What are some of your favorite memories from your time at the DuBois Area School District?
Being raised in the “4th Ward” and my years at the Olive Avenue Grade School. Then, moving on to 7th Grade in Junior High on W. Scribner Avenue. And, for the first time, meeting all of my classmates and new friends from the other distant parts of DuBois ... the “Hill” and the “East Side.”
BTW, both of these school buildings no longer exist. They've been torn down. I've “out-lived” both of them. Actually, all three (3). My High School building (in front of the Stadium) is also gone.
Were there any teachers, coaches, or classes that had a lasting impact on you?
As I look back to my DuBois school years I see the following nine (9) teachers and coaches who had a lasting impact on my learning and early development. They were:
1. Miss Sullivan who taught 1st Grade at Olive Ave School. She taught me how to "behave and listen-up."
2. Miss Passarelli who taught 3rd Grade at Olive Ave School. She introduced me to the creative arts along with a fine knack for the personal understanding of others.
3. Mr. Dodd who taught several Social and Academic studies in 7th, 8th and 9th Grade Junior High. He helped me to focus on my path toward higher education beyond High School; and how to choose a career path beyond High School and College.
4. Miss Malinda Knarr who taught Geometry, Algebra and Trigonometry at the High School. She made these studies so meaningful, interesting and relative for me.
5. Miss Loyola Sullivan who taught Business & Bookkeeping. Which, as an Academic 'College Prep' Major, I took as an elective. She brought meaning and reality to my academic studies.
6. Mr. Duke Burkholder who taught Social Studies in addition to coaching Varsity Football. He delivered an appreciation and understanding of 'everyday reality' to me and his other students.
7. Miss Esther Robison who taught music and musical productions at the High School. She aided and abetted my stage performance and audience delivery.
8. Mr. Dominick Mancia who was my Wrestling coach throughout Junior High and High School. He taught me how to compete and win.
9. Mr. Joe Federici who was one of my High School Track coaches. He taught me sportsmanship and effort, what they meant and their importance in life.
What activities, clubs, or sports were you involved in as a student?
Varsity Wrestling and Track, Hi-Varieties and several musicals, such as Boys Quartet, singing “Earth Angel” among other popular songs of the 50's along with Tom Carlson, Joe Tropansky and Tom Albright. Also, performing in a lead role as The Captain in Gilbert & Sullivan's Operetta “HMS Pinafore.” I especially recall our Wrestling and Basketball squads, along with our cheerleaders, journeying to NYC, to compete against Amityville, Long Island, High School; and socializing afterwards with our competitors and their cheerleaders. A real learning experience.
Tell us about your current career or professional role. What does a typical day look like for you?
I'm nearly 90 years old and long-time retired now. However, I experienced a long career in plastics processing, metalworking and machinery manufacturing. I began my life path in design board-drafting and layout; some of which I learned in a side-course at DuBois High School as well as Kettering University where I graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in electrical engineering. This education and design board work led to much shop-floor follow-up and physical construction guidance and, eventually, shop-work supervision. Customer contact experience eventually led to a career path in sales and on into marketing and general management. Eventually, after furthering my night-time education at Xavier University for a master's in business, I moved on up into operational and financial planning and management levels of business.
My wife Janet (Bailey) - also a DuBois High School '56 graduate (we were married in '57) - she and I resided in Europe for 6 years prior to my official retirement and post-retirement consulting business out of Western PA and Central Florida.
What led you to pursue this career path?
My education at Kettering University in Flint, MI, became focused on Plastics Processing and the growing Plastics Industry throughout the U.S. and Europe at that time.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
What I always found most rewarding about my work was the technological advances it was bringing into being, thus contributing to society's advancements in our general welfare and standard of living.
Have you received any recognitions, awards, or achieved milestones you're especially proud of?
I was awarded my Company's highest engineering honor in my post-retirement capacity as a management consultant, which was the 'Noffsinger Award' for excellence and dedication in driving worldwide engineering and technology accomplishments for the company.
Also, I was looked-upon as a valuable member of the 'Society of Plastics Engineers.'
I served on the board of the 'Society of Plastics Incorporated' and was an active member of the esteemed 'Plastics Pioneers Association.' Throughout my entire career I played a major role in the introduction of plastic milk containers and food & beverage packaging, plus the incorporation of structural plastics into the worldwide automotive industry.
My innovations and contributions led to the broad acceptance of plastics among the world's consumers. I served as General Manager of my Company Milacron's Contract Services Division, VP and GM of its Blow Molding Machinery Business, General Manager of the tooling operations both in the U.S. and Germany and Managing Director of Milacron's Plastics Processing Machinery businesses in Vienna, Austria, Ahmedabad, India, and Freiburg, Germany. I also served as President of Milacron's Uniloy Division and the company's mold and metal-cutting tooling operations in the midwest. I was President of two of the firm's European business operations in Vienna, Austria, and Essen, Germany.
How did your experiences at the DuBois Area School District help prepare you for your career or further education?
I feel the basic educational courses I received in “Reading, Writing and Arithmetic” coupled with the existing disciplines I experienced in the 40's and 50's among my many teachers, instructors and coaches within the DuBois Area School District, were a great contribution toward my further education. They also set me up for a meaningful career in manufacturing and the development of the Plastics Industries throughout the United States and Europe during the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's.
If you could go back to high school, what goal-setting advice do you wish someone had given you?
Goal-setting in life is all-important. And, it should never be terminated or discontinued. Continuous Goal-setting all-throughout a person's entire life is essential. So, to the youngsters I say; Sit-down, study the facts, write-out a 5-year plan, and follow it through. Re-new it every couple of years.
How do you define success, and how has that definition evolved over time?
I define success as finding and holding a financially suitable and rewarding occupation. One which, for you, is enjoyable doing and working at every day. I believe this definition has evolved down-through-the-years into including the word “enjoyable.”
What skills or habits do you believe are most important for students to develop while they're in school?
Become skilled at 2-handed, 10-fingered, typing as would be applicable on a typical computer keyboard.
How do you stay connected to the DuBois Area School District community or give back to others?
I say, find some way to volunteer or participate in the activity of the District, i.e. serving on the Board or in a committee. find some needed, self-pleasing, way to contribute financially on a regular basis to the District; or to a current 'achieving' and deserving graduate; as, for example, in the name of a departed loved-one or suitable cause.