A Look Back at the 20th century[ldots].

The 20th century proved to be the most revolutionary in metalcasting's history. With the dawn of the new millennium and as a tribute to the people and technological innovations that have shaped our industry's past, present and future, modern casting is taking a look back at some of the most important contributions of the century.

AFS Gold Medal Winners: 1960-1979

As the metalcasting industry's highest honor, the AFS Gold Medals are awarded annually at the AFS Casting Congress to industry leaders who have made the greatest difference through outstanding technical, engineering, research, management, service and education contributions. There are six medals in all-- named for William H. McFadden (WHM), Joseph S. Seaman (JSS), John H. Whiting (JHW), John A. Penton (JAP), Peter L. Simpson (PLS) and Thomas W. Pangborn (TWP). Following is a look back at the Gold Medal winners from 1960-79. modern casting featured its first installment of winners from 1980-99 in the January 2000 issue (p. 50-53) and will cover the remaining winners in subsequent issues. The entire list is available online at www.moderncasting.com.

1960

Samuel F. Carter, Jr., was awarded the WHM Gold Medal. Born in Bessemer, Alabama, Carter attended the Univ. of Wisconsin, earning his M.S. in metallurgy. After a 42-year career with the American Cast Iron Pipe Co., he retired in 1973 as vice president and works manager. A recipient of the Ductile Iron Society (DIS) Annual Award in 1966, he served as DIS' national president from 1964-66, the national president of the Foundry Education Foundation from 1976-77 and as a trustee of the Cast Metals Institute. He also was a Hoyt Memorial Lecturer in 1974.

Waldeck W. Levi[*] was awarded the TWP Gold Medal. Born in. Ann Arbor, Michigan, Levi was considered one of the outstanding authorities in the field of cupola research and operation. A former metallurgist for Deere & Co. and Lynchburg Foundry Co., he was an active metallurgical consultant, after his retirement. He was a Hoyt Lecturer in 1950 and trustee of the Cast Metals Institute from 1967-71.

Theron D. Stay [*] was awarded the JSS Gold Medal. An AFS member for more than 60 years, Stay helped organize the first Aluminum and Magnesium Committee of the AFS Nonferrous Div., the Light Metals Div. and the Sand Div. He earned his B.S. in metallurgical engineering from the Case School of Applied Science and went on to work with the Aluminum Castings Co. and Reynolds Metals Co., from which he retired after nearly 40 years of service.

1961

Merton C. Flemings, Jr., was awarded the PLS Gold Medal. Born in Syracuse, New York, Flemings is well-known for his foundry research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he has spent more than 50 years as a student and professor. In addition to several technical presentations, he has been active in the AFS Light Metals, Ductile Iron and Gray Iron Divs. He was a Hoyt Lecturer in 1964 and trustee of the Cast Metals Institute from 1964-68.

William S. Pellini [*] was awarded the JAP Gold Medal. Born in Bristol, Connecticut, Pellini authored more than 150 technical publications on mechanical metallurgy, fracture-safe design and advanced technological applications of metals. He earned his B.S. in metallurgical engineering from Carnegie Institute of Technology and worked with the American Brake Shoe Co. Laboratories, Oak Ridge National Laboratories and the Metallurgy Div. of the Naval Research Laboratory. He received the American Society for Metals Albert Sauveur Achievement Award in 1972.

1962

Walter Bonsack [*] was awarded the WHM Gold Medal Born in Berlin, Germany Bonsack is known for establishing the first metallurgical laboratory in the U.S. aluminum smelting industry. In addition to his 84 patents he also developed several aluminum alloys used in military applications and the electro-magnetic pump Bonsack served as chairman of the AFS Light Metals Div. and vice chairman of the Research Committee.

Allan J. Kiesler [*] was awarded the JSS Gold Medal. After earning his B.S. in metallurgical engineering from the Univ. of Missouri School of Mines, Kiesler enjoyed a 40-year career in the foundry Lavin & Sons, Reynolds Aluminum and the General Electric Co. A holder of several patents on steel processes, he served on the AFS Board of Directors and was chairman of the Steel Founders' Society of America.

Friedrich W.E. Spies [*] was awarded the JHW Gold Medal. Born in Duisburg, Germany, Spies was affiliated with the first Netherlands operating blast furnace. A former employee of Royal Iron & Steel Works, he received the E.J. Fox Gold Medal from the Institute of British Foundrymen. He served as president of the Netherlands Foundry Technical Assn. and International Committee of Foundry Technical Assns.

John F. Wallace was awarded the TWP Gold Medal. Wallace earned his M.S. in metallurgy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has worked as a professor at Case Western Reserve Univ. for 47 years. Among his achievements are the Award of Honor from the Steel Founders' Society of America in 1967, the Gold Medal from the Gray & Ductile Iron Founders' Society in 1970, presenting the Hoyt Lecture in 1975, the Howard F. Taylor Award from AFS in 1981 and the Annual Technical Award from the Ductile Iron Society in 1989.

1963

J.W. "George" Meier [*] was awarded the JAP Gold Medal. Born in Poland, Meier organized specifications for a nonferrous experimental foundry and metalforming laboratory that led to the creation and development of the magnesium foundry industry in Canada. He was a Hoyt Memorial Lecturer in 1969.

1964

Albert DeSy [*] was awarded the PLS Gold Medal. A well-recognized professor of metallurgy from Belgium, DeSy published several books and papers both in Europe and the U.S. and held a number of patents. He served as director of the Belgian Foundry Research Center in 1949 and president of the International Committee for Test Methods for Cast Iron. He received the Prize of Honor of the International Committee of Technical Foundrymen's Assn. in 1958 and the Medal of the French Society of Metallurgy in 1960.

William C. Truckenmiller [*] was awarded the JHW Gold Medal. Born in Centreville, Michigan, Truckenmiller was known for the development and application of pearlitic malleable iron as a material to be used in shell bodies, replacing forged steel, and the development of an inspection system to assure, 100% casting reliability. He earned his M.S.E. in metallurgical engineering from the Univ. of Michigan and worked for Albion Malleable Iron Co. and Packer Engineering Assoc.

1965

Thomas E. Barlow [*] was awarded the TWP Gold Medal. Born in Ontario, Canada, Barlow attended the Univ. of Michigan and worked with Ecorse Foundry, Vanadium Corp. of America, Gray Iron Research Institute, Eastern Clay Products and International Mineral and Chemical Corp. He served as president of the Cope and Drag Committee, received an AFS Service Citation in 1957 and delivered the Hoyt Memorial Lecture in 1965.

1966

Richard W. Heine was awarded the WHM Gold Medal. Heine earned his M.S. in metallurgical engineering from the Univ. of Wisconsin and worked for Michigan Steel Castings Co., General Motors Institute and the Univ. of Wisconsin's Dept. of Metallurgical and Mineral Engineering. He received the AFS Award of Scientific Merit in 1957, the Howard F. Taylor Award in 1967 and 1971 and the Iron Castings Society Award of Technical Excellence for Contributions to Iron Castings Technology and Education of Engineers in 1983.

Donald L. LaVelle [*] was awarded the JSS Gold Medal. Born in Wenatchee, Washington, LaVelle earned his M.S. in metallurgical engineering from the Montana School of Mines. He was an active member of the AFS Cast Metal Research Journal Board, the Executive Committee, Permanent Mold Subcommittee and Testing & Quality Control Committee of the Light & Reactive Metals Div., and the Program & Papers Committee and the Research Committee of the AFS Brass & Bronze Div.

1967

Ronald W. Ruddle [*] was awarded the PLS Gold Medal. Born in London, Ruddle earned his M.A. in national science and metallurgy from Cambridge Univ. He spent the early part of his career with the British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Assn. and came to the U.S. to join Foseco, Inc. He was known for his expertise on the solidification, gating and risering of castings and was the Hoyt Lecturer in 1971. Ruddle was chairman of the AFS Research Board from 1956-71.

Elmer C. Zirzow [*] was awarded the JAP Gold Medal. Born in Cleveland, Zirzow attended Cleveland College and went on to work with National Malleable, John Deere and Werner G. Smith, Inc. He served as director, vice chairman and chairman of the AFS Northeastern Ohio Chapter, chairman of the Core Test Committee and vice chairman of the Sand Div. Executive Committee.

1968

Samuel Lipson [*] was awarded the JHW Gold Medal. Born in New York, Lipson attended Temple Univ. and spent his career at Frankford Arsenal as a metallurgist. An active AFS member, he served on the Light & Reactive Metal Div. and Publications Committee. He published several papers and holds a number of patents on various measuring apparatuses.

Harold W. Ruf [*] was awarded the TWP Gold Medal. A longtime AFS member, Ruf received the Award of Scientific Merit in 1982 Ruf was awarded a Gold Medal by the Gray and Ductile Iron Founders' Society and received a Distinguished Service Citation from the Univ of Wisconsin, where he was instructor for 7 years before joining Grede Foundries, Inc. He was influential in early ductile iron specifications and market development.

1969

Elmer E. Braun was awarded the PLS Gold Medal. Born in Saginaw, Michigan. Braun worked for General Motor's (GM) Saginaw Malleable Iron Plant and became general manager of GM's Central Foundry Div. (currently GM Powertrain). He earned his degree in industrial engineering from General Motors Institute. He served as president of the Foundry Education Foundation.

Elbert C. Troy [*] was awarded the WHM Gold Medal. Born in Evansville, Indiana, Troy earned his M.S. in metallurgical engineering from the Michigan College of Mining & Technology, and his accomplishments have focused on the use of aluminum as a deoxidizer in the melting of electric arc steels. He spent time at Detroit Steel Casting Co., Dodge Steel Casting Co., Pennsylvania Steel Casting Co. and National Engineering Co. He was a recipient of the Award of Scientific Merit in 1964, the Howard F. Taylor Award in 1971 and the Cast Metals Institute Trustees' Award in 1973.

1970

George A. Colligan [*] was awarded the TWP Gold Medal. Born in Far Rockaway, New York, Colligan earned his Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering from the Univ. of Michigan. He is known for his work on solidification phenomena and metal/refractory reactions. His career took him to Farrel-Birmingham Co., General Electric Co., United Aircraft Corp., and the Univ. of Michigan and Dartmouth College as a professor.

Anton Dorfmueller, Jr., was awarded the JSS Gold Medal. Dorfmueller earned his B.S. in engineering from the Univ. of Wisconsin and went on to become group vice president of Ashland Chemical Co., from which he retired. An AFS member since 1949, he served as president from 1987-88 and director of the Cast Metals Institute from 198689. He is known for the development of Ashland's Carbon Black, Foundry Products, Drew International, Drew Marine and Canadian Divs.

1971

Harry H. Kessler [*] was awarded the JHW Gold Medal. Known as an engineer, metallurgist, inventor, developer and promoter, Kessler was the president of 13 companies, three of which are international in scope--the Meehanite Metal Corp., Sorbo-Mat Process Corp. and Foundry Design Co., Inc. He also was the head of the largest company of metallurgical consultants in the world, Harry H. Kessler & Assoc. He was the inventor and developer of several processes for improved cast iron production.

1972

Aldo Dacco [*] was awarded the PLS Gold Medal. Born in Gaggiano, Italy, Dacco served as president of the International Committee of Foundry Technical Assns. in 1959 and 1969 and was granted the title of "doctor hororis cousa" in chemistry by the Univ. of Ferrane for his contributions in the scientific and technical fields; He was one of the founders of the Foundation for the Development and Promotion of Scientific and Technical Instruction and Culture and the Italian Assn. of Metallurgy, serving as president of the latter for 10 years.

Lester B. Knight [*] was awarded the WHM Gold Medal. Knight is best known as the founder of one of the country's largest architectural, engineering and management consulting firms, Lester B. Knight & Assoc., Inc. He was born in Albany, New York, and earned his degree in metallurgical engineering from Cornell Univ. He was a forerunner in motivating metalcasters to develop proper environmental conditions within the foundry through improved ventilation, the use of colors and illumination. AFS' Environmental Services Laboratory was named in his honor in 1979.

Carl R. Loper, Jr., was awarded the JAP Gold Medal. Loper is known as a pioneer in solidification principles, including solidification mechanisms in ductile iron, heavy-section casting of ductile iron, copper-base risering soundness, and effects of impurities in tin and copper from recycling contamination. He earned his Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering from the Univ. of Wisconsin and has been working there in various capacities since 1956. He delivered the Hoyt Lecture in 1992 and was the recipient of the Howard F. Taylor Award in 1967.

1973

Sol L. Gertsman [*] was awarded the TWP Gold Medal. Born in Montreal, Gertsman earned his M.A. in chemistry from the Univ. of Kingston and went on to work with Hull Iron & Steel Foundries and the Canadian Government's Dept. of Engineering, Mines and Resources. He is known for his work in solutions to shop floor production problems and research investigations. He received the Medal of Merit from the Steel Casting Institute of Canada in 1957.

Harvey E. Henderson was awarded the JSS Gold Medal. Henderson earned his M.S. in chemical engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and spent 35 years of his career at Lynchburg Foundry Co., where he made significant contributions to metallurgical and sand research, melting, and metallurgy of gray and ductile iron. He was honored with an AFS Award of Scientific Merit in 1961, the Iron Casting Society's Gold Medal, and the Award of Merit and honorary title of Fellow in the ASTM.

John A. Wagner [*] was awarded the PLS Gold Medal. Born in Milwaukee, Wagner spent more than 50 years with Wagner Castings Co. as vice president, president and chairman of the board, a position he held until his retirement. As a leader in the development, production and marketing of ascast ductile iron, he helped build the first U.S. foundry for high-volume production of this metal. He served as president of the Malleable Founders' Society and received its highest honor, the Charles H. McCrea Medal, in 1954. He also served as AFS president from 1962-63.

1974

Collins L. Carter [*] was awarded the PLS Gold Medal. Carter earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Cornell Univ. and worked for more than 40 years with Hayes-Albion Corp., retiring in 1972 as its CEO and chairman of the board. He served as president of AFS from, 1953-54 and the Malleable Founders' Society, from which he received the Charles H McCrea Medal.

Kenneth R. Daniel was awarded the TWP Gold Medal. Daniel earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering from the Univ. of Alabama and spent the majority of his career with American Cast Iron Pipe Co.; retiring as its president. He served as president of the Foundry Educational Foundation from 1964-65. Several of his patents involve a centrifugal process for the manufacture of tubular metal articles called the Daniel process.

Joseph S. Schumacher was awarded the WHM Gold Medal. Schumacher earned his B.S. in industrial engineering from Ohio State Univ and went on to work for Cincinnati Milacron Co., The Hill & Griffith Co. and International Minerals & Chemical Corp. He also began his own consulting firm, J. Schumacher Co., Inc., retiring as its president. He was a pioneer in high-pressure molding sand studies and developed computer control of sand. He received the AFS

Award of Scientific Merit in 1967.

Fred J. Webbere [*] was awarded the JHW Gold Medal. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, he worked for more than 30 years as a metallurgist for General Motor Corp.'s Research Laboratory Div. He earned his B.S. in metallurgical engineering from the Univ. of Wisconsin and was co-inventor and developer of GMR-235, the first gamma-prime-strengthened cast nickel-base superalloy; CentraSteel, a rapid-anneal graphite cast iron; XtruCast, a method for recycling in-plant steel scrap; and a continuous cast aluminum-lead alloy for engine bearings.

1975

David Matter was awarded the JAP Gold Medal. Born in Philadelphia, Matter earned his B.S. in metallurgical engineering from the New Mexico School of Mines. He worked for Ohio Ferro Alloys Corp. when he was honored, but his career included work with Frankford Arsenal and International Harvester Co. He was a recipient of the AFS Award of Scientific Merit in 1966 and served as president of the Foundry Educational Foundation from 1975-76.

Edwin Walcher, Jr., [*] was awarded the JSS Gold Medal. Born in St. Louis, Walcher's career included 40 years with Amsted Industries, Inc. (formerly American Steel Foundries), where he served as vice president and oversaw many technological innovations and plant expansions. He also worked with Chain Belt Co. for a short time. Walcher attended Purdue Univ. and earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He received the Frederick A. Lorenz Medal from the Steel Founders' Society of America in 1968.

1976

Robert L. Doelman was awarded the JSS Gold Medal. Born in Brooklyn, NewYork, Doelman was vice president of the American Colloid Co. after working with the Beloit Corp., Miller and Co., Harry W. Dietert Co., and Electric Steels, Ltd. He developed and perfected the wet method, or slurry, for rebonding system molding sand and pioneered the use of a recording Wattmeter to measure muller motor loads to control molding sand quality. He also developed new testing procedures for clay-bonded sands and bonding clay and a procedure to quantitatively determine sand grain surface area.

Bruce L. Simpson [*] was awarded the WHF Gold Medal. Born in Chicago, Simpson earned his B.S. and L.L.B. from Northwestern Univ. While spending his entire career with National Engineering Co. (becoming president in 1942 and chairman of the board in 1973), Simpson served as AFS president from 1955-56 and authored "The History of Metalcasting."

Howard L. Womochel [*] was awarded the TWP Gold Medal. Born in Muscatine, Iowa, Womochel served as a professor of engineering at Michigan State Univ. Womochel earned his B.A. from Augustana College, Mph from the Univ. of Wisconsin and Ph.D. from Michigan State. He is credited with the discovery of the mold wall movement phenomena and inoculant alloys.

1977

Karl L. Landgrebe was awarded the PLS Gold Medal. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Landgrebe earned his B.S. in chemistry from Cornell Univ. and worked for Steel Sales Corp. and Ford Motor Co. before joining Wheland Foundry Div. (North American Royalties, Inc.), which he managed for more than 30 years and oversaw its expansion and building of a new plant.

Thomas T. Lloyd [*] was awarded the JAP Gold Medal. Born in Washington, D.C., Lloyd graduated from Cornell Univ. and began his lifelong service in the foundry industry at Albion Malleable Iron Co. (where he became vice president). Lloyd was AFS president from 1964-65.

Vernon H. Patterson [*] was awarded the JHW Gold, Medal. A renowned ferrous metallurgist, Patterson finished his career as technical consultant for SKW Metals and Alloys, Inc. and Miller and Co. Born in Rochester, New York, he attended the Univ. of Rochester and earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering. Patterson also was a metallurgist at the Bausch and Lomb Optimcal Co., Progressive Foundry Works, Climax Molybdenum Co., Vanadium Corp. of America and Foote Mineral Co. He received the AFS Award of Scientific Merit in 1972 and the Cast Metals Institute Trustees' Award in 1980.

1978

Bernard N. Ames was awarded the PLS Gold Medal. Born in New York City, Ames was honored while working for the Columbian Bronze Corp. He earned his M.S. in metallurgy, chemistry and ceramics from the Univ. of Alabama, and was one of the first foundrymen to apply scientific degassing techniques and to use the shell casting process in production. He received the AFS Award of Scientific Merit in 1962 and served as AFS president from 1968-69. He also served as president of the International Committee of Foundry Technical Assns.

Jack R. Gondzwaard was awarded the WHM Gold Medal. Known for his work in environmental control, Goudzwaard earned his B.S. in metallurgical engineering from Michigan Tech before working with Campbell, Wyant & Cannon Foundry, Brillion Iron Works, and his company at the time of the award, Neenah Foundry Co., where he served as director of metallurgy and technology.

Paul K. Trojan was awarded the TWP Gold Medal. Known for his work on the measurements of the solubility of magnesium in ductile iron and the determination of desulfurization mechanisms and gas test methods for copper alloys, Trojan worked as a professor of metallurgical engineering at the Univ. of Michigan, where he earned his Ph.D.

1979

Charles F. Seelback [*] was awarded the PLS Gold Medal. Born in Cleveland, Seelback graduated from Yale Univ. with a B.S. in industrial engineering and served as AFS president from 1968-69. He spent his entire career with the Forest City Foundries Co., becoming president in 1960 and chairman of the board in 1971.

George E. Tubich was awarded the JSS Gold Medal. After graduating from the Univ. of Illinois with a B.S. in civil engineering, Tubich worked for the U.S. Public Health Service and Michigan Dept. of Public Health before starting his own environmental consulting firm in 1968, George E. Tubich and Assoc.

(*.) Deceased

The William H. McFadden Gold Medal is awarded for outstanding achievements, contributions and service to the Industry and AFS.

The Joseph S. Seaman Gold Medal is awarded for outstanding contributions in research, process development and inventions.

The John H. Whiting Gold Medal is awarded for outstanding technical, engineering or managerial contributions to the ferrous sector of the Industry.

The John A. Penton Gold Medal is awarded for outstanding technical engineering or managerial contributions to the nonferrous sector of the industry.

The Peter L. Simpson Gold Medal is awarded for outstanding contributions in promoting public esteem or service that reflects credit on metal casting.

The Thomas W. Pangborn Gold Medal is awarded for outstanding contributions in education and sharing of knowledge within the industry.