.

He was awarded an honorary degree in geological engineering by Montana Tech in 1979. He was a Distinguished Lecturer for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

He held various positions with Marathon Oil, 1956-80, becoming Vice President, Minerals Organization. At Exxon Production Research Company, Houston, he was Research Manager, 1980-86. From 1986 to 1996 he was an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Jones Graduate School of Administration of Rice University, where he designed and taught courses in Management of Technology. As Lecturer at Rice University’s Brown School of Engineering, he designed and taught multi-level, multidisciplinary courses in Team Management and Team Projects.

Brother Hewitt, a Management Consultant since 1986, has given technical presentations throughout the U.S. and Australia. He is the author of many technical publications.  He has been active in civic and church affairs and has been a fundraiser for The Nature Conservancy.

Franklin M. Ingels, Kappa Beta Hon. ‘60

Franklin Ingels was honored for outstanding service to his profession and to Theta Tau Fraternity, is an electrical engineering graduate of the University of Kansas. He received his MSEE from KU in 1962 and his PhD from Mississippi State in 1967.

On the MSU faculty since 1967, he has been Professor Emeritus since 1995. His industrial experience was with Dynatronics, Inc., and with Oread Electronics Laboratory, Inc. Brother Ingels is a member of Eta Kappa Nu, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, and Tau Beta Pi. He was Outstanding Senior Engineering Faculty Member, 1983, and was the Hearin-Hess Distinguished Professor of the College, 1989-94.

He received the Halliburton Education Foundation Award, the Outstanding Faculty Award, and the Faculty Award for Career Achievement from the College of Engineering in 1992. Brother Ingels served as Adviser to Kappa Beta Chapter, 1966-94.

Over the years, his work included very interesting projects for NASA: the Saturn Large Booster, SpaceLab, Space Telescope and the Space Shuttle culminating with data management equipment that flies on each Space Shuttle Mission. He has also worked with the Air Force and Army on smart weapons and simulator validation including first test flights of experimental aircraft.

All in all, he feels the opportunity to work with exceptionally gifted people (including his father) has allowed him to pursue an exciting and fulfilling career, one which encompassed much work in the field as well as in the laboratory.

Douglas L. Jones, Gamma Beta ‘63

Douglas Jones was honored for outstanding service to his profession and to Theta Tau Fraternity, holds three degrees from The George Washington University, including the Ph.D in 1970.

He received both the Norman B. Ames Memorial Award as outstanding engineering senior and the Engineering Alumni Association Award as outstanding ME graduate in 1963. He received the George Washington Award in 1985 from the university and was recognized for teaching excellence as part of the 175th Anniversary Celebration of the University in 1996. He has also received the Alumni Service Award and the Engineer Alumni Service Award. He is a member of Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa, Sigma Pi Sigma, Sigma Tau, Pi Delta Epsilon and the Order of Scarlet.

He has served as Curriculum Chair for ME and on Committees on Admissions Policy, Financial Aid, Enrollment Management, and Honors and Academic Convocations. He has served as Faculty Adviser to Theta Tau, Tau Beta Pi, ASME, and the MechEleCiv Magazine at GWU. He was instrumental in the reestablishment of Gamma Beta Chapter in 1989.

James A. Mitchell, Beta ‘65

James Mitchell was honored for outstanding service to Theta Tau Fraternity. An honors graduate of Michigan Technological University, he received a Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Michigan Law School in 1968.

Brother Mitchell served as Treasurer and then as Vice-Regent of Beta Chapter. He serves on the Board of the Alumni Foundation of Beta Chapter. He is a partner in a law firm which practices proprietary rights law throughout the industrialized world. His professional career has been devoted to supporting progress of science and the useful arts.

Brother Mitchell is Chairman of the Board of Mel Trotter Ministries, and serves or has served on the following community boards: The Gerald R. Ford Council for the Boy Scouts of America, True Success, and the Advisory Council to the Hauenstein Center. Brother Mitchell is a life member of the Board of Trustees of the Michigan Tech Fund and is a past Chairman and member of the Board of Control of Michigan Technological University.

He enjoys playing hockey, golfing, sailing, skiing, and studying the history of science and engineering.

William E. Wickenden, Delta Hon. ‘04

William Wickenden has been honored posthumously for outstanding service to his profession. He graduated with honors from Denison University in 1904, was a graduate student and instructor at the University of Wisconsin from 1905-09, a member of the electrical engineering staff at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1909-18, personnel manager at Western Electric Company from 1918-21, and assistant vice president of AT&T from 1921-23.

Brother Wickenden was Director of Engineering Education, 1923-29; President of Case Institute of Technology, 1929-47; President of the American Society for Engineering Education, 1933-34 and its Lamme Medalist, 1935; and President of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, 1946-47.

He received honorary degrees from nine institutions and was initiated into Delta Chapter in 1942. He died in September 1947 right after he retired from Case Institute of Technology.

Brother Wickenden is well known for his address The Second Mile delivered to The Engineering Institute of Canada. It is as applicable today as when delivered in August 1949 and is distributed in August 1949 and is distributed by Theta Tau to its members as a professional development resource.

This can’t be right.

This is the date in the Gear article.  I can do some digging and verify