2004 Recipients
Kimball R. Woodbury '44
Kim Woodbury, for decades your energy and enthusiasm to serve in a variety of leadership roles has truly made a significant impact on your alma mater. Like so many in the early 1940s, your stay at WPI was interrupted by World War II as you served in the Pacific as a weather forecaster for the U.S. Air Force. You returned to WPI to complete your education in 1947, earning your degree in mechanical engineering.
You then joined your family business, Woodbury & Co. Inc., a distinguished Worcester printing and engraving firm, as production manager. By 1966, through hard work, dedication and a constant focus on the customer, you were elected president of the company, which was noted at that time for being the largest company in the United States devoted exclusively to the design and production of engraved lithographed and thermographed commercial stationery. As a graduate of the School of Industrial Management, you were presented the Albert J. Schwieger Award in 1986 in recognition of your outstanding professional achievements.
Noted for your engineering style, your pragmatic approach and your sense of humor, you have been an extraordinary volunteer ever since your graduation. You have served your class faithfully and effectively—as a committee member and chair of its many reunions—even hosting one of the events at your home. You have provided exemplary service to the Alumni Association by serving as a member of the Investment Committee for more than 25 years.
Not only has WPI reaped the rewards of your tireless efforts, the greater Worcester community has benefited from your generosity. You have served as a trustee at Memorial Hospital, Worcester County Institution for Savings, United Way and Worcester Academy. You have also served as director for the Worcester Chapter of the American Red Cross and the International Red Cross and as a primary volunteer and motivator for the Worcester YMCA.
Kim Woodbury, your dedication to your fellow classmates, to WPI and to the community has set a standard for volunteerism and involvement that is unsurpassed. It is an honor and privilege to present to you today, on the occasion of your 60th Reunion, the Herbert F. Taylor Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to WPI.
James S. Adams '49
Jim Adams, for over 50 years you have been an enthusiastic and dedicated volunteer for your alma mater. WPI recognizes your inspirational leadership, which has had a significant impact on this university.
Your involvement with WPI began as an undergraduate. Your long list of extracurricular activities includes the soccer and track teams, the yearbook staff and the senior honorary society Skull; you served as president of both Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and your senior class. You are now the permanent president of the Class of 1949.
Upon graduation you were hired by AT&T and worked in its management development program, eventually becoming assistant manger of the Long Lines Division of AT&T's Central Division in Cincinnati. You left to take a job at Sperry Gyroscope Company on Long Island, where you served as director of systems marketing. In 1968 you went to General Instruments Corporation's electronics division, where you worked in a variety of positions, including vice president and general manager, until your retirement in 1991.
Though busy with your career, family and other interests, you still found time to make WPI a priority. You served as chairman of the New York Committee for Recruiting for WPI, a precursor to our current Alumni Association's program. As chair of the Long Island Alumni Club, you organized alumni events in the area. The Alumni Association's Trustee Committee benefited from your guidance when you served as a member of that group. Perhaps more than anything, you have been the quintessential class volunteer, always there for every class effort, and always wearing a smile. You have played a significant role in the success of numerous reunion celebrations and class gift campaigns, most recently serving as a steering committee member for the 55th Reunion. While encouraging others to support WPI financially, you led by example through your longtime membership in the President's Advisory Council, Presidential Founders and Alden Society.
Jim Adams, for your thoughtful leadership and countless hours serving as a dedicated friend and volunteer of WPI, we are proud to present you with the Herbert F. Taylor Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to WPI.
Gordon E. Walters '54
Gordon Walters, you have been a dedicated fund-raising volunteer for the Class of 1954, leading its 40th and 50th Anniversary Gift campaigns to great success; in doing so, you have made a significant difference for this university.
Your can-do attitude was evident as an undergraduate. You served as vice president of your fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa, and president of the Dramatics Club; you were a member of the Glee Club, ASME and Tech News, to name a just few of your many undergraduate activities. You also found time for athletics, participating in baseball, swimming, tennis, golf, skiing and sailing, many of which became lifelong pursuits.
After receiving your degree in mechanical engineering, you joined E.I. Dupont de Nemours & Company as a project engineer. In 1972, after eight years with Sprague Electric Co., you began a new venture as a private business owner, founding Steinerfilm Inc. for the distribution of dielectric film. After selling your interest in that company in 1983, you joined your son, Glenn, WPI Class of 1976, in a new venture called
A. D.Tech to develop, manufacture, market and sell metallic films that were used in the electronics industry and in fresh food packaging and microwave cooking. You served as chairman of the company until it was sold in 1996.
As an alumnus your interests tended toward fund-raising activities. You served as a class agent and, in 1991, you agreed to serve as chairman of the 40th Anniversary Gift campaign for your class. Your management of the effort, and your personal leadership style, helped lead the class to a record-setting conclusion—$875,000 in commitments from 67 percent of the class. In 2000 you willingly took on the challenge again, this time as co-chair for the 50th Anniversary Gift campaign, which has secured the third highest class gift in WPI history—over $1.5 million from nearly 70 percent of the class. While encouraging others to support WPI financially, you led by example, making personal leadership gifts; in doing so, you have been recognized as a Presidential Founder, a member of the President's Advisory Council and a member of the Alden Society.
Gordon Walters, for your dedicated and effective leadership of your class, and through it, for all you have helped make possible for your alma mater, we are proud to present you with the Herbert F. Taylor Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to WPI.
Paul J. Keating II '64
Paul Keating, your loyalty, long-standing commitment and affection for WPI has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated over the years. From your undergraduate days and the service you provided to your fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, to the present with your service as an emeritus trustee, and as the Board of Trustees' representative on the Cabinet of the Alumni Association, your hard work and dedication to this institution has been invaluable. In particular your ability to stimulate discussion is an attribute that most people envy and one that has served WPI well over the years.
You chaired your 25th Anniversary Gift campaign, and are presently an active member of your 40th Anniversary Gift steering committee. Along the way, you have clearly demonstrated your financial support for WPI; you are a lifetime member of the President's Advisory Council.
You have always been conspicuous by taking time from your hectic schedule to meet and talk with various constituents about those efforts most pressing to WPI. You have provided valued input and counsel to so many over the years.
In addition to your business ownership, you have owned a New York Yankees farm team in Albany and have spent considerable time and energy over the years involved in the political process in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in the Greater Worcester area. You have been a man for all seasons.
In 1992, you became an alumni term trustee of WPI—a position you took most seriously. During your tenure, you served on a variety of committees, including Academic Planning and Student Affairs, Physical Facilities, and Executive Compensation. It was, perhaps, on the Physical Facilities Committee that your wisdom and counsel was felt most deeply. You were a catalyst for getting projects completed and your creative solutions were important in enhancing the quality of WPI's campus.
Paul Keating, for your heartfelt commitment of time, your philanthropic support and your leadership, WPI is pleased to present to you the Herbert F. Taylor Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to WPI.
Brian D. Chace '69
Brian Chace, you have been unwavering in your support of WPI throughout the years, and you have been a valuable resource and asset to your class.
Your career has been distinguished by your loyalty to General Dynamics Network Systems, working on telecommunications and digital signal processing for the Department of Defense. Your relationship to this university has had a similar history—your loyalty has remained steadfast despite the many changes that WPI has undergone since your graduation.
With your wife, Elizabeth, you have been a generous benefactor of this university, through annual gifts to the President's Advisory Council Scholars, and through the establishment of a generous charitable remainder trust benefiting WPI, Elizabeth's alma mater and your church. Through this deferred gift, you have become Presidential Founders and members of the Alden Society. Your willingness to step forward and support the immediate and long-term goals of the university is deeply appreciated.
As a volunteer for the Class of 1969, you have been tireless in your effort to contact classmates; you play key roles in both the Reunion event planning and Reunion Gift campaign efforts. Since 1996, you have been chairman of the Class of 1969 board of directors. Your counsel has been invaluable in maintaining the relationship between your class and WPI, and forging new ties with those classmates who had not had the opportunity to be connected with the university previously.
Your most recent volunteer role, as class agent for the Alden Society, has helped educate your classmates about support for the long-term mission of WPI, and to reinforce the messages of deferred and bequest giving.
Brian Chase, in recognition of your dedication and commitment to WPI and to the Class of 1969, it is an honor to present you with the Herbert F. Taylor Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to WPI.
James L. Carr Jr. '74
Jamo Carr, as you are best known to your friends and WPI family, you have always had unique enthusiasm and drive in serving WPI. Your commitment has been without equal and your strong sense of dedication and pursuit of excellence have been the hallmarks of your volunteer career.
After graduating from WPI with a degree in civil engineering, you joined your brother Harry and went to work for the company started by your father, H. Carr and Sons. Under your direction, the interior contracting firm has continued on a positive growth path, with significant expanded operations throughout New England. H. Carr has played an integral role in such projects as the Foxwoods Resort Casino and Hotels, Gillette Stadium, the Greater Boston Convention Center, the Providence Place mall and, closer to home, the WPI Campus Center. As an active president at H. Carr, you have been keenly involved with all projects, but never too busy to find time for your top priorities—Jesse, Mac, Fletch and Tim, your sons.
A longtime member of the President's Advisory Council, you have served WPI as an active volunteer for the Class of '74 and as a member of the Alumni Funds Board. Over the years, you have served in a multitude of ways on the Class of '74 Reunion steering committee(s). You were chair of the class's 25th Anniversary Gift Campaign, which set a record for gifts with over $650,000 in commitments, a record that still stands today. With this successful experience, you have taken the time to mentor other classes as they approach their 25th anniversary gift campaigns. Currently, you are a steering committee member for your class's 30th Reunion gift program. In this capacity, you have challenged your classmates and others to reach beyond what is believed possible by going out of your way to bring long-lost class members back into the WPI fold.
In 2002, you completed a commitment to The Campaign for WPI, made through H. Carr, that elevated you to the ranks of Presidential Founder. You have also through the years generously shared your thoughtful advice on a number of important WPI construction matters. In all of these efforts on WPI's behalf, you have demonstrated a far-reaching vision, a deep-seated concern for WPI's future, and an unswerving commitment to assuring that the gift of a WPI education will always be available to talented young men and women for generations to come.
Jim Carr, for the many volunteer roles you have held at your alma mater. it is a pleasure to present you with the Herbert F. Taylor Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to WPI.
Joan Bolduc Szkutak '79
Joan Szkutak, your commitment and dedication to WPI and to your class is matched only by the professionalism you bring to your volunteer activities. You manage volunteers and interact with staff with a critical eye toward resources and abilities. Your leadership of the 20th and 25th Reunion Gift efforts has been marked by an organization and singular determination that each classmate receives a personal contact not from just another classmate, but from a friend.
Your career at Procter and Gamble, where you have worked since moving to Cincinnati after graduation, has been the cornerstone of this organizational mastery. Your current position as director of FemCare product development is the result of your tenacity, determination and tireless work.
You have brought all of these traits to your WPI efforts. Whenever your alma mater called upon you and your husband, Dave, you were willing to help out—whether it was hosting an alumni event in Cincinnati, or helping to advocate gifts of stock in the alumni magazine.
As donors, you have always been generous, and mindful of the best way to leverage your gifts to WPI through corporate matches. Your support of the university through generous annual giving as President's Advisory Council donors has directly benefited students through the PAC Scholarship program. You have also made a commitment to the long-term mission of WPI; you and Dave are the newest members of the George I. Alden Society—WPI's bequest and deferred gift recognition society.
Joan Szkutak, in recognition of your tireless work on behalf of WPI and the Class of 1979, it is an honor to present you with the Herbert F. Taylor Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to WPI.
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