South Texas
Section
Home
Sponsors
Newsletter
Meetings
Officers
Westpark
Memorial
Apollo
Coastal Bend
Brazos Valley
Plant Engineering and Maintenance
Petroleum
Pressure Vessels & Piping
Materials Handling
Gas Turbine
Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engr
Applied Mechanics
Computer
U of Houston ME
U of Houston MT
Texas A&M ME
Texas A&M MT
Texas A&M Galveston
Prarie View A&M Univ
Rice
K-12 Programs
Science Fair
Texas Board of Professional Engineers
Murdough Center for Ethics
TAMU Engineering Ethics
ASME
Board on Professional Practice and Ethics
Principles....
Engineers Week
Discover Engineering
What is a Mechanical Engineer ?
Mechanical Engineering
First Robots
Texas Best Robotics
How Stuff works
Engines of Our Ingenuity
South Texas People
South Texas History
Texas Landmarks
Engines of Our Ingenuity
South Texas Section
Welcome to the website of the South Texas Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers International (ASME), the Internet resource of choice for mechanical engineers in the Houston area.
Getting to know You...A History of STS People
Sam Collier
Historian Emeritus
updated April 03, 2000
GETTING TO KNOW YOU, SAM COLLIER!
Along with his reports on South Texas Section history, Sam Collier has been a prolific wnter of member this Newsletter. This profile was not written by Sam - it is about him. And it's about time, too, as he's been a prolific and enthusiastic ASME booster since before some of our newer members were born.
While Sam was initially interested in aeronautical engineering, perhaps it can safely be said that he officially started his mechanical engineering career with a scholarship to Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie - Mellon University) in 1940, graduating in 1947 after an interruption of 2 - 1/2 years as an Air Force Navigator, returning home after 50 missions with half a dozen combat ribbons, five Air Medals, and a Distinguislied Flying Cross - this for leading his bomber to an important supply drop to allied troops behind enemy lines, the only plane of the group to successfully complete the mission. He pursued graduate studies at MIT and later at the University of Houston. He has served as Deacon and as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church.
Sam came to Houston with Shell Chemical Company, then soon joined the Research and Development Department of Mission Manufacturing Company, assisting in the development of a line of centrifugal pumps which, through their applications in the handling of heavy oil field drilling fluids, eventually revolutionized the construction of oil field drilling rigs throughout the world, and set Sam on a lifelong career of exploring the nuances of fluid flow, particularly in connection with centrifugal and reciprocating pumps and check valves.
Sam progressed to the position of Chief Research Engineer for all products, supervising several fluid flow test facilities unique to the Industry, and was also charged with the pursuit of patents. He apparently took an interest in this aspect of the job, for he now holds 35 U.S. and foreign patents and is developing 18 more potentials in his spare time, in which he also presently serves as the ASME Representative to the National Selection Committee of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, reporting to the ASME Committee on Honors.
Sam has also completed two terms, that's six years, the maximum permitted, as Chairman of the Henry R. Worthington Award Committee, a National ASME Award presented for eminent achievement in the field of pumps and check valves.
He was Chairman of the Petroleum Division Executive Committee, receiving the Bronze Oil Drop Award in 1991, the Petroleum Division's top honor, awarded at ETCE for distinguished professional achievement in the field of petroleum mechanical engineering. The Petroleum Division awarded Sam the 0. L. (Andy) Lewis Award for dedicated leadership over a sustained period, and also presented to him the first Samuel L. Collier Award, established in his name to recognize outstanding committee work. Sam has received the South Texas Section W. R. Woolrich Engineer of the Year Award and the Alan J. Chapman Award also given by South Texas. He has been elected a Fellow of ASME.
He served as Chairman of the South Texas Section and in all offices leading to that position, as well as Chairman of the Petroleum Study Group.
Sam was very instrumental in founding the original Offshore Technology Conference and was a member of the initial OTC Executive Committee. At present he is the History and Heritage Committee for the South Texas Section, and the Petroleum Division, reporting on the subject regularly in their respective newsletters, actively promotes ASME Landmark activities, a National History and Heritage program recognizing historically interesting engineering achievements of the past.
Sam has written 55 technical papers and articles for Oil and Gas Journal, Plant Engineering, World Oil and the Oxford publication World Pumps, in which he was asked to report on the world wide "Status of the Reciprocating Pump Industry and Technology" in its 1991 feature issue. One of his articles in Plant Engineering won the Hansen Award of Excellence, and was judged the best article so honored.
His book "Mud Pump Handbook. Cost Saving Methods for Operating and Maintaining Duplex and Triplex Pumps in the Oilfield," was published by Gulf Publishing Company in 1983.
The dedication of a book indicates what is important to the author, and it is fitting to note that Sam has included in the dedication of his book:
--- to my wife, Rose, and
--- to the Petroleum Division, ASME.
Thanks to Neal Heaps for this excellent article on Sam.
HISTORY NOTES/ the SEMINAR ERA
October 14,1992
TO: Kathy Smith for the Newsletter
Some things start off easy, but the seminars started with a bang; but then, they were started by a member with a real zest to get going. Back in '75 , Clint Britt came to the Exec Committee with an idea he picked up from the ASM's seminar program but not on metals. A questionaire in the newsletter received 40 responses that pointed to a big interest in PIPING DESIGN and Clint became the #1 Professional Development Chairman. His goal was to produce a series using top talent to provide a real education opportunity well worth the $200 fee for the 10 week course.
Monsanto, his employer agreed to produce the 2" thick Notes for everyone and Brown & Root provided their new teaching auditorium getting the project out of any red ink area. It was a sell out and the program was underway on October 5,1976. The quality of that course sent out a signal and a format that has been followed and that has lead to 25 successful events.This has been a terrific technical program and you could have acquired possibly 60 CEU's by attending; and in every case you would meet and work with national experts in each area.
Look at the 70's programs:
-
(Program/ Prof. DEV. CH./Course Cord.)
- 1976 PIPING DESIGN.......Clint Britt............ Graff & Eschenbrenner
- 1977 PV Design..............Dr. Joe Fowler
- 1978 Heat Exchanger .....Frank Adamek......Frank Adamek
- 1979 Pump Engineering...Jim Ingram...........Jim Ingram
By December 1978, the money accumulating in the SEMINAR FUND needed careful direction ; a Seminar Endowment Fund Committee of Reid NcNally, Bill Graef, John ECHOLS & Joe Fowler was appointed to oversee it. Watch for the story of the 80's seminars.
10/15/92 That's the way it was in the STS.
SAM COLLIER Historian
GETTING TO KNOW YOU : Clint Britt
Clint Britt had been active in the WESTPARK Subsection before he brought us his seminar idea (see History Notes); he became section chairman in 82-83 and is currently our Educational Endowment Chairman.
Clint will be 52 in December; he grew up in Baytown and got interested in TEXAS TECH because of good vibes from a student paper competition there. His first act on reaching the campus was to join the student section in '63, the only FROSH in it. He later took a leave to get his MS there too. He tried pipelining with Shell but soon switched to the love work of his life in the plant at Monsanto. He has moved by company sale to Conoco Chemical, Dupont, CAIN and OXY-CHEM where he now in Manager of Maintenance with 200 cohorts keeping it going.
Wife Patricia has waited dinner late a lot and they have Backpacked and camped with three youngsters. Now they must visit one in DC in the State Dept, a tea sipper now in Boston, and wonder if they can interest James,10, in Architecture at Texas Tech. We are lucky that the section has dedicated people like this section leader; Three cheers.
10/15/92 The STS Roving Reporter, Sam Collier; PS Call me!
(Webmasters note: you can send Sam email, and tell him we appreciate his effort !)
THE HISTORY of XMAS PAST
January 13,1992
The 1991 section Xmas party was a first- our first party at the new Hess on Buffalo Speedway. Joe & Linda Fowler, party chairs, set it up early in the year for December 6. Things looked glum because of band prices; Lois and Walter Taber asked Al Marks for help and Al came up with an affordable combo featuring his daughter. HESS provided a portable dance floor; it was filled up with dancing dudes.
For a grand reminisce, Cliff Voltz displayed a page of CASE TECH paper of December 4 1941; he and bride to be Mary Ellen were on the Interfraternity Dance committee then and this was their 49th Anniversary. That brought out a lot of stories resulting from the attack a few days later (12/7/41) on Pearl Harbor- 50 years ago.
Many members and the very active Ladies Auxiliary made these annual parties great; but my memory fades and we do not have all the Newsletters. HELP! In one for December 1979 , Bill Graff ,the Chairman set the date on the 7th, featured the "Swinging Strings", and dinner for $10.00 per couple. The 1991 event ran $25.00 each.
There were budget problems in 1965; I talked with Buddy Brock who found us a group that was new but good, the Debonaires; they were with us several years, at least to '68.
A fun feature in 1966 (Thayer Chairman, Neal Heaps Arr.) was a slide show by the great Dr. J George H. Thompson, some special, some impromptu - hot stuff- the projector caught fire. The tab then was under ten dollars per couple.
At some point we switched to snacks to cut cost and later some were held in homes. Joe Fowler took on the chair in '85; we provided the space and he and Linda brought a feast that outdid the professionals. The '86 party at the Tyllick's brought out a crowd and the Fowler's went all out in '87 with a grand($$$) party at L'hotel Sofitel on Beltway 8. A great private dinner , then dancing in the adjoining ballroom. And the tab left some for the Scholarship Fund.The '88 &'89 events were in the grand new home of Chairman Frank Adamek, one of our few two termers,on Cedar Lawn in Baywood Shadows featuring the Pasadena H.S. Orchestra strings, a real treat. And, if you have forgotten the '90 event was at the plush Great Caruso ($$$$); it was different but terrific.
So, that's the way it was.
STS HISTORIAN SAM COLLIER
April 14, 1993
Newsletter Items To Kathy From Sam Collier
HISTORY from the Mail Bag
The March story on the Awards history shook the trees as far west as San Antonio. It seems the Hugh Scott Cameron Award is older than 1964. For proof, Buddy Wachel, our VIBRATION expert called and supplied a copy of his certificate for the 1957 Award for UT. He was Student Section Chairman and met Dr. Byron Short ( I think Byron believed Houston was downtown Austin as often as he came over for meetings) at the Engineers Club. It was a high point in Buddys career with such a fine formal dinner amid the profession. And he did use the $50 Award , in a way, as his bride actually did the typing and kept the stipend in the family.
Allen Rhodes was the section chairman who signed the Certificate; he went on to be Petroleum Division Chairman in 1962 and finally ASME President.
HISTORY: FUN, RAIN RUN & Personalities
It is true, the Section had three fun runs (80, 81, &82) and usually in so much rain that the numbers washed off the runners. And talk about GETTING TO KNOW YOU, WELL!
Reid NcNally invited Sheryl (to be) NcNally to help out as a semi-date; dashing home in the rain, Sheryl rushed to answer the phone for a dinner invite and on and on, to June 27,1987 and a wedding. Reid was always on the run ( his hobby is work). As sharp operators they found a RTC home at a bargain out Briarforest and latter a company building on Brittmore. Yes, they did have some time together to wit, there is a pretty little girl starting 4K school.
Sheryl and friends Ross and Lisa(to be) Kastor (seems to be a fun trend here) all worked together getting out the run material at the Sports Center. They recall that the first run made history with 3 at once- the 5K, 10K, and a qualifying run ( normal runs are just one) Runs 2 & 3 were at Bear Creek and were also wet.
April 1993 HISTORIAN SAM COLLIER
IN MEMORIAM
We have recently lost two of our comrades:
Leo Castellanos who retired from UH to Corpus Christi. Many of us will recall his courses such as the enlighting experimental stress analysis.
John Medlin who kept busy in his long time consulting practice and has been a regular, almost a fixture, at the section meetings.
We enjoyed your technical Fellowship and tender our respects.
GREAT HISTORY
If you have ever presented anything in conjunction with ASME Headquarters staff, then you know what a script is. The following is the official script copy used for our last Landmark Ceremony. This was held in conjunction with the ASME Summer Annual Meeting held in Houston during June of 1990. It is presented in traditional format of all caps and double spaced. Chair Richard Boswell, presented a set of "Don't Mess With Texas" stickers and ceramic trivets to the distinguished ASME officials, including Texas native Dave Belden. This was followed by several Proclamations and documents honoring several of STS members including John Lienhard and Jan Davis.
WELCOME RICHARD BOSWELL
I AM RICHARD BOSWELL, CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH TEXAS SECTION;
I WELCOME YOU TO A CEREMONY TO DESIGNATE A NEW MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LANDMARK.
OUR SECTION HAS TWO NATIONAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LANDMARKS.
OUR FIRST WAS NATIONAL #10 - THE BATTLESHIP TEXAS RECIPROCATING ENGINES,
OUR SECOND WAS NATIONAL #49 - THE SATURN ROCKET AT NASA.
OUR THIRD WHICH WE CELEBRATE TODAY IS NATIONAL #99 IS
THE HL&P GREENS BAYOU #1 OUTDOOR STEAM TURBINE GENERATOR PLANT.
OUR INCOMING CHAIRMAN, WALTER TABER, WILL NOW ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE INVOLVED IN THE FACILITY AND ITS DESIGNATION.
page 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WALTER TABER
WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE EFFORTS OF ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE LANDMARK AND ITS DESIGNATION. LATER, WE WOULD LIKE EACH OF THESE GROUPS TO COME UP AFTER THE VIDEO TOUR FOR PHOTOS.
THE LANDMARK PROGRAM IS A PROJECT OF ASME:
WILL THE FOLLOWING ASME CONTRIBUTORS PLEASE STAND AS CALLED.
ARTHUR E. BERGLES, PRESIDENT - ART IS DEAN OF ENGINEERING AT RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
REID P. MCNALLY, JR. VP REGION X ASME
GEORGE T. BUTLER, III H&H COMMITTEE REGION X
DR. DAVID BELDEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ASME
CARRON GARVIN-DONOHUE WHO COORDINATED THE LANDMARK DETAILS AT ASME-NY
THANK YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES
FOR THE HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER COMPANY PLEASE STAND
MR. DONALD SYKORA, PRESIDENT
J.D. GREENWADE, VP SYSTEM OPERATIONS
DAVID G. TEES, VP ENERGY PRODUCTION
F.J. MEYER, MANAGER GAS & OIL PLANTS
W BART LITTLE, GENERAL MANAGER W.A. PARISH PLANT WHO HELPED WITH TECHNICAL HISTORY
R.A. OSCO, PLANT MANAGER GREENS BAYOU PLANT WHO HELPED ON DRAWINGS AND TECHNOLOGY
FLOYD J.LEBLANC AND STAFF WHO PRODUCED THE VIDEO TOUR, THE BROCHURE AND INVITATIONS.
THANK YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES
page 3
FOR WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY PLEASE STAND
DON WHITE GENERAL MANAGER POWER GENERATION TECHNOLOGY is IN CHARGE OF TECHNOLOGY ON ALL TURBINE MACHINERY
HE AND WIFE BEVERLY ARE HERE FROM ORLANDO
MARTY HAEST, VP OF SW REGION
HE AND WIFE LETTY ARE FROM DALLAS
KURT STEINEBRONN, MANAGING DIRECTOR TURBINE GENERATOR PROJECTS.
KURT AND WIFE BEVERLY ARE HERE FROM ORLANDO
PAT KING, MANAGER OF SOUTH TEXAS DISTRICT AND WIFE JODY ARE FROM HOUSTON
WE ESPECIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE WALTER SINTON, RETIRED ENGINEER WHO WORKED ON THE TURBINE IN 1947 AND WHO PREPARED THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE LANDMARK NOMINATION IN 1988.
THANKS YOU AND ALL YOUR COLLEAGUES.
FOR EBASCO SERVICES INC. PLEASE STAND AS CALLED
E.A. ALBOSTA, PRESIDENT
LLOYD W. DONNELLY RETIREE LLOYD, 94, WAS MANAGER OF CONSTRUCTION - HE ERECTED THE GREENS BAYOU #1 IN 1949 AND IS KNOWN AS MR. TURBINE FOR HIS EXTENSIVE WORK IN POWER PLANTS.
MR. RAY PRUSWELL &WIFE MARGIE
MR. TED WRIGHT & WIFE TRUDY BOTH EBASCO CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISORS IN THE HOUSTON OFFICE
MR GREG HAPPE & WIFE JULIE GREG IS AREA MANAGER
THANK YOU ALL
page 4
THE NATIONAL HISTORY & HERITAGE COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY PROF. EUAN F.C. SOMERSCALES OF RENSSELAER
WILL THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE MEMBERS PLEASE STAND:
BOB GAITHER, A PAST PRESIDENT OF ASME
PROF. JONH LIENHARD AND HIS WIFE CAROL, WHO JUST FLEW IN FROM TAMPA.
THANK YOU
PROF. JOHN LIENHARD OF THE HISTORY & HERITAGE COMMITTEE IS M D ANDERSON PROFESSOR OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
HE HAS NOW PRODUCED 561 EPISODES OF " THE ENGINES OF OUR INGENUITY" ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO BRINGING GREAT HONOR AND RESPECT ON THE PROFESSION.
I PRESENT DR. LIENHARD.
5 MINUTES FOR DR. LIENHARD'S PRESENTATION ON THE LANDMARK PROGRAM.
MR COLLIER, CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH TEXAS SECTION HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE HISTORY OF GREENS BAYOU #1. SAM WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING AND WRITING MOST OF THE MATERIAL IN THE BROCHURE.
page 5
HISTORY OF GREENS BAYOU #1 SAM COLLIER
WE CHEER AT FOOTBALL GAMES AND CELEBRATE THE WINNING - BUT WE HAVE GROWN COMPLACENT ABOUT TECHNICAL ADVANCES.
TODAY WE ARE HERE TO CHEER A TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT AND TO LABEL IT SO SOCIETY CAN APPRECIATE SUCH SUCCESS.
THIS ADVANCE IS LIKE MANY - AFTER YOU DO IT, IT LOOKS OBVIOUS BUT THE FIRST ONE TO JUMP OFF IN A NEW DIRECTION IS A REAL LEADER.
HISTORICALLY, FROM EDISON'S TIME, ELECTRICAL FACILITIES WERE HOUSED IN STRUCTURES THAT LOOKED LIKE MANY COLLEGE LABORATORIES. THESE BECAME GREAT TURBINE HALLS - MASSIVE MASONRY STRUCTURES - SOME NEAR ART DECO - FULL OF SPIT AND POLISH.
SOME CHANGES WERE TRIED IN THE 30'S.
IN 1933, AN OUTDOOR PLANT WAS BUILT IN SCHNECTEDY .IT WAS THE FIRST MERCURY CYCLE PLANT RATHER THAN A STEAM PLANT.
IN 1936 , PLANTS IN TUSON AND PROVO PLACED THE BOILER OUTDOORS WITH A SAVING IN COST.
IN 1939 THE GABLE STREET PLANT - HL&P'S FIRST PLANT WAS EXPANDED; A SEMI OUTDOOR BOILER WITH A HOOD WAS A SUCCESSFUL FIRST STEP.
IN 1941 SEMI OUTDOOR UNITS IN BURBANK AND GLENDALE HAD LIGHT REMOVABLE COVERINGS OVER THE TURBINE.
IN 1943 AT THE WEST JUNCTION STATION, THE TURBINE AND BOILER WERE OUTDOORS; THE TURBINES WERE COVERED WITH A REMOVEABLE ROOF.
IN 1945 A SEMI OUTDOOR PLANT WAS BUILT AT THE COUGLIN UNIT OF CENTRAL LOUISIANA ELECTRIC. IT HAD THE CONDENSERS AND AUXILIARIES IN A BRICK BUILDING.
A SEMI OUTDOOR UNIT AT THE HANDLEY PLANT OF TEXAS ELECTRIC WENT INTO OPERATION IN 1948.
THE GREENS BAYOU #1 WAS THE FIRST TO CARRY THE CONCEPT TO ITS CONCLUSION BY PLACING ALL COMPONENTS OUTDOORS. THE TURBINE AND GENERATOR WERE WEATHERPROOFED AND NO REMOVABLE HOUSINGS WERE USED.
WALTER SINTON WAS AN ENGINEER WITH WESTINGHOUSE WHEN GREENS BAYOU #1 WAS ORDERED IN JULY 1947. HL&P AND EBASCO DECIDED TO CONSIDER FULL OUTDOOR FEASIBILITY.
page 6
WALTER MADE THE STUDY AND A FAVORABLE REPORT ISSUED; IT BECAME A GO ON MARCH 10,1948.
IN 1988, WE REQUESTED INPUT ON POSSIBLE LANDMARKS AND WALTER RESPONDED.
YOU CAN READ THE DETAILS IN THE BROCHURE WITH PHOTOS, DRAWINGS AND REFERENCES. THE ELIMINATION OF THE BUILDING MADE A SIGNIFICANT SAVING IN COST AND BECAME VERY POPULAR IN THE MORE SOTHERLY AREAS.
THE NOMINATION WAS APPROVED IN MAY 1990.
I WOULD NOW ASK ASME PRESIDENT ART BERGLES TO MAKE THE OFFICIAL PRESENTATION AND MR. DON SYKORA OF HL&P TO ACCEPT THE LANDMARK PLAQUE.
______________________
ASME PRESIDENT ART BERGLES 3 MINUTES
HL&P PRESIDENT DON SYKORA 3 MINUTES
VIDEO TOUR INTRODUCED BY DON SYKORA
__________________________
STS CHAIRMAN RICHARD BOSWELL
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE. THE RECEPTION WILL CONTINUE UNTIL _______
PLEASE ENJOY THE HOR d'OEUVRES AND THE CASH BAR AND TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
STS AWARDS HISTORY NOTES
The 1992 Awards Program is now part of our history at the new HESS on Buffalo Speedway.
The 1964 ceremony was different. It took place on March 19,1964 at the new Hotel America. The dinner was $5.00 and cocktails were 75 cents; those really were the GOOD OLDE DAYS. The Newsletter featured a photo of the hotel and all the gurgling fountains. Jim Earthman was Chairman.
The slate of Awards included the Hugh Scott Cameron Awards, a Past Chairman Award, the Section Meretorious Award and some National Awards.(let me know if you have any data on the recipients).
Joe McCaskill arranged the program and Charles Bartley, VP of Engineering and Manufacturing at Mission Manufacturing Co. spoke on "Automation: It's Effect on Business and People. The Women's Auxiliary played an active part in the program and the decor. ASME's President ('63) Cliff Schumaker attended and Allen Jensen VP Region X was on hand for the special.occasion.
Back on May 9,1959, with Prof. A.A. Rasmussen as Chairman, after a successful Honors program by Doug. Seward Jr. at the "beautifully decorated quarters at HESS" on Fannin, a round table session was held to put a new Organizational Plan into practice. At that time, there were four Professional Groups- the very active Petroleum Group headed by Gulf's W.E.Boyd, a Process Group led by Keith Thayer, a Science Group led by H.C. Burghard JR. of Rice and a Power Group led by V.C. Littlefield of HL&P. We have some data on the early Petroleum group started by Hank Meredith in the fall of 1956, but need input on each.
Reporting to you (4/15/92) on how it was about 30 years ago.
STS HISTORIAN SAM COLLIER
ME LANDMARK GETS LANDMARK
If you are in the neighborhood of 12050 HW 90 ten miles out, stop to see the plaque awarded to HL&P"s Greens Bayou first OUTDOOR POWER PLANT designated last summer. Call R.A. (Bob)Osco, Plant Manager 713 459 7500 or tell guard to check with him to get in the gate. HL&P contacted a granite marker maker(tombstone maker) to get an attractive sloped base; it is located in the flower bed along the entry walk to the Greens Bayou Plant. All visitors see it and have had many nice words on the achievement.
PATENT FEE NEWS
Milton Franke , Chairman of the Board of Communications called to confirm receiving our position paper on holding the line a little lower on patent costs. He will expedite the processing so that it can be incorporated in an ASME position paper for action at SAM in June. Karl Geoca is also proding the processing at ASME in Washington. Call S.L. Collier (465 2095) for details.
VOLUNTEERS for INVENTORS
The Houston Inventors Association (HESS 4th Monday 6:00) welcomed our volunteer group at the March meeting. ASME members who responded to the request in our Newsletter were ABBY FATA (Teflon Eng.), Jim Miller (chokes, valves, actuators), Ben Richter (SBA Product Development) and Jerri Rubli (Oil field equipment and ME tests); Abby and Jerry attended and Ben had his hands full with questions in a network session. Other technical help is needed and all is appreciated. Would you like to volunteer too? Contact: Sam Collier 465 2095 (11002 Huntwyck 77024) or come to the HIA meeting to check them out.
(for May 1992 Newsletter 4/15/92)
STS HISTORIAN SAM COLLIER
HISTORY OF THE 60's
Each time I report on early newsletter discoveries, someone looks deeper; this issue, we have those from '66-'67 courtesy Ray Woolrich ( '69-'70 Chairman and then Treasurer. Dr. Joe Schweppe was secretary, Dennis Tyllick was VC and Keith Thayer was Chairman.
Victor Abadie had gotten organized in the summer and a full year of programs. ( Vic was a Brown & Root Engineer). We lack only the Sept. and Oct. Newsletters. Send these and get a brownie point . But they had gotten Cameron to sponsor a pocket card for the 1000 members that listed Dr. Aker of Rice - Engineering & Medicine in Sept. and Mike Gay , a patent attorney - WHO OWNS YOUR KNOWLEDGE in Oct.
The theme, THE PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY of the ENGINEER featured a November debate between Eric Jenett of Brown & Root and Dean Kirkpatrick of UH on the University's Responsibility to the Engineering Profession.In January, J.L. Powers of Texas Tech covered "Goals of Engineering Education"and in February W.W. Watkins, an attorney spoke on " Who is Responsible for Safe Design". Neal Heaps was in charge of arrangements; dinner was $3.50 and a cocktail was 75 cents at HESS-Fannin.
Six study groups met( PV, Machine Design, Power, Maintenance,Petroleum and Ken Laster' Management group held two meetings on" Engineer's Compensation- Dual Lines of Progression". The Xmas party featured a candid slide show by Dr. J.G. H. Thompson; the projector caught fire.
These were the days of the Student Quadrangular meets sponsored by the section and held that year at UH. Student from UT, A&M, Rice, Lamar State, and UH gave presentations. These were fun to judge.
The April Honors program listed most of the Award winners- a nice feature for future history plus new and old officers.
Chairman Thayer's swan song noted that every act was a Career Investment rewarded many fold in the wonderful Technical Fellowship of ASME.
Like a great wine, that was a great year; kudos to the team, many who are still on our active list.
That's the story of 1966-67 in the GREAT STS.
January 1994 Your Historian Sam Collier
HONORS AND HISTORY
Several of our awards are HONORS for special people that have been "greats" of the STS; here is a bit of the story on them.
HUGH SCOTT CAMERON WAS Dean of men at Rice University and was also a well known, respected and loved member of the section. Prof. Chapman remembers that he was very active in ASME. I have a program from the March 19,1964 Honors program at the then new Hotel America; it lists the winners of the award that year. Since he was so interested in the students, it is fitting that the award for the outstanding Senior Engineering student be named the HUGH SCOTT CAMERON AWARD. But, we would like to know more and would appreciate help on this.
W. R. WOOLRICH received the STS Commendation (now Section Meritorious) Award in 1950. He had come to U.T. as Dean in 1936 and done yeoman service to STS- from Austin for years.
Last week, I got some first hand info from his son Ray Woolrich (1969-70 STS Chairman) at his and Sally's condo on the white sand at Orange Beach,AL. Dean Woolrich was an expert on refrigeration and author of 16 books. Ray gave me a copy of his "father's "The Man Who Invented Cold"; this was a significant story of the food industry of the South and Texas.
While seeing the sights, we listened to Lienhard's Engines of Ingenuity tape II- you can get a copy from Richard Boswell. One of Woolrich's books was "Men of Ingenuity". Ray and brother , Paul shared a unique experience when they each participated in a book on Air Conditioning with their Dad.
Woolrich was Dean of Engineering at UT for 22 years; he propounded ENGINEERING GENTLEMANSHIP among all he touched. We honored his memory when he died in 1978 with this award to an outstanding engineer for technical achievement and service to the section and all of society.
ALAN J. CHAPMAN was born in Los Angeles but came to Houston at the age of one and now lives in SW Houston. He attended Rice and graduated in 1945. He joined the ME faculty in 1946 and is now the Senior faculty member after 47 years at the helm. Alan has specialized in heat transfer and thermodynamics and many of you can recall taking the "heat" from Professor Chapman. He has a right to be proud of his text on HEAT TRANSFER now in it's fifth edition and for his outstanding career as a maker of engineering thinkers. We honored him in 1981 naming the STS Award for outstanding engineering the Alan Chapman Award.
HERBERT ALLEN rose from the position of engineer to that of Chairman of the Board of Cameron Iron Works. He was a man of wild and free imagination and believed in using the widest scope of all knowledge to search for better mechanical devices. He held over 300 patents.
A few years ago, when I invited him to make the award- he altered a scheduled trip to Europe to attend our meeting. He is missed by the profession, but we remember him and his ideas on innovation in this award- the Herbert Allen Award for outstanding technical achievement before attaining the age of 35.
2/16/93 SECTION HISTORIAN SAM COLLIER
GTKY (Getting to Know You)
BARBARA EHRLICH , this year's HONORS & AWARDS Chairman is a person you will soon hear more about. She grew up in Chicago and attended BELOIT College and the Illinois Institute of Technology where she received a Masters in Environmental Engineering in 1975. Babara has a sister, a nurse and two brother who are engineers; they talk in equations.
Miss Ehrlich was working with the EPA on utilities when she saw an add on an attractive position at HL&P. That's how she came to Houston in 1982, our gain. She has worked on environmental problems three years and is now involved with cogeneration projects.
Guess what her hobby is? Barbara has studied ACTING at HCCT and has specialized in SHAKESPEARE. She has been a " gentlewoman" in Macbeth and played the part of Autrey in "As You Like It".
(aside: per the great bard) We expect a grand performance at our H&A banquet.
2/16/93 YOUR ROVING REPORTER SAM COLLIER
HOUSTON FIRST IN US IN PATENTS
A computer study of the 1991 patents by Cox News Service (see Austin American Statesman 1/24/93) shows Houston first in US cities with 756 patents while Austin was seventh with 340. Others were 2. Rochester-532; 3. NYC-455; 4. San Diego-413;5. San Jose-410;and 6.Cincinnati-347.
Tokyo was first world wide with 3462; Houston fifth with three Japanese cities ahead. So the Japanese are working hard and getting results.
I browsed through several weekly Patent Gazettes and noted that most of their patents are assigned to an employer; most of ours are as well, but individuals are well represented. At times the firm will apply for every disclosure; the Japanese are reported to apply for many small "improvement"patents which we would call suggestion for improvements and not file. With the new high cost of over $7000 in government fees, individuals are likely to opt for filing on items that are salable.
Many of Houston's patents are medical , space or petroleum related. Kudos to you if yours is among them. The ASME Petroleum Division just presented the 1993 Silver Patent Award to Joe H. Hynes of Cooper Oil Tools for over 25 patents on well completion and associated equipment. Cheers to Joe.
These statistics are of interest as Houston is clearly doing something right in innovation. Both the Houston Inventors Association and the STS of ASME have made an effort to bring our concerns about high fees to the appropriate Senate and Congressional Committees. We encourage you to help bring this to the attention of our Washington lawmakers as innovation often seems low on the list of priorities.
2/16/93 YOUR REP NATIONAL INVENTOR'S HALL OF FAME SAM COLLIER
75th Anniversary History Book
The book on STS History since 1919 passed out at the April 21, 1994 GALA was a sort of landmark for the section. The 210 pages contained the story of activities from 1919 to 1994, but more important, it contained the names of a big percent of the people that served to make it all happen. They served as officers, committee members, in study groups,on seminars, as speakers and as winners of awards from the 50's - students et a; and included a full member list.
Of course some were missed and there are errors. A volunteer group without an office ( we lost the storage space in HESS long ago) has had a problem retaining the material. It appears that we did not have a history function until the mid 70's and archiving has not been at the top of the job description for most. Lately, we have asked for gifts of past records and still need to do this to fill in the blanks. We will have more "History" in the future; perhaps we can set up an annual report to the historian. Boiling the story down to an interesting report is the trick that a pile of financial reports won't do. So, for now, let's say that's the way the history of the next 25 years will be as we look ahead to the section centennial in 2019.
PS. If you missed the GALA, you can order a copy from Kathy Smith for $10.00 After all, you are likely to be in it - maybe even in a photo.
April 1994 Sam Collier, STS Historian
GTKY, A NEW CHAIRMAN
In 1963, Phil Carpentier's dad was transferred to Washington State; Phil attended high school there and then figuratively speaking got a degree in math and followed that up with an ME degree. He worked at Boeing - attending school at night - taking longer but getting a more mature education.
Phil met Cassandra and they had a honeymoon en route to a new position in Houston at Shell in '81. Being the diligent student that he is, Phil again hit night school at UH for Masters in '83 & '87.
Bob Holmes suggested the ASME committee and Phil decided this was a spot where he could help make a difference - be of real service and he made a start as Member Interest Chairman. This has blossomed into his life hobby, and the section likes it.
Phil and Cassandra were in a new home in Katy in '84 when we met at dinner at Vargo's ( she was expecting ) to talk about H&H programs.They now have three and were upset when he was transferred to New Orleans last year. They had sold the home when the good fairy changed orders and returned him to Houston. Lucky family, they were able to cancel the sale and stay in their home.
Now, Phil is '94-'95 Section Chairman, a member of the Petroleum Division Executive Committee, and is father of the Plant & Maintenance Technical Chapter.
Phil has found that the benefits received and brought back to the employer far exceeds the time and money spent with ASME.
He is currently Shell Facilities Engineer on surface production equipment - and so, welcome to our new leader.
April 1994 Roving Reporter Sam Collier
.
To the EDITOR
April 20, 1994
ASME NEWS
345 E 47th Street
New York, NY 10017
Dear MR. Jay O'Leary
RE: FELLOWS Industry vs. Collegiate
Some encourage needs to be given to potential nominators.
1. It is difficult to know "significant engineering accomplishment" in industry - but, it really just requires some attention to what one's colleagues have done plus a willingness to do the work involved in a nomination.
2. "members" have a respect for the "FELLOW" grade and are reluctant to presume that they should make a nomination. But, those who are fellows could be more observant and pick up the pace.
3. please see page 171 of the South Texas Section History Book for its 75th Anniversary. This section introduction tries to encourage nominations.
I think those in education keep better informed about their peers and do the necessary work to nominate them. Those in industry could do it as well with a little more steam. There are certainly a large number of experts who have done significant work and we need to notice who they are and nominate them.
Yours in Technical Fellowship,
Samuel L. Collier
A History of THE SOUTH TEXAS SECTION 1919-1994
May 1, 1994
Judith Cobb
ASME Southern Regional Office
1950 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 5037C
Dallas, TX 75207
Subject: A History of THE SOUTH TEXAS SECTION 1919-1994
Thanks for the help with material for our history. Please see section 15 starting on page 171.
The 210 page volume turned out to be a lot of work, but it seems that a lot of folks like the results even with errors and omissions. It is hard to keep a clean record system over 75 years. We have found that we can reorder small batches and mail them out if anyone wants one for $10.00 ordered from Kathy Smith.
Thanks again.
Samuel L. Collier
History & Heritage Ch. STS
GTKY - Frank Adamek
Little did UH know it had turned out an Engineer of the engineers in 1972 when Frank carried off his sheep skin from the ME department.
But Shelley knew it and became his wife at a 1973 ceremony at Mt Carmel. They have a beautiful family in Elisa and Melonie and all planned a dream home that came to be in 1989. Remember the Xmas party with the string quartet at the head of the spiral stairs, all inside a crystal palace on a winter wonderland street, Cedar Lawn in Baywood, that decorates with lights to make it day.Frank is really a family man- he took all on a Carribean cruise last summer , then RVed to Colorado at Xmas. He learned to snow ski at 37 and it is his great hobby.
Adamek has been in the middle of ABB Vetco Grey's Seals and Connections projects with key posts in the metal O-ring for the space shuttle change to replace the burned up elastomer failure and later in the use of their Expert System software on the Hubble rework as Program Manager. He has recently been promoted to Manager of R&D.
Frank has been doing outstanding ASME work too. He worked up to STS chairman in 1988-89 and did it a second time in 89-90 when Bob Holmes found greener pastures away from Houston. And that was the time Frank was a co- founder of the Crawfish Boil joint ASME UH venture at OTC.He has been called to Petroleum Division duty first on the Manufacturers committee, then on the Exec committee and is 1994 ETCE Conference Chairman in New Orleans.
Frank has organized sessions on Seals & Connections, given five technical papers and has nine patents in this technology.
Family and woodwork are hobbies, but he is an experimenter, his set of well drilling equipment got him down to 60 feet where he hit water.
Look for Frank at the Science Fair; he is doing our share in grand fashion helping young people get interested in engineering. Now this is a guy you should all know- look him up at the next meeting.
January 1994 Roving Reporter Sam Collier
January 20, 1994
NOMINATION FORM
Nominee Information:
Nominee Name: Frank C. Adamek
Company: ABB Vetco Grey
Award Nominated for: Dean Woolrich ENGINEER of the YEAR
Nominated By: Name Samuel L. Collier
Description of achievements:
1. FOR exemplary work in the design, development, and use of SEALS & CONNECTIONS in the oil industry and in the space program( application of metal O-ring to replace the failed elastomeric seals in the space shuttle and application of EXPERT SYSTEMS in the Hubble rework program.
2. FOR exemplary work in ASME in the STS, all committees plus two terms as Chairman; and in the Petroleum Division as Chairman of the Manufacturers Committee, then on the executive committee for five years; currently ETCE Conference Chairman for 1994.
plus significant professional work in API and other standards organization.
3. FOR technical leadership in industry and the presentation of six papers on SEAL & CONNECTION TECHNOLOGY and for the nine US Patents issued in this area.
HIS WORK AND EXPERTISE HAS RESULTED IN GREAT HONOR FOR THE PROFESSION AND ASME.
ATTACHED: 3 pages listing details on the above along with a personal column of recognition.
Keith Thayer
Keith Thayer is a real family man that gave a lot of time to ASME. He hails from Arizona, but did a lot of growing in Kansas where he attended Kansas state and graduated near the top of his class in 1950, a ripe young ME. He worked for Phillips on HVAC systems for a year; and then came to Houston with Foster Wheeler and switched to Raymond Jenkins the next year before starting a life career with Stubbs-Overbeck. Keith had a fun engineering career in all kind of process work , design, and construction all over US and the world. He moved up to VP and then President and today he is on the Board of CPI and is President of Stubbs-Overbeck, a subsidary.
Keith and his wife Ruth, a teacher + , really great family makers with 8 children and a family that added up to 53? On this year's Xmas card. They have done all kinds of things together, Keith makes stuff and they love friends at home parties. His self made deck spans around the back yard overlooking Sharpstown Golf course and serves a whopping crowd .
Sure they have both been giving to ASME. Thayer was a Professional Group Chairman in 1958 & '59 under Chairman Raz Rasmussin of UH and under '59 Chairman Bud Abbott. He was right in the heart of thing in the ideas of the '60's on Study Groups and Technical Fellowship. He has given talks and written articles on these ideas and promoted them through ASME. But in 1966-67 he kept the idea alive with 5 Study groups during his year as STS Chairman.
He moved along in ASME in the Region X and especially in the Petroloum Division which became dear to his heart with lasting Technical Fellowship. He was Chairman in 1984 and played an important roll in forming ETCE and in upgrading our relations with OTC with new PD events to back its total program.
He has served as a member of the ASME Board of Govenors and was recognized as an ASME FELLOW in 1984 . Now he has been elected President of ASME.
The STS can be proud of the great members who have become President: They include Allen Rhodes, Andy Lewis and Dick Robertson. Watch for them at a meeting near you, perhaps this year's Award Dinner. Keith will have one of those new fangled reverse hand shakes or , if you mention Williamsburg, Virginia, he may "MAKE A LEG" like they teach you there. He is an engineer you should GTK (Get to Know).
I Know him
Your STS Roving Reporter
Sam Collier
HISTORY BRIEF '79-'80
Dr. Bill Graff, our section Chairman in 1979-80 has now been retired 10 years, has bouts of angina but is on his third restoration of Model T's. I asked if they were all black and he said this is more like the Newsletters he had each month, personally , of different colors; so this Model T is forest green but the fenders are still black, so Henry can rest in peace. Bill's wife RUBY chimed in that the green was better looking.
The pack of Newsletters that I discovered told a lot about those colorful years in a different color each meeting. Bill invited the 3102 members and asked the inactive ones to attend the May 1 1980 meeting at the Rice University Faculty Club to celebrate the ASME birthday, the Centennial in a bright orange Newsletter.
Lots of special events filled the year: a Student Day in Industry worked up by Dr. Larry Morgan;A FUN RUN, an ASME first held on May 1, was organized by Ellis Munoz and Reid McNally. The green NL in April announced a tour of U.S. Steel in Baytown and the yellow May issue had a map and note to Bring Your Own Hard Hat. Tours were a way to end the year in the 70's. That tour ended with dinner at the Crossing Restrauant at Lynchburg for $9.75. Munoz later finished law at UH and is now in practice in Conroe.
Clint Britt eagerly held our first short course on PV & Piping , a two day affair. Clint , Prof. Doug Muster and Bill Graff worked it up at a meeting at the old Helena Motel.
The section had a turnaround of officers in June at the Fisherman's Warf on Richmond Ave. with 80% attendance. You may recognize some of the names: Conrad Smith, Ross Kastor, Fred Stoerkel, Joe Fowler, Reid McNally, Al Woelfel, and others we still see taking an active part.
So, ASME had a bang up centennial right here that year with the STS.
And Thats how it was.
H&H Emeritus Ch. Sam Collier
HISTORY BRIEF 1980- 1981
Reid McNally started his year as chairman in '80 with a bang- A Shrimp Boil at the Lone Star Brewery. It had a Solar energy system to produce some of the steam and was described by Danny Deffenbough of SWRI ( Those were the days of the energy crunch and Solar was an "in" thing.).
A Blockbuster meeting in November featured Dr. Edward Teller- Father of
the H bomb. The meeting was held on a Monday, not SOP for the STS, at the
Marriott- Astrodome. A special dinner like this was $12.50 for brisket of
beef in the good old days.In the 1980 summer, on July 16 during SPACE WEEK, a National Mechanical Engineering Landmark ceremony was held for the Saturn V Rocket ( World's largest at the time ) . It lifted the 45 ton Apollo Spacecraft to the moon. This took place in Houston, at Kennedy and in Alabama in a combined ceremony (audio).
The January meeting was another Shrimp Boil at HESS. The speaker was Professor Constant from my alma mater Carnegie Mellon University who recounted the mechanics of oil production in the 1880's in Pennsylvania. The operators crossed the woods in crotches of tree limbs. Constant teaches at CMU at this time per his Xmas card.
The November NL was full of photos of the Dr. Edward Teller special.
GM's Charles Elder spoke in February on the automobile's effect on future lifestyle. AT the Honors meeting in March, the Dean Woolrich Engineer of the year award went to Ellis Munoz who was also a UH law student. And a FUN RUN topped off the year's big events .
Hats off to Reid McNally, Joe Fowler, Clint Britt, Conrad Smith, and Ellis Munoz for a year to remember.
That's how it was in 1980, so let's do it again.
Historian Emeritus
Sam Collier
SALUTE THE PETROLEUM GROUPS 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Hank Meredith, '56 Section Chairman was assigned or decided to start up a new group of ME's etc.' in the petroleum industry. He got it all going in 1957 with a meeting at the Houston Club- a luncheon meeting starting at noon- a speaker, quick discussion and back to work promptly.
The first meeting speaker from SWRI covered timely drill pipe work that was good for the oil field. Oil field equipment was the topic of choice in those years. Hank asked what I was doing; it was reciprocating mud pump testing. So, I gave the second talk and a taped record of pump knock. Both meetings brought out a big crowd, this one was 140 attendees.
That's the way the GROUP has functioned for 40 years. Hank was the father and it has had ups & downs just like the oil industry. The group has been lucky to have many father figures to take up slack and pull it along such as Herb Hodgeman, Ross Kastor, Conrad Smith, Frank Adamek, Benton Baugh and more And these guys have often been chairman of the STS Section and the Petroleum Division.
In ancient history,in the 20's, the Division had such very active groups in every major oil industry city, 13 of them, but they all failed in the depression and WWII.
Many of the division committee members started in this group- some became PD Chairman including Hank Meredith, Allen Rhodes, John Ortloff, Ross Kastor, Al Woelfel, Frank Adamek, Benton Baugh and recently Joe Fowler made the list. Yours truly was on the PD executive committee twice.
The meetings developed lots of personal contacts from the fast paced meeting-even eating the gingerbread at the Houston Club and waiting for the car parkers to go up the chain elevator to retrieve parked autos.
Meetings were held at the Houston Club from the start until 1980 when a switch was made to the Galeria Plaza, then the Westin Galleria until 1989 when a move was made to the Anchorage at the Brookhollow Hilton. The sessions are now at the Ramada on Katy Freeway just off the loop.
The Petroleum Group has been its defacto self although it has had some other names such as the Memorial Subsection, but that kind of confusion hopefully is history. The GROUP has been a font of TECHNICAL FELLOWSHIP bring all kinds of ME's and associates together to increase knowledge and to benefit the OIL industry. KUDOS to all the participants for 40 good years; Thanks Hank.
HISTORY & HERITAGE
Sam Collier
Notes about this Website This website is Under Development and will continue to evolve for South Texas Members. This is posted on ASME servers. The contents and format of this site were suggested by the Cleveland Section website which may be found, along with many other fine examples at ASME Mechlinks site.
Sam Collier has been able to retrieve many stories published in our STS Newsletter. These will be organized for easier access on this page someday soon. Many thanks to Sam for all he has done.
Please send all feedback/correction/omission/suggestions to stswebmaster .
Our goal is to make this STS site reasonably useful and active asap. Thank you for your help.
All Officers and Members are requested to submit content.
Please send stswebmaster email with attached files in Word or text to include on this site.
Enjoy!
www.asme.org/sections/sts/sts.html
Last updates were on April 01, 2000.
Please email comments to stswebmaster
© Copyright 1999 by ASME South Texas Section. All rights reserved.
ASME International
Codes and Standards
Public Affairs
Government Relations
History & Heritage
Petroleum Divsion
Southern Regional Office
Great International Southwest
Region X
South Texas Section
The mission of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers is to promote and enhance the technical competency and professional well-being of our members, and through quality programs and activities in mechanical engineering, better enable its practitioners to contribute to the well-being of humankind.