Past award recipient bios as they appeared in that year's event program (*deceased)
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT: *Dr. Jack E. Crow, ‘62 BES
An accomplished physicist and a pioneer in the field of magnetics, Dr. Jack E. Crow holds a bachelor of engineering science degree, magna cum laude, from the Fenn College of Engineering and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Rochester.
After graduation, he spent six years at the Brookhaven National Laboratoryin Upton, NY, as an associate and assistant physicist. From 1973 through 1989, he was affiliated with Temple University as assistant professor, professor, chair of the physics department, and director of the Center for Materials Research. During this period, he also served as director of the Solid State Physics Program for the National Science Foundation and director of the Ben Franklin Superconductivity Center, a consortium of Drexel University, Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania.
In 1989, Dr. Crow joined Florida State University, as director of the Center for Materials Research and Technology and professor of physics. Working with co-principal investigators from the University of Florida and Los Alamos National Laboratory, Dr. Crow led the efforts that brought the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) to Florida State. Previously, the lab was at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The NHMFL, funded by the National Science Foundation and the state of Florida, is a user laboratory that provides state-of-the-art facilities for magnet-related research in all areas of science and engineering. It is one of nine such labs in the world and the only one in the Western Hemisphere. Universities, industry and governments throughout the world use the lab. Dr. Crow has served as director since 1992. He lives in Florida.
GEORGE B. DAVIS AWARD: Kenwood H. Hall, ‘74 BEE
Kenwood H. Hall holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Fenn College of Engineering. He has been a member of the College’s Visiting Committee since 1996, serving as chairman since 1999.
Mr. Hall has provided counsel and assistance on many fronts – suggesting innovative student recruitment strategies that have been implemented; helping the College develop a strategic plan and win program accreditation; serving on the search committee that brought Dean Charles Alexander to campus; and introducing the dean to the business community and securing his involvement in key partnerships.
He has been very involved in the development of Fenn’s computer engineering program and instrumental in securing much-needed equipment and software donations, valued at over $300,000, for the College.
In tribute to the work of faculty and students, Hall states, “Rockwell Automation has hired many students from Cleveland State University in areas that deal with application engineering and customer service because the students have had a very intense practical background with “hands-on” equipment. They come to us well-trained and ready to go to work. Cleveland State University focuses on teaching the fundamentals and practical aspects of the job. We have found Cleveland State University students to be very well motivated and very well educated.”
A native Clevelander who lives in Hudson, Mr. Hall has worked for more than 25 years in engineering and engineering management for Keithley Instruments, Picker International, Inc., Firestone Tire and Rubber, Allen-Bradley and Rockwell Automation, where he is vice president of architecture and systems advanced technology.
CIVIC ACHIEVEMENT: Hon. Patricia A. Hemann, ‘80 JD
The Honorable Patricia A. Hemann, Magistrate Judge, United States District Court of the Northern District of Ohio, holds a law degree, summa cum laude, from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. While there, she served as editor of the Law Review.
After graduating, she was a law clerk for the United States District Court Judge William K. Thomas for two years. She then practiced law for 11 years at Hahn Loeser & Parks, where she became a partner and member of the board of directors, making her one of the first women in the Cleveland area to serve on the management committee of a major law firm. She was appointed to the Magistrate Judge position in 1993. A highly respected jurist, she is known for her ability to handle complex litigation suits, as well as her ability to get parties to agree to a settlement.
Judge Hemann has been a trustee and chair of the Justice for All Committee of the Cleveland Bar Association. She is a member of the American, Federal, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and Ohio Women’s bar associations. She also is a member of the William K. Thomas Professionalism Award from the Cleveland Bar Association, one of the highest honors bestowed upon a member of the legal profession in Northeast Ohio. She also is the recipient of the Ohio Women’s Bar Associations’ Distinguished Service Award and was named one of the 10 Outstanding Women in the Law by the Cleveland Bar Association.
For nine years, Judge Hemann was a member of the College of Law’s Visiting Committee. But her volunteerism is not limited to the legal arena. Weekly during the school year, she reads to kindergarten students at Marion-Sterling School near downtown Cleveland. Recently, she spearheaded a project to donate books and raise money for Cleveland Municipal School students in kindergarten through sixth grade. More than $6,500 was raised and 2,000 books donated.
She lives in Shaker Heights.
EMERGING LEADERSHIP: Valarie J. McCall, ‘95 BA/’97 MPA
Valarie J. McCall holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Cleveland State University, as well as a master’s in public administration from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs. She has served as clerk of Cleveland City Council for the past year and is the youngest person to ever hold this position.
As clerk, Ms. McCall is responsible for guiding the administrative functions of the staff of Cleveland City Council, ensuring legislation is processed according to city laws, and keeping records of all council proceedings and meetings.
For two years, Ms. McCall was director of the Cleveland Empowerment Zone, a $200 million initiative to spearhead economic development in four of Cleveland’s most economically depressed neighborhoods Fairfax, Glenville, Hough and Midtown. Her work led to dramatic increases in housing, retail, commercial, industrial and work-force development.
Ms. McCall also managed real estate and business development for MidTown Cleveland, and was regional manager for the Cleveland Industrial Retention Initiative.
A lifelong Clevelander, she serves on the boards of Look Up to Cleveland and Northcoast Community Homes and is a member of the International, Ohio and Northeast Ohio municipal clerk associations.
Ms. McCall recently received an American Marshall Memorial Fellowship, which provides three weeks of study in Europe to educate the next generation of American leaders on the importance of trans-Atlantic relations. In 2001, she was one of Crain’s Cleveland Business’ “40 Under 40” and was named to Kaleidoscope Magazine’s 40/40 Club in 2002. She also has been featured in Ebony Magazine.
Ms. McCall is an active member in her community, as well as her church, Solomon’s Temple, Church of God in Christ.
LIFETIME LEADERSHIP: *Bertram L. Wolstein, ‘53 JD/’06 LL.D.
Developer Bert Wolstein holds a law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He is involved with numerous community, civic and educational organizations and is internationally recognized for his philanthropic efforts.
In 1965, Mr. Wolstein founded Developers Diversified Realty Corp., which became the nation’s top developer of neighborhood shopping centers. He continues to serve as chairman emeritus. He also is general partner of The Wolstein Group, and since 1997 has served as chairman and chief executive officer of Heritage Development Co.
Mr. Wolstein was the principal owner and president of the Cleveland Force soccer team from 1979 to 1988 and one of the bidders in the effort to bring the Cleveland Browns back to town.
His support for higher education includes Cleveland-Marshall, which received funds for a planning study to reconfigure the former law library space. Funds that remain after completion of the study will be used to establish the Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Scholarship Fund. He also funded a $1.5 million conference center and locker room at The Ohio State University and has given Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management $2.5 million to create an endowed chair and renovate the home of its undergraduate program into the Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Hal. United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland’s rehabilitation center is named the Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center in recognition of their philanthropy. Most recently, he pledged $25 million to a new medical research center that will be run by University Hospitals and CWRU.
Mr. Wolstein has served as general co-chairman of the Jewish Welfare Fund and is a trustee of Solomon Schechter Day School and Park Synagogue. He and Iris were the first spouses to receive the B’Nai Brith Humanitarian Award/President’s Gold Medallion for outstanding service.
In 2001, he received a Distinguished Service Award from the Cleveland Theater District Development Corporation for development of the Renaissance office tower at Playhouse Square the first new construction in the theater district in 60 years.
He lives in Pepper Pike.