THE EARL F. KAUFFMAN AWARD
Each
Spring the Academy for Lifelong Learning honors group or individual that has made significant contributions
to the Academy. This award is given in memory of Dr. Earl F. Kauffman
who was one of the individuals most responsible for the creation of the
Academy for Lifelong Learning back in 1989.
To learn more about Dr. Kauffman and the founding of the Academy for Lifelong Learning, please see our Early History document. |
DOUG WILSON
By Larry Peyser, Academy Past President
You know this year’s honoree, Doug Wilson, as Editor since 2008 of the Academy's newsletter, The
Spiral.Do you also know that Doug served on the 2007 Nominating Committee and contributes articles on the Academy to the Aiken Standard Mature Times? During his spare time this academic year he has coordinated and documented updates to the Academy By-Laws and Policies and Procedures.
These contributions plus his untiring willingness to help whenever and wherever he is asked to support the Academy and its efforts have all driven the Board’s decision to recognize Doug this year.
After
graduating from Purdue University with a degree in Mechanical
Engineering, Doug joined and served Dow Chemical Corporation for the
next 32 years. He spent his entire career in the production, development, and technical support of foam plastic products. He worked to
become a globally recognized expert in the field of cushioned
packaging utilizing Dow's polyethylene foam products. As such he was called upon to develop and implement
in-house and industry training programs, speak to Government,
Industry and Education organizations, solve customer technical problems, and develop computer software
to ease the burden of designing packaging using Dow's products.
Doug
met his wife Sherry while he and she were students at Purdue. His
work assignments with Dow caused them to live in Michigan and Ohio where
Sherry served as a school teacher over a period of twenty-five years.
After
retirement they purchased a fifth wheel trailer and toured several
areas of the country. They spent one summer working at Yellowstone
National Park where they put together a photo album and narrative you can view at members.toast.net/fdw/ynp.
They moved to Aiken in 2004 partly on the strength of the fact that
the University offered programs in continuing education.
Doug
enjoys photography as you will see by visiting the web site cited
above, as well as music of many genres. Over the years he and Sherry
have traveled and hiked extensively in the Rockies. As for golf, he readily admits
to a ‘pathetically high handicap’.
