The School of Engineering & Applied Science will honor seven distinguished individuals April 6 at its annual Alumni Achievement Awards Dinner at the Fox Theatre.
The event will begin at 5:45 p.m. with cocktails, followed by dinner and the awards program at 7:45 p.m. Presenting the awards will be Dean Christopher I. Byrnes, Ph.D., the Edward H. and Florence G. Skinner Professor of Systems Science and Mathematics.
Alumni Achievement Award recipients are: William L. Bernard, Thomas J. Feichtinger, Howard M. Nelson Jr., Gregory A. Sullivan and Clarence (Turk) M. Turley Jr.
Cynthia A. Gruensfelder will receive the Young Alumni Award, and I.E. Millstone will receive the Dean’s Award.
• Bernard is honored in recognition of his career accomplishments and for his dedication to his community. He began his career as a heat-transfer design engineer at the Trane Company in LaCrosse, Wis. In 1955, he joined Stanley Lopata as a sales engineer at Process Engineering and Equipment Co.
In 1959, Bernard started Technical Service Corp. as a manufacturer’s representative, serving on the “rep council” for four manufacturers. He retired in the early 1990s and is board chairman of Technical Service.
• Feichtinger is recognized for his wide-ranging accomplishments in advanced computer technologies and his extensive community service. Upon graduation, he joined Arthur Andersen & Co. (now Accenture). In 1995, Feichtinger joined Computer Sciences Corp. in St. Louis and later became vice president of the southwest region for Braun Consulting.
In 2000, Feichtinger served as vice president and chief technology officer of Optate. In 2001, he joined General Motors Corp. In 2003, he was promoted to global director for common systems architecture.
• Nelson Jr. is honored in recognition of his career accomplishments in the aluminum and chemical industries. Upon graduation, Nelson joined Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. Leaving Kaiser in 1966, Nelson returned to St. Louis as general manager of Mesker Brothers, an architectural products manufacturer.
In 1967, he returned to Kaiser in its chemicals division. He retired in 1991 after consulting and joining the board of Carus Corp.
• Sullivan is honored for his success as an engineer, entrepreneur and civic leader, and for his service to the School of Engineering & Applied Science. With a vision for how the microcomputer would impact the world, he created the company G.A. Sullivan. He sold it in 2003 and currently works as a consultant.
He remains active in many St. Louis-area civic and charitable organizations and engineering school activities.
• Turley Jr. is honored for his many achievements in commercial real estate and his extensive community service. He went to work with his father at Turley Corp., a commercial real estate firm in downtown St. Louis.
Over 54 years, Turley represented large and small companies as their agent. Office leasing, site assembly and property acquisitions became his specialties.
• Gruensfelder is honored in recognition of her professional achievements and the creativity she brings to her career and community. She earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University of Illinois.
Gruensfelder is team leader for the Boeing Joint Unmanned Combat Air System Program Advanced Design Group. She produces numerous toys, inventions, books, screenplays and musical scores.
• Millstone receives the Dean’s Award in recognition of his many professional achievements in the construction industry, his philanthropy to St. Louis and his generosity to the University.
A pioneer in the use of reinforced concrete, at age 22 he founded Millstone Construction Inc. The company’s architectural influence extends beyond the metropolitan area, as far as Israel. Millstone remains active as president of K&M Investors and the Millstone Charitable Foundation.
Annually, more than 60 University students, including many in the School of Engineering & Applied Science, benefit from Millstone’s generosity.