Ray H. Witt Receives Honorary Doctorate at WPI's 2003 Commencement
Each spring, some 700 men and women, wearing black robes and mortarboards, march across the Earle Bridge to the Quadrangle, where they receive their hard-earned degrees. The 2003 Commencement, which was held on Saturday, May 17, 2003, was a very proud day not just for those graduates but for the metal casting industry, the Witt family and the MPI team as well. On this day, the University's Trustees conferred an Honorary Doctorate to Ray H. Witt for a lifetime of achievements in the metal casting industry (see the brief description on Dr. Witt as was printed in this year's Commencement program). Mr. Witt was accompanied by his daughter Suzan Witt, and Prof. Diran Apelian.
Ray H. Witt
Doctor of Engineering
In 1985, when the idea of an academic research center dedicated to aluminum casting was first proposed, one far-sighted industrial leader stepped forward immediately.
Ray Witt, today chairman and CEO of CMI-Management Services Inc., provided the nucleus for what would become WPI's Metal Processing Institute, the world's largest industry-university alliance dedicated to metal processing.
Witt's belief in the value of research and innovation for manufacturing industries was born years earlier when he became the first owner of an aluminum foundry to establish a full-service technical center, a center that would become the benchmark for the industry. Through the years, Witt has pushed the technology envelope to respond to the evolving needs of his customers and to advance his industry. When automakers began developing lighter, more fuel-efficient cars, he was one of a few foundrymen willing to make aluminum intake manifolds. He went on to become the largest maker of aluminum manifolds in the world. Later, he was the first to make a large-scale investment in the manufacture of complicated safety-critical parts such as steering knuckles and cross members.
Witt began his career as a foundry apprentice, and worked his way up to sales manager at Cadillac Malleable Iron Company in Michigan. In 1957, he started his own firm, Ray H. Witt Industries. He founded Cast Metal Industries Inc. three years later, and merged the two companies in 1974. Renamed CMI International in 1983 to reflect its growing global activity, the combined company would grow to include five foundries, three machining and assembly centers, two polymer molding complexes and a cutting-edge technical center. The company developed a reputation as a world leader in aluminum and iron casting and machining. In 1995, CMI embarked on a joint venture with Alcoa (Aluminum Company of America) to respond to the rapid increase in the use of aluminum components in automobiles and light trucks. The partnership would result in the construction or retooling of aluminum foundries in Michigan, Kentucky and Norway. Four years later, CMI International was acquired by Hayes Lemmerz International Inc., and Witt became chairman and CEO of the holding company CMI-Management Services.
After graduating from Muskegan Junior College, Witt received a bachelor's degree in metallurgy from Case Institute of Technology, where he received one of the first Foundry Educational Foundation scholarships. He is past president of the American Foundrymen's Society, the Ductile Iron Society, the Foundry Education Foundation and the Iron Casting Society. In 1997, he was named Master Entrepreneur of the Year in Michigan. In 2000, Witt continued his commitment to research and development in metallurgy by establishing the Ray H. Witt Metalcasting Center at WPI with a gift of $1 million.
For his innumerable contributions to education and research in metal casting, for his own achievements as an entrepreneur and business leader, and for his extraordinary support of WPI and its Metal Processing Institute, WPI proudly confers upon Ray H. Witt the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering.
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: August 24, 2007 10:33:29