1989 Distinguished Service Citation

You praise Beloit and faculty members Ivan Stone, Clarence Von Eschen, and Kirk Denmark for the special attention they provided to help transform “an academically rusty” Air Force veteran of World War II into a highly successful businessman. You began your post-graduation career as a machine tool division pricing administrator at the Sunstrand Corporation in Rockford before answering the call to entrepreneurial adventure in Anchorage, where you helped organize the Alaska Brick Company and managed it to prominence as a major supplier of concrete and specialty items. In 1976, you sold the firm and turned to aviation, joining Wien Air Alaska as president and chief operations officer and eventually serving as chairman and owner. A decade later, you undertook another challenge as chairman and chief executive officer of Virgo Investments, Inc., a venture capital corporation. Throughout your business career, you have willingly shared your considerable talents and energies by serving on the boards of directors of two universities, a fine arts museum, hospital, bank, opera association, YMCA, and Red Cross – leadership efforts which have earned you status as a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow and major community honors. Your Alma Mater likewise has benefitted from your wise counsel and dedicated service as a Board of Trustees member and from the generous commitment you and your wife Joan, also a Beloit graduate, made to the new Sports Center’s main arena, which bears your names. In recognition of your impressive career achievements and vigorous support of higher education, Beloit College proudly awards you this citation on the occasion of your 40^th Class Reunion.