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Volume 23, No. 3 July, August, September,1980 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD TO DONNA HECKLER Patentel'sReGeiveAwal'ds Early in June the eighth annual Inventor's Dinner, as it has come to be called, was held Miss Donna Heckler, daughter at the Holiday Inn in Fort Washington. About 65 members and guests of the Technical of Laverne and Christine of Hat- Department assembled to clink glasses, cut meat, and recognize five of their number to field, Pa., won the 1980 Amchem whom patents were issued during 1979. The five were: Scholarship to a child of an em- Jim Anderson, his third patent ployee. Verne is a member of the Wilbur Hall, his seventeenth shipping department. Donna's Tom Henley, his third combined verbal and mathe- Timm Kelly, his first matics score of 1120 on the Earl Reinhold, his fourth Scholastic Aptitude Te`c,t was highest of the five applicants. Each of those who had been Les Steinbrecher, Director of issued patents, received a Sloo Research and master of cere- She graduated in the spring award from the company and, monies, introduced the head from North Penn High School in because it was his first patent, table guests (see pictures) as well Lansdale where she was a mem- Timm Kelly received, in addition, as Hans Kowollik, visiting from ber of the National Honor Soci- a bronze medallion. The unof- Henkel in Diisseldorf (see page ety and a leader in numerous ficial count on Amchem patents 7). But Steinbrecher had a sur- class activities such as the Steer- now stands at 395 issued to 113 ing Committee and Year book prise up his sleeve. He produced 9 inventors. Continued on page 6 Staff. She prefers outdoor ac- Jim Anderson tivities and regularly hikes, bikes, ~ camps, and back packs. Donna will apply the 4 year, 3:gnpae,r,eynedTn;:::;:rna,Than:.t|? lege of Arts and Sciences located just northwest of Lake Placid, N.Y. It is a two year course lead- ing to an associate degree in pre- professional forestry. After that, she will select another college to complete requirements for a bachelor's degree. Her career goal at the moment lies in forestry, either with the paper in- Wilbur Hall Timm Kelly dustry or the Federal government and the job has to be out of ployee's child, David Harrison, doors. RETIREMENTS graduated in June from Stan ford University, Palo Alto, Calif. with Word was received after press a bachelor of science degree in time Of Jim Thirsk's death, less chijset°S{;:h::::°itEei:;ntt:ftfeAe::I biology. than three weeks following his retirement. An obituary will appear next issue. JIM THIRSK The more than 130 people who gathered at dinner on a late June evening to mark the retirement of Jim Thirsk came from almost Earl Reinhold every segment in the structure of Amchem. There were people Aluminum Corp., Detroit. from just about every Ambler After cocktails and dinner, Jim department of the company, sales was presented with a book of pic- managers and salesmen from tures and messages from various quite some distance, numerous friends of his in Amchem's inter- Amchemers who themselves had national community, another retired, representatives of Am- from his Ambler friends, four of chem's international licensees, his original patents that have and even two of Amchem's cus- since expired (he holds two more Donna Heckler, 2nd from right, smiles after receiving the 1980 Am- tomers, Bob Morrison, from that are still in effect), a cordless chem Scholarship Award from Gene Snyder, right. Her father and Alcan, Kingston, Ontario and telephone to enable quicker and mother, Laverne and Christine, are at the left. Jim Paczesny, from Wolverine Continued un page 2 RETIREMENTS Con/i.nwed/row page / sales people could see the light Back when he played golf, he gold iridescent roll coat Alodine was a strong and vocal insistor on more convenient communication and a flash of the "guts" by on metal even when coating strict interpretation of rules and at all hours, and speech after which most Amchemers know weight determinations showed if anyone picked up a ball in play, speech of humorous but affec- him. there was little, if any, present. even on the fairway, he was likely tionate praise for his work, his Jim had a love affair while he Some customers continued to to hear a bellow of protest from devotion, his friendliness, his worked here at Amchem and it buy the coating if Jim said it was Jim's direction. And to Jim, determination, and much more. was with Alodine. He was in on there, even if they couldn't see it needling is only one more dimen- Several of his former associates, its early development, helped see themselves. sion in the game of golf . supervisors, management, and it through some of its dark and His full service of 36 years here There might be a few Am- one of the customers all con- uncertain days, perfected some of was all spent in research, develop- chemers who don't know much tributed to the portrait of Jim's its applications (e.g., Roll Coat ment, and technical service both about Jim and a word of explana- career at Amchem. Alodine), and was known all over domestically and internationally. tion may help. Jim has had the country and even the world as He trained salesmen and techni- muscular dystrophy for many Bill Snyder, International, was a fellow who, by the seat of his cal people and often said he felt years and his friends, in almost a gracious and collected master of pants, could control or fix up the best thing he ever did for any helpless concern, have watched ceremonies and he and Edie Alodine in a wide variety of of them was to "teach them how the malady gradually reduce his Young, also International, had operations. It was a matter of to fill out their expense reports strength and mobility. But they planned and managed the affair amusement with Jim's colleagues right." No one has ever been ful- cannot fall to have noticed that it with a fine touch. Jim responded that often he alone among Am- ly sure what he meant by hasn't seemed to damage his .will "right." with modesty, warm appreciation , chem's technical, marketing, and or that of his gallant wife. Jim at the microphone prior to his remarks Of appreciation. An all Detroit group, left to right, Tlom Bueter, Ruth Thirsk helps unwrap the final gift while Bob Morrison, Alcan, Canada, behind a Pete Russell, Jim Pacziesny, Woiverine Alumi- J_im log_ks on in puzzlement as to what it might cloud Of smoke from the head table, pokes a num Corp., and Buck Walker. be. Bill Snyder is at the microphone and Edie little fun at Jim, lower right. Young has her back to camera. GRACE BROWN and Grace will take her. They will visit one of her sons who lives there. She was retired She spent 29 years at Amchem, all of it in only two days when she got a 3 day baby sit- the small packaging department before retir- ting job with 2 other grandchildren. She ex- ing at the end of May. She said she had 5 pects more such stints because Grace has 22 bosses during that time and named them in grandchildren in all, issuing from a total of order: Ralph Mascola, John Horn, Joe Mal- 10 children. lozzi, John Heckler, and Jim Hall. All but Mascola are still at Amchem and Grace Her children were heavily involved in cele- Brown, the retireee, says of them that they brating her retirement. One of her daughters are "five good men." Only a week after her arranged a party for friends of Grace and retirement she said, with voice low and face one of her sons arranged another party for partially averted, that, "I miss the place a her family. All 10 children and almost all the lot." grandchildren were at the latter, including the Florida based son, two sons who live in Gr_ace Brown in the living room Of her home But Grace has plans. One of her grand- New Orleans, her 3 local sons, and 4 daugh- after r?tirepent. P_ictyres Of 2 granddaughters, daughters has long wanted to go to Florida ters, all of whom Live in the Ambler area. recently graduated, foank her. 2 DOMINIC CAROTENUTO Products, helps at the Youth PROMOTIONS Association too. Dominic Carotenuto retired at around the south. The small amount of time left the end of May after 8 years with The Carotenuto's have three in his life is now devoted to Amchem, 9 with Selas Corpora- sons and 7 grandchildren and are WALLACE YOUNG courses at La Salle College tion, and 25 with Keasby and enjoying the company with each In April, Wallace Young of the towards a bachelor's degree in Mattison. All his time at Am- other that retirement provides. operational management. purchasing department was pro- chem was in the maintenance They continue to live in the house moted to Buyer, Mechanical and department and he says he wishes they have lived in for 50 years. Electrical Equipment, reporting BILL NEILL he had known about Amchem Most of the house has been built to Ed Feather, Purchasing Direc- Effective in May, Bill Neill was sooner. over the years by Dominic onto tor. Wallace was raised in the named Manager, Container In- It is his intention to "fool the 2 room building they first ac- northern part of Philadelphia dustry, reporting to Don Herr- around the house" for a while quired in 1930.

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