Tau Bates’ Achievements: Past & Present

The National Aviation Hall of Fame held its 2009 Enshrinement Ceremony in Dayton, Ohio, on July 18.

Edward H. White, II, MI G ’52, was one of five inducted as part of the Class of 2009. White is remembered for making the first American spacewalk as part of the Gemini IV space mission. White tragically lost his life in the Apollo I spacecraft fire in 1967. Learn more about The National Aviation Hall of Fame Class of 2009.

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Fellow distinguished Tau Beta Pi member, John S. Barry (MN A ’45), passed away earlier this month at the age of 84.

Barry was president of the WD-40 Company from 1969-1990. Under his leadership the company, originally named the Rocket Chemical Company (1953), flourished into a global household product.

Barry was responsible for renaming the company WD-40, for “water displacement, formulation successful in 40th attempt.”
His protection of the secret formula and marketing strategy have led to the discovery of at least 2,000 uses for the “petroleum-based lubricant protectant created for the space program.”
Read the full obituary from The New York Times.

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Current President of Bohannan Huston Inc., Brian G. Burnett (NM B ’78), joined in remembering the history and achievements of the company that began in 1959 with the growth of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The company survived multiple recessions, changing business strategies, and tragedy. However, intelligent decisions, such as investing in a “mainframe computer” in the 1978, have kept the company progressing for 50 years.

Read the article for more history of Bohannan Huston from the Albuquerque Journal.

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