News
Charles F. H. Crathern '52
Charles Crathern, over the years, you have given back to WPI in numerous ways – from financially supporting the institution to working with the Alumni Association for various activities.
After earning your degree in mechanical engineering in 1952, you embarked upon your chosen career field of machine design. In 1963, after filling a position of design project engineer with the packaging machine division of the FMC Corporation, you founded Crathern Engineering Co., a New Hampshire Firm dedicated to the design and development of production machinery for the paper converting industry. Over the following years, the machines you personally designed earned more than a dozen U.S. and foreign patents and were in use in countries around the world. Crathern Engineering grew from a one-man company, building machines in the basement of your home in rural New Hampshire, to an international firm with manufacturing plants in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Belgium, Italy, and Singapore, before your retirement and sale of the company in 1999.
In 2002, you generously donated to the Class of ’52’s Anniversary Fund and became a member of the President’s Advisory Council, now the President’s Circle. You also served as chairman of your class’s 50th Anniversary Gift Campaign. As a Presidential Founder, you have matched and exceeded John Boynton’s founding gift – a truly generous and thoughtful deed. Over the years, you have given to WPI because you believe in its mission, and that does not go unnoticed. With people like you, we are able to continually establish ourselves as a competitive academic institution.
Throughout your career you increasingly recognized that the solid engineering training you received at WPI was a major factor in your success, and you have worked at giving back to your alma mater. WPI is considered to be an elite institute because of the efforts of people like you.
Charlie Crathern, WPI is honored to present you with the Herbert F. Taylor Award for Distinguished Service to WPI.
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu