Butler Join List of National Leaders
Bill Coyle Honored with Professorship
Close Ups
Simonson to Assist Foundation to Promote Development
Sizing Up Nanotechnology at the School of Mines
ESA Students Visit Chile
Grellet-Tinner Brings Cultures Together
Dozen Get Dirty on Summer Work Crew
Dick Millard
Larry & Donna Johnson Scholarship Benefits SD High School
Grads
David Bichler Memorialzed with Scholarship
Malcolms Use Estate Planning to Establish Endowed
Scholarship
In this day and age where the phrases “good
corporate citizen” and “giving back to your community” are oftentimes simply
the overused buzz words of any company trying to find its niche, it’s
refreshing to find one corporate partner, Butler Machinery Company, that has
stayed true to its roots and uses these very philosophies as a way of doing
business. Now with a third generation of the Butler family at the helm to lead
the company down the road of future success, Butler Machinery still values the
philosophies on which the company was founded over 50 years ago.
As part of their desire to give back to the
communities they serve, Matthew Butler, past CEO of Butler Machinery, and his
wife, JoAnn, have recently established the Matthew & JoAnn Butler Endowment
which will provide Butler-CAT Scholarships to SDSM&T students. Their
inspiration in creating these scholarships is simply due to their commitment
to the communities where Butler Machinery Company conducts business.
“The people in the communities where Butler
Machinery exists have been so good to our family,” stated Matt. “We want to do
something to support them in return.”
The Matthew & JoAnn Butler Endowment will
provide Butler-CAT Scholarships to School of Mines students majoring in civil,
computer, electrical, environmental, geological, industrial, mechanical, and
metallurgical engineering as well as computer science, geology, mathematics,
mining engineering and management, and physics. First preference will be given
to students who have been employed by Butler Machinery Company or whose
parents are currently employed by Butler. Second preference will be given to
students from North and South Dakota.
The Butler-CAT Scholarships were awarded for
the first time this fall. The first recipients are: Jeremy Bain, Andrew
Dorfschmidt, Dylan Grant, Brent Job, and Megan Mallett
Butler Machinery Company (BMC), based in
Fargo, North Dakota, was established in 1955 by Matt’s father, Francis J.
Butler. A former Grand Forks contractor, Francis started BMC when he was
selected to be a Caterpillar dealer. As a contractor, Francis knew the
necessity for the dealership to provide the best equipment and the best
product support. Francis’ vision required capable, well-trained management and
associates together with the most advanced tools, technology, and facilities
available.
Francis began the Caterpillar dealership with
very modest stores in Grand Forks and Fargo, providing service in eastern
North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota. In 1957, a new facility was built on
Main Street in Fargo. Matt joined BMC part time in 1955 and after serving as a
regular Army officer courtesy of the University of North Dakota ROTC Program;
he joined Butler Machinery Company full time in 1961.
Soon after joining BMC, Matt met JoAnn Evinger
who had attended Dickinson State College. Matt and JoAnn were married in 1962
and have four children, Dan, Debra, Francis, and Twylah.
Two years later in 1964, BMC expanded into
western North Dakota with the purchase of Schultz Machinery Co. and its stores
in Minot and Bismarck. Matt became CEO of the company six years later in 1970.
By the time he retired in 1998, Butler Machinery had also acquired the assets
of Kearns Machinery Co. in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen.
Dan Butler became the third CEO of Butler
Machinery upon his father’s retirement in 1998, and in March of 1999, a new
store was opened in Jamestown, North Dakota. Butler Machinery also opened a
new training facility and corporate headquarters in Fargo in January 2000 with
the vision of providing the best possible training for its associates. In May
of 2005, Butler’s ninth store was opened in Pierre, South Dakota.
Combined, Butler facilities now have over
311,800 square feet of space to house over 580 associates to serve customers.
Butler Machinery has embraced growth and change from its beginning days in
1955. Butler Machinery Company is a strong partner in providing the best
possible sales, parts, and service to the Dakotas and western Minnesota.
In retirement, Matt continues to be involved
in education as well as the community. He is currently a board member for
several organizations including the University of Mary, the Fargo Moorhead
Area Foundation, and the MeritCare advisory board. He was previously on the
board at St. Thomas Academy in St. Paul and just finished a term as president
of the board for Fraser Ltd in Fargo. He also holds an honorary doctorate from
the University of Mary in Bismarck. In his spare time, Matt enjoys fishing and
motorcycling.
Prior to being a mother, JoAnn was employed by
North Dakota Employment Service and International Harvester. She continues to
be involved in the community as well, and she enjoys spending time golfing,
playing bridge, quilting, and working with stained glass. Both Matt and JoAnn
also enjoy spending time with their eight grandchildren.
With their gift, the Butlers will be
recognized at the Visionary level for the Building the Dream campaign,
an indication of a commitment of $500,000 or more toward the campaign effort.
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Bill Coyle Honored with Professorship
Bill Coyle is a name that
stands out in Tech’s history. For his dedication and commitment to the School
of Mines, his name is legendary. And now, because of the ongoing generosity of
Bill’s wife, Myrna Coyle, the Bill Coyle Professorship has been created to
further honor this great man and professor.
“The Bill Coyle
Professorship is a great way to honor Bill Coyle's
extensive accomplishments and contributions to the Department of Civil
Engineering,” said Dr. Scott Kenner, chair and professor of the Civil and
Environmental Engineering Department. “This professorship will promote
excellence and enable the university to attract, retain, and honor
distinguished faculty members.”
Many other honorary funds
have already been established in honor and memory of Bill Coyle including the
Bill and Myrna Coyle Scholarship and the Bill Coyle Student Center. All of
these funds will serve as everlasting reminders of Bill’s hard work,
generosity, and dedication to students at SDSM&T that spanned over 40 years.
Dr. Howard Peterson,
professor emeritus and former dean of students at SDSM&T, said, “If I were to
attempt to describe Bill Coyle, he would be one of the great professors of the
School of Mines who truly had the vision for their college. He was one of the
professors who really made the School of Mines the excellent college of
engineering and science that it is today.”
William (Bill) V. Coyle was
born on July 1, 1918, in Philip, South Dakota, where he grew up with four
brothers and three sisters. He graduated from Philip High School and later
attended SDSM&T and received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in
1944.
After graduation, he joined
the U.S. Navy and was employed by the National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics at Langley Field, Virginia, and at the David W. Taylor Model Basin
in Washington, D.C., as a structural engineer. He was also associated with a
consulting engineering firm in Washington, D. C.
He returned to the School of
Mines in 1947 as a member of the faculty, and on August 8, 1953, Bill married
Myrna Carpenter Kimber in Rapid City. Bill served as a professor and
department head of civil engineering for 18 years, taking a leave of absence
to complete his master’s degree at the University of Missouri in 1951. He also
spent many summers away from home at Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, and Purdue University where he worked on
his doctorate in structural design.
Bill was instrumental in
initiating the School of Mines participation in the American Society of Civil
Engineers concrete canoe competitions. Through his hard work and dedication,
Bill ensured that School of Mines students competed regionally and nationally.
During the summer when
classes were not in session, Bill was employed as a consulting structural
engineer for contractors, architects, engineers, and law firms during the
summers. He prepared numerous engineering reports on structural analysis and
design, and he also completed extensive sponsored research that related to
buildings and structural materials for publication. Bill retired from the
School of Mines after more than 40 years in 1988.
Bill received many awards in
recognition of his numerous professional activities such as the Guy March
Medal, Meritorious Recognition Award for professional service to the city
planning commission for seven years, National Athletic Recognition Award,
Outstanding Teacher Award SDSM&T, Ford Foundation Award, American Concrete
Institute Honorary Award, and the Athletic (NAIA) Hall of Fame.
Bill’s interest and
interaction with his students extended well beyond the classroom. Over the
years, many students came to Bill to seek his comments and advice on career
planning, financial worries, and academic problems. He was known by the
students to be a kind and generous man, and he was always there to help.
Bill Coyle passed away on
April 28, 2002.
Myrna Carpenter was born on
December 29, 1913, in Fedora, South Dakota. She grew up on the family farm
with her two sisters and her brother. Myrna’s parents were both
college-educated, and her mother was a teacher. Following in her mother’s
footsteps, Myrna attended college and completed work for her State General
Certificate for Teaching. She graduated from Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell and
soon after accepted a teaching position in a country school near Fedora where
she taught for the next three years.
Myrna then taught in
Whispering Pines School District (for one year), Cleghorn School (for nine
years), and Canyon Lake School where she spent 36 years teaching first grade
students. During the summers, Myrna also worked at Mount Rushmore.
As much as Myrna loved
teaching, she also loved being a student. Myrna attended summer school through
Black Hills State University (BHSU) and earned her bachelor’s degree in
education in 1951. She also earned her bachelor’s degree in art from BHSU in
1956.
In the meantime, one of
Myrna’s neighbors set her up on a blind date at the Officer’s Club at
Ellsworth Air Force Base. The young gentleman’s name was Bill Coyle. Bill was
very shy and did not talk much on that first date. Myrna did not hear from
Bill again until that same friend set up another date with Bill three months
later. This time, they went out to dinner and to a movie at the Elk’s Theatre.
Bill had a reputation for being able to relax very easily, and this date was
no exception – Bill fell asleep during the movie! Bill decided that Myrna and
he should see each other some more, so Bill took over the duties of asking
Myrna out himself. Three and a half years later, on August 8, 1953, they were
married.
Myrna retired from full-time
teaching in 1983, but she was still not finished with school. For the next 15
years, Myrna was a highly sought-after substitute teacher. At age 85, Myrna
decided that she would really retire.
Myrna still enjoys
traveling, reading, and teaching art classes at the senior citizens center.
Over the years, she has also continued her passion for art, has won many art
contests with her paintings, and has sold many pieces throughout several
states. Although Myrna had no children of her own, she did have 1,293 children
who passed through her classes in school. Myrna Coyle, a delightful and
inspiration lady, is a blessing to all who are lucky enough to know her.
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Close Ups
Dr. Arden Davis
(professor, Geological Engineering) attended the Engineering Accreditation
Commission’s annual meeting during July 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. He
received recognition for five years of service on the commission as a team
chair for ABET accreditation visits. Davis now leaves the commission and is
scheduled to join the ABET Board of Directors.
Dr. Andrew Detwiler
(professor, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences) recently returned from an
18-month Interagency Personnel Act (IPA) appointment as associate program
director in the Physical and Dynamic Meteorology Program at the National
Science Foundation in Arlington, Virginia. During this time, he managed a $9
million dollar grants program which supported approximately 100 research
projects.
Dr. Jennifer Karlin
(assistant professor, Industrial Engineering) and Dr. Stu Kellogg
(chair/Pietz Professor, Industrial Engineering) attended an NSF RREE (National
Science Foundation Rigorous Research in Engineering Education) planning
meeting in July 2007. A primary focus of the planning session was to discuss a
variety of strategies for continuing to build capacity for engineering
education research.
In addition to a proposed
continuation of RREE, the group is planning a database for matching research
interests, a multi-institutional proposal for regional training that addresses
the scholarship of teaching, ASEE and FIE pre-conference workshops, and a list
serve for continued collaboration for interested researchers.
According to Kellogg, “Not
only is it a stimulating experience to be a part of this group, but the
potential to leverage these opportunities to build a truly responsive and
assessment driven curriculum for 21st century is downright
exciting.”
Dr. Hayk L. Khachatryan
(Fullbright Scholar, Chemical and Biological Engineering) has arrived on the
School of Mines campus from the Yerevan State University in Armenia.
Khachatryan will stay at SDSM&T for six months working with Jan Puszynski,
professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering, on experimental aspects of
combustion synthesis and densification of superhard titanium diboride
composites reinforced with fully and/or partially stabilized zirconia.
Deborah Mitchell
(associate professor, Humanities Department and director of the APEX Gallery)
was one of four featured Black Hills artists at the Unexpected Ways
exhibit at The Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City. The featured artists all
received South Dakota Arts Council artist grants in 2006, awarded in
recognition of their individual artistic excellence. The exhibit presents the
unusual opportunity to witness how the work of these individuals has been
stimulated by the development of a project, the recognition and financial
support from the Arts Council, and the dedication of the artists in working to
fulfill their originally stated goals. Mitchell’s work was inspired by a
printmaking workshop in Greece, Greek art and architecture, and the Aegean
waters.
Keith W. Whites
(professor and Steven P. Miller Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering)
was involved in several conference presentations at the IEEE Antennas and
Propagation Society International Symposium held in Honolulu, Hawaii, during
June 2007. Together with Tony Amert (Research Engineer II, Electrical
and Computer Engineering) S. M. Woessner, Nam-Soo Kim (Research
Engineer II, Center for Accelerated Applications at the Nanoscale), Shawn
Decker (Director, Center for Accelerated Applications at the Nanoscale)
and Jon Kellar (Chair/Professor, Materials and Metallurgical
Engineering), "Direct-write printing of multilayered appliqué antennas on high
impedance surfaces," Proc. IEEE Antennas and Propagat. Soc. Int. Symp.,
Honolulu, HI, pp. 2765-2768, June 10-15, 2007.
Together with Brian B.
Glover, "Engineering lossy artificial dielectrics using single-walled
carbon nanotubes," Proc. IEEE Antennas and Propagat. Soc. Int. Symp.,
Honolulu, HI, pp. 3400-3403, June 10-15, 2007.
Together with K.
Kirschenmann, and S. M. Woessner, "Inkjet printed microwave
frequency multilayer antennas " Proc. IEEE Antennas and Propagat. Soc. Int.
Symp., Honolulu, HI, pp. 924-927, June 10-15, 2007.
Ashley Rook was
recently named as an American Chemistry Society (ACS) Scholar. Dr. Dan
Heglund, department chair, stated that this is the first time the award has
been offered to a School of Mines student in the last 10 years. Rook was one
of 150 scholars selected from a large pool of candidates. Catherine T. Hunt,
president of the American Chemical Society, wrote that Ashley’s designation is
“an indication of our confidence in your ability to succeed in a rigorous
course of scientific study….As a recipient of one of the Society’s
scholarships, we are investing in your future and we are committed to helping
you achieve your goals.”
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Simonson to Assist
Foundation to Promote Development
Dr. Larry Simonson,
professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been
assigned duties as the assistant dean in the College of Engineering in
order to promote development at the School of Mines. Simonson graduated from
the School of Mines with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1969
and has been a member of the School of Mines faculty for the past 31 years.
He also served as department chair for Electrical and Computer Engineering for
four and a half years.
Throughout his career as a
member of the faculty, he has taken the initiative to meet with School of
Mines alumni whenever he has a chance to travel. His many trips throughout the
United States have provided great opportunities for alumni to keep in touch
with activities at the School of Mines. He feels that being a good ambassador
for the university is critical to its future.
"You never know how a simple
visit with caring alumni can impact the university,” said Simonson. “I always
find that our alums have a sincere gratitude for the education they received
at the School of Mines. They are proud to be Miners and have a deep interest
in making sure the great traditions of hard work at the School of Mines and
subsequent opportunities for career successes are maintained.”
Simonson is also serving a
four-year term as president of Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor
society.
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Sizing Up Nanotechnology at the School of Mines
Nanotechnology, a field that
combines science and engineering to discover ways to manufacture materials and
products on the nanometer length scale (a dimension about one hundred thousand
times smaller than a human hair), has gained prominence among scientists and
engineers in the past decade, most notably since the announcement of the
National Nanotechnology Initiative, in the year 2000. Since then, federal
research funding for nanotechnology has steadily grown, and exceeded $1.4
Billion in FY08. Experts predict a trillion-dollar nanotechnology market that
will revolutionize all kinds of technologies including computers, automobiles,
aircraft, medicine, manufacturing, crime investigation, national defense, and
even space travel.
“At the forefront of
technology is nanotechnology,” said Dr. Steve Smith, associate professor and
director of a new PhD program in Nanoscience and Engineering at SDSM&T.
“Scientists and engineers in virtually every field need to look at materials
on the nanometer length scale, and we now have the technology to not only view
these materials, but manipulate them on this length scale, one atom at
a time. This makes new materials and devices that were once viewed as science
fiction a real possibility.”
In order to have a prominent
position in this technological revolution, the School of Mines established a
multidisciplinary doctoral program in Nanoscience and Engineering two years
ago. There are currently 11 Ph.D. students enrolled in the program. These
students are mentored by Smith, fellow Nanoscience and Engineering assistant
professor Phil Ahrenkiel, and SDSM&T faculty from the departments of Physics,
Chemistry, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering.
“These students are supported by the state of South Dakota and several million
dollars in research grants secured by SDSM&T faculty participating in the
program,” said Smith.
In addition, the success of
Smith’s individual research program has brought nearly $1.5 million in
external funding to SDSM&T, supporting research aimed at developing
alternative, clean, renewable energy sources. “As traditional energy sources
become less abundant and more expensive, it’s becoming increasingly important
to develop alternative energy sources,” said Smith.
Smith uses “single molecule”
methods to analyze biomass degradation—how enzymes and bacteria break down
wood chips and other organic materials, for example. Using a method called
photo activated light microscopy, Smith views materials at the molecular
level, in order to understand how current degradation process technology
works, and how it can be improved. Such an understanding could eventually lead
to the discovery of abundant and inexpensive fuels, which also burn cleaner,
producing less carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions.
A second area of research
involves developing new, improved solar cells. “Solar energy is a good, clean,
renewable energy source, but right now, solar cells are neither efficient nor
cost effective,” said Smith. A $424,000 grant from the National Science
Foundation has allowed Smith to research these solar energy issues. Using
short laser pulses, he looks at the process of converting sunlight into
electricity on a femtosecond time scale, one billionth of one millionth of a
second. Put into context, a femtosecond is to a second what a second is to
about 32 million years. Some of these ultrafast processes, which are hidden to
conventional methods because they happen so fast, may be useful for producing
more efficient, lower cost solar cells.
“Atoms and molecules move
too quickly for us to get a good picture of what they are doing, so we use a
short pulse of light to freeze their motion, similar to a strobe light on a
fast moving object, it’s a kind of stop action photography” said Smith.
“Another way of slowing things down is by cooling these materials to ultra low
temperatures, typically around 450 degrees below zero. Using these methods, we
can see how nanostructured materials may enhance certain ultrafast processes
that can improve solar cell efficiency dramatically. We take nanostructures,
cool them to ultra cold temperatures, and freeze their motion with ultrafast
lasers. It’s ultra-small, ultra-cold and ultra-fast; you’ve heard of extreme
sports? Nano is extreme science and engineering,” Smith said.
“Nanotechnology is a
multidisciplinary field: many traditional engineering and science disciplines
begin to merge or cross-over on the nanometer length scale. This program
offers an excellent opportunity for engineering and science students to get
involved in nanotechnology,” continued Smith. “The program leverages training
in many of the traditional disciplines offered at SDSM&T and adds a
cross-disciplinary component which will be very valuable to students
interested in a career involving research and development in nanoscience and
nanotechnology.”
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ESA Students Visit Chile
Members of the School of
Mines Chapter of Engineers and Scientists Abroad (ESA) headed to Vicuna,
Chile, in May and worked for two weeks with Vocations for Orphans (VFO), an
organization that helps orphanages set up vocational training programs and
assists in the development of life skills.
VFO has been working on this
particular project in Vicuna for one year. During this time, they have
completed one building and continue to work on two others. All the work is
done by an ever-growing group of volunteers like the School of Mines ESA
students. VFO plans to finish three dormitories, two classroom buildings, a
dining hall, and a shop by 2016, and at that time, the vocational school will
be open to 16 and 18 year old orphaned boys. The site will be able to house 80
to 100 teenagers with the opportunity for expansion.
The School of Mines ESA
group headed to Vicuna, intending to assist in the development of the
orphanages’ energy sources by first establishing an energy source and then
drawing a detailed site plan. After evaluating the situation, the ESA group
decided to use solar energy as means of electricity. With that decision being
made, the group is now looking into options for types and prices of solar
panels.
Teneil Ryno, secretary for
ESA said, “We understand that it will be expensive to buy the solar panels,
and so we are unsure of when our next trip will be to install the systems.
With our continual efforts to fundraise, we would like to see electricity
supplied to the main house by the fall of 2008.”
During the duration of their
trip, the ESA students found many other areas in which they could help beside
for the development of energy sources.
According to Ryno, the group
also surveyed the area, compiled the points taken, and are putting them into
AutoCAD so that VFO will have access to information to help them expedite
their efforts.
ESA students also took a
look at another issue—water drainage from a nearby hill onto the site. Ryno
indicated that the amount of rainfall is minimal, but the ESA group would like
to look into a means to channel large amounts of rainfall away for the current
site. This drainage project could lead to an increased number of School of
Mines students heading to Vicuna to work with VFO.
“Not only will the students
utilize their engineering abilities, but they will also have the chance to do
manual labor for VFO and help them with the building process,” stated Ryno.
“We anticipate that the various opportunities will spark the interest of even
more students to get involved.”
“As a new group, Engineers
and Scientists Abroad (ESA) is very grateful for the support received,
allowing the trip to Chile to occur,” concluded Ryno. “We look forward to more
involvement with students and faculty on campus and with members of the
community this coming year.”
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Grellet-Tinner Brings Cultures Together
Dr. Gerald Grellet-Tinner,
assistant professor of paleontology, has been on the School of Mines campus
for just over a year, and the impact he has already made is far reaching,
touching other cultures, both locally and abroad.
Grellet-Tinner, a vertebrate
paleontologist and world expert on dinosaur eggs, was welcomed at the School
of Mines last year after spending time researching with the Museum of Geology
at Brazil’s University of Sao Paulo and with the National History Museum at
the University of Southern California, where he received his Ph.D.
This past summer,
Grellet-Tinner spent time at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The
approximate 2.3 million acre reservation, located in northern central South
Dakota and straddling the North Dakota border, is a haven for fossil hunters.
Grellet-Tinner has worked tenaciously with Standing Rock Reservation officials
along with officials from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in order to earn
the School of Mines exclusive rights to dig fossils on thousands of acres of
land on the reservation.
The advantages of this
exclusive arrangement are reciprocal for both parties. The School of Mines
will benefit by being able to promote the endless research possibilities
available on the Standing Rock Reservation to recruit geology and paleontology
masters and doctoral students.
The Standing Rock
Reservation will benefit as well by fostering the early exposure of
paleontology and related fields in Native American students. Grellet-Tinner
was even invited to speak on the reservation earlier this fall regarding
paleontology resources.
He feels that equipping
tribal members with the knowledge needed to properly recover and manage the
fossils found on the reservation may well lead them to the ultimate goal of
being in charge and control of their own resources. Some Standing Rock
Reservation officials have even indicated their desire for their own museum
where fossils can be preserved and displayed for future generations.
In addition to the
relationship he has nurtured at Standing Rock, Grellet-Tinner has also been
invited to provide assistance to the reservation. The breadth of his knowledge
has led to his recruitment to assist both the BIA and the CIA crack down on
the illegal trade of fossils on both national and international levels.
“The illicit trade of
fossils is a big problem on the reservation. Two permits, one from the tribe
and one from the BIA, are required to dig and remove fossils from the
reservation. Many fossil hunters have neither,” Grellet-Tinner explained. “The
BIA has asked me to help crack down on this illegal activity and also to help
recover many of the fossils that have been removed illegally.”
Grellet-Tinner’s expertise
has also attracted the attention of the United States Immigration and Customs
Enforcement Department, who retained his services as a consultant in a
smuggling case. After a very large illegal shipment of dinosaur fossils,
including eggs, from China was seized, Grellet-Tinner was asked to serve as a
witness and to investigate and evaluate the eggs. He played an important part
in the successful criminal prosecution that followed.
Because of his expertise,
Grellet-Tinner was also invited to attend a conference at the University of
Pennsylvania this past September about the problem of illicit trade of
fossils.
In addition to
Grellet-Tinner’s work on the Standing Rock Reservation, he was also been busy
on the international paleontological scene. He spent time in France this past
summer visiting several fossil rich areas. This work was made possible by a
School of Mines grant and support from the Centre National de
la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), translated to the National Center for
Scientific Research, the largest governmental research organization in
France and the equivalent of the United States’ National Science Foundation
(NSF).
Grellet-Tinner worked with
two fellow colleagues, first at a site in Cruzy, a town located in southern
France. The researchers exposed a 600-pound block that when flipped over
revealed many dinosaur eggs. At the second fossil-rich site in Cognac,
Grellet-Tinner worked with a post-doctoral student who discovered a new
technology to revolutionize fossil hunting.
Grellet-Tinner intends to
bring some of the students he worked with at these sites to the School of
Mines for doctoral work and post doctoral research. He also hopes that School
of Mines students will reciprocate by taking advantage of the opportunity to
study and research in France.
In a short time and on a
shoestring budget, Grellet-Tinner has built relationships, uncovered fossils,
conducted research, recruited students, and brought cultures together through
his paleontological work. As he and his students continue their research, it
is certain that all of us, in present and future generations, will benefit by
gaining insight into our future through studying our past.
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Dozen Get Dirty on Summer Work Crew
Earlier this spring, the
hall councils of Connolly and Palmerton Halls requested a rejuvenation of the
open area between the two buildings. The 2007 ResLife Summer Crew, consisting
of 12 students (mostly School of Mines students plus a few local high
schoolers), adopted this special landscaping assignment. With crew leaders
Terri Morris and Nicolle Paulson organizing the project, the group of students
delved into this labor intensive task in triple digit weather with spectacular
results.
The students worked to
construct retaining walls, brought in rock, and added some vegetation to the
area to create an eye pleasing and functional area for years to come. They
wish to express gratitude to Jason Preble of Aramark Facilities Services who
assisted with the project. The group would also like to offer thanks to thank
Tami Livingston (SDSM&T Foundation) and Marge Marken (retired, Business and
Administration) for their donation of plants, Site Work Specialists for free
fill dirt, and Crazy Horse Memorial for the donation of some of the large
rocks used in the landscaping.
Other members of the ResLife
Summer Crew who worked on the landscaping included Nick Wininger, Jessica
Trumm, Garret Mohr, Garrett Schmitz, Hannah Albertus, Mandy Backstrom, Nate
Wilson, and Clint Wilson.
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Dick Millard
Dick Millard (CE 51), 76,
passed away on July 14, 2007, in Napa, California. Dick was born on July 23,
1929, in Yankton, South Dakota. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in civil
engineering in 1951 from SDSM&T, Dick joined Peter Kiewit Sons’ Co., and over
the next 30 years, he worked throughout North America on all types of
construction and served in various capacities from Survey Party Chief to
District Engineer.
Dick’s final position with
Kiewit was to serve as a District Engineer of the West Coast Marine District
where he was responsible for projects along the West Coast of North America
from Baja to the Beufort Sea and around the islands of the Pacific Ocean.
During approximately that last 10 years, he simultaneously participated in
troubleshooting for Kiewit Companies on unique assignments that took him to
numerous locations throughout North America, the Pacific Basin, and Japan.
After retiring from Kiewit
in 1981, Dick became President and Chief Operating Officer of Shellmaker,
Inc., a major West Coast dredging and marine construction firm, and in 1983,
Millard founded Richard E. Millard And Associates, Inc., a construction
management and development consulting firm. He continued as President and
Chief Executive Officer until his death.
In addition to his
diversified experience, Millard was also credited with the development and
application of the laser as an alignment and ranging instrument in the
construction industry. Working in conjunction with Spectra-Physics, a Mountain
View, California, high-tech firm, he assisted in the development of, and then
pioneered the use of, laser ranging on marine construction in the mid 60s
which opened the door for the application of the laser in the construction
industry. Dick received numerous accolades for this development, including
those from Engineering News-Record which listed his development and
applications of lasers in construction as one of the Top 125 Innovations in
the past 125 years.
Millard lectured at the
University of California-Berkeley in construction economics, was an active
participant with the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American
Shore and Beach Preservation Association, was a guest lecturer before the
American Society of Military Engineers, and had even testified on technical
construction matters before the United States Congress.
Millard was also an engaged
alumnus of the School of Mines and served as an area vice president for the
Alumni Association. He was also an active supporter of the SDSM&T Foundation
and together with Judy Carrington, he recently established the Carrington
Millard Fund with a major gift to the SDSM&T Foundation. The Carrington
Millard Fund is now providing start up and ongoing funds to develop the
Carrington Millard School of Construction Management (CM)2. Before
his death, Dick was quoted as saying, “We are going to help create ‘The Best
Construction Management School on Earth’ right here at the School of Mines.”
With their gift, Millard and Carrington were among the first to be recognized
at the Co-Chair level for the Building the Dream campaign, an
indication of a commitment of $1 million or more toward the campaign effort.
Dick is survived by his four
children, Mark, Rebecca, Tamara, and Scott; and by his best friend, Judy
Carrington.
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Larry & Donna Johnson Scholarship Benefits SD
High School Grads
The
Larry & Donna Johnson Scholarship was recently established by Larry Johnson
(ME 59). This endowed fund will be awarded to a full-time student at SDSM&T
who has graduated from a South Dakota
high school and is a United States citizen.
Recipients may receive the award for
more than one year.
Larry Johnson was born and raised in Sioux
Falls where he graduated from Washington High School in 1955. He continued his
education at the School of Mines, earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical
engineering in 1959. After graduation, Johnson started his career working in
the defense industry with the Sperry Corporation in Salt Lake City. It was in
Salt Lake City that he met his future wife, Donna. They were married and had
two sons and a daughter. He also has fond memories or learning to snow ski in
Salt Lake City, an activity which became a part of his lifestyle.
After five years in Utah, Johnson moved to
Seattle to work with Boeing as a design engineer on the 707/737 aircraft.
While at Boeing he earned his private pilots license and enjoyed many years of
flying, an interest that has never dissipated.
After Boeing, Johnson arrived at his final
destination in San Jose, California, working with FMC and the Litton
Corporation. There, he finished off his involvement with the defense industry
as a senior design engineer, designing armored personnel carriers and weapon
stations like those seen everyday in the streets of Iraq. During this time, he
also spent six months in Singapore and acquired the habit in Silicone Valley
of trying to find out what makes technology the driver for new businesses and
how to invest in the opportunities.
At the end of the aerospace/defense era,
Johnson ran into a rare opportunity that totally changed his career path. He
fell upon a unique design position in the Virus Laboratory at the University
of California, Berkeley, which was starting to make inroads in the new world
of bioengineering, with the discovery of DNA and its potential.
After 5 years of realignment to this new world
at UC Berkeley, Johnson joined a startup company in Berkeley and spent the
next 10 years designing equipment for the new BioTech era. He ended up as
director of engineering and a patent holder for a new machine which allowed
duplication of DNA material called the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
machine. The biologist who invented this process was awarded the Nobel Prize
for his revolutionary work.
“The prototype of this machine is on display in
one of the Smithsonian Museums in Washington D.C. Exciting times, to say the
least,” stated Johnson. “I was truly fortunate to have been involved.”
Johnson then led the team to design and develop
the machine into a successful commercial product. The company was later bought
out by Perkin-Elmer which ended the adventure.
Johnson spent the last 15 years of his career
as manager of the Equipment Engineering Department with the Guidant
Corporation, in San Jose, where he was responsible for the design of new
equipment to make catheters and stents for the growing business of repairing
blocked arteries in the human heart by opening them with inflated balloons and
keeping them open with stainless steel stents. Johnson retired from Guidant
when they were bought out by Boston Scientific and Abbott Labs.
Johnson feels that his general interest in the
financing and growth of successful companies, along with the good luck of
being educated at SDSM&T, has allowed him the opportunity to share his
enthusiasm for the engineering profession by setting up this scholarship to
assist others.
“The culture and values of the Midwest are
important standards to maintain in the global business and social community,”
stated Johnson. “Financial aid often makes the difference in making the
commitment to spend four years of one’s life to become an engineer.”
“This scholarship will provide students from
South Dakota the support and encouragement to enter SDSM&T and stay the course
for the adventure of being an engineer in today’s world,” he concluded.
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David Bichler Memorialized with Scholarship
The David F. Bichler Memorial Scholarship
was established by Briana Bichler (Met 06), Laura Bichler, and their family
and friends in memory of David F. Bichler (ME 81), a wonderful husband,
father, colleague, and friend.
The David F. Bichler Memorial Scholarship is an
endowed fund that will be awarded to junior or senior students majoring in
mechanical engineering. Recipients must have at least a minimum cumulative
grade point average of 3.0 and may receive the award for more than one year.
David was born in
Deadwood on February 5, 1959. In high school, David was active in student
government, serving as student body president in 1976. He was the recipient of
the Daughters of the American Revolution Award as well as a ROTC Scholarship
from the School of Mines. David graduated from Lead High School in 1977.
After high school,
David attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. At SDSM&T, David
was selected to be a part of Who's Who of American College Students due to his
high academic achievement. In addition, he was a member of ROTC and Tau Beta
Pi Engineering Honor Society. David graduated with a bachelor’s degree in
mechanical engineering in 1981.
Following his
college education, David worked in the oil industry for 26 years and
thoroughly enjoyed traveling all over the world. Some of his traveling
destinations included Cairo, Jakarta. Rio de Janeiro, and London. During his
engineering career, David become a Professional Engineer and served as both a
project manager and an Engineering manager for Baker Hughes, The Hanover
Company, and Siemens Water Technologies. David was an expert on developing oil
refineries and enjoyed working in refineries and ocean oil rigs.
David was
very active outside of his engineering career as
well. He served as a captain in the Army Engineering Corp. and was a devoted
Christian. He was very active in church serving as congregational president
for numerous congregations. He was also president of the Salt Lake Lutheran
High School Board of Education from 1994-1996. David was active in bowling
leagues and liked to play golf from time to time.
David was a strong
man who bravely fought a two year battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He finally
lost his battle on May 22, 2007, at the University of California San Francisco
Hospital. He leaves a huge void both in his professional career and more
importantly with his family.
This scholarship
was created in David's memory due to his love for the School of Mines. He
always appreciated the education he gained at SDSM&T and was proud to be an
alumnus. In addition, he had a great respect for those who prepared him in the
field of mechanical engineering for he knew that the opportunities he was
given in industry stemmed from his experience at the School of Mines.
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Malcolms Use Estate Planning to
Establish Endowed Scholarship
John “Jack” B. (MinE
40) and Betty Malcolm wanted to find a way to support the scholarship program
at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology without affecting their
retirement income. While finalizing their estate plans with their attorney,
they found the perfect asset to accomplish both of these goals.
The Malcolms
opened a new IRA account specifically dedicated to handle their bequest. They
funded this new account by transferring equities from one of their existing
IRAs and named SDSM&T Foundation as 100% contingent beneficiary. The Jack &
Betty Malcolm Scholarship will be awarded annually to a student from Butte
County, South Dakota. Second preference will be given a student from Lawrence
County, South Dakota. If there are no students from Butte County or Lawrence
County, the scholarship will be awarded to a South Dakota student from west of
the Missouri River.
Jack Malcolm was born in Deadwood, South Dakota, in 1920, son of George Weir
Malcolm of Nisland, South Dakota, and Virginia Baxter of Belle Fourche, South
Dakota. Both his older brother, Kirk, and younger brother, George, were born
in Deadwood as well. As youths, the siblings attended school in both Nisland
and Newell, South Dakota. Jack then earned a bachelor’s degree in mining
engineering from the School of Mines in 1940.
After graduation, Jack
worked in several different mines in the Black Hills including the Dakota Tin
& Gold, Frerichs, Gilt Edge, and Maitland. He then joined Cotopaxi Exploration
in Macuchi, Ecuador and was privileged to work with two fellow SDSM&T alumni,
Maurice Haas (MetE 24) and Lloyd “Swede” Holmgren (MinE 33). Maurice was
general manager there.
Jack returned to the United States in 1942 and went to work for the American
Metal Company in Wingdale, New York. It was there that he met and married
Betty Babcock in 1943. Betty is the daughter of Wilfred Babcock and Dorothy
Burroughs, both of Poughkeepsie, New York. Betty graduated from Arlington
Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York. The Malcolm’s have a daughter,
Carol V. M. Phillips residing in Atlanta, Georgia, and a son, Bruce J. Malcolm
of Marietta, Georgia.
Jack entered the service in 1944 and served in the United States Army as a
combat infantryman in Europe. Following the war, he spent over 12 years in
various mining activities in Chile (Andes Copper) and Mexico (Penoles, headed
up by Maurice Haas). Jack returned to the United States and worked with
American Metal Climax (AMAX) in New York City and then with Callahan Mining as
the manager of the Penobscot Mine at Harborside, Maine.
He
rejoined AMAX in 1974 to head up the “Minnamax Project,” a copper nickel mine
evaluation study of a mineral deposit located in northern Minnesota. Following
retirement from AMAX in 1982, Jack worked six years as a mining consultant.
Jack and Betty built a home in Hartwell, Georgia, on Lake Hartwell, in Hart
County in 1988, and they have lived there since. Coincidentally, Malcolm is a
direct descendant of Nancy Morgan Hart, a Georgia heroine of the Revolutionary
War, whose name has been used to honor her in this locale. Jack was active
with the Hart County Meals on Wheels organization for several years, and also
a Legion of Honor member of the National Society of Mining Engineers, which he
joined 70 years ago.
Of
all the places that Jack and Betty lived, none compared with the northern
Black Hills, specifically Spearfish Canyon. After buying a motor home in the
early 1980s, Jack and Betty were fortunate to be able to travel home almost
every year, staying at the Spearfish Park and Campground. According to Jack,
growing up in Butte County made visiting Spearfish Park during the summer
months a real treat.
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