Faith
Integrity
Diligence
Excellence
Service
Winter 2014
Vol. 77, No. 2
Entered as Periodical
at Post Office, Media, Pa.
The Williamsonian
A PUBLICATION for alumni and friends of The Williamson School
Rounds Installed As 13th
Williamson President
Michael J. Rounds (center), Williamson’s 13th president, faces the flag with
(from left to right) former presidents Barry G. Schuler and Paul A. Reid, and
class presidents Eric Gardner 1W4 and Matt Roy 1W5, during his installation,
which was part of the 123rd Convocation in September.
Tremendous Boost Moves
Energy Island Project Forward
The Energy Island Project got a tremendous boost recently when $200,000
from the Energy Island fund was allocated for the purchase of a variety of
new power plant equipment from Delval Equipment Corp., headquartered in
Valley Forge, announced John Beaudry,
director of power plant technology.
Beaudry said, “This is a great leap
forward for the Energy Island Project.
Everyone involved in the project is very
excited that we are moving forward and
getting this new equipment.”
Being purchased for both boilers will
be controls, Lo-NOx burners, economizers, boiler fans, and straight up
stacks. The project includes installation,
removal of the old horizontal breaching, and adding modulating control
valves and piping.
Thomas Ott, P.E., has been designated
project manager and installation will be
completed by Williamson alumni who
Continued on page 3
The two students in this 2009 photo taken at Exelon’s Eddystone Generating
Station are working in a power plant control room similar to what Williamson’s
control room will look like after being refurbished.
With two past presidents and many
trustees and guests on hand to usher
him in, Michael J. Rounds was installed
as Williamson’s 13th president during
the 123rd Convocation on Sept. 17.
The day began with a breakfast in
the Sabia Garden followed by guests attending the student lineup. Facing the
flagpole, standing in front of students
and guests, were President Rounds, and
former presidents Barry G. Schuler and
Paul A. Reid, and Eric Gardner, president of the Class of 1W4, and Matt Roy,
president of the Class of 1W5.
The group then moved to the chapel where, after being introduced by
Board Chairman Wayne Watson 4W8,
Rounds addressed the audience saying,
“I feel honored, privileged, and blessed
to be the new president of the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades.
Mary Nell and I are excited to be part of
such a great mission and such a special
group of people that accomplish that
mission every day.”
He then introduced his parents, Craig
and JoAnne Rounds, who traveled from
Minnesota to attend the installation,
Gwen Thompson, who was his mother’s
college roommate and “filled the role of
my local mom the four years I was a cadet at West Point,” and Dr. Kip Nygren,
president of the Wyoming Seminary in
Wyoming, Pa.
He went on to say that after retiring
from the Army he didn’t expect to find a
place like West Point Prep. “What other
place would have their students line up
for formation first thing every morning
and be inspected for their haircut, shave,
and shoeshine? What other place would
require students to clean their room every morning and penalize students who
were late? What other place would require their students to spend their free
time on the weekend paying back their
debt to society for the grievous offenses
of being late? Most importantly, what
other place would talk about core values
that include integrity, selfless service,
respect, sacrifice, and honor? I didn’t
expect to ever find another place like
that — until I visited Williamson for
the first time. I found all those things
here — and even more! I discovered the
West Point of trade schools!”
He said 125 years ago Isaiah Williamson saw the enormous potential
in “the noble idea of creating a school
to provide financially disadvantaged
young men the opportunity to become
productive and respected members of
society by learning a trade. Many things
about the school have changed over the
years, but the mission and core values
have remained the same.
“My challenge to everyone assembled
here today is to ask you to join me in
a renewed commitment to serve as we
continue to advance Mr. Williamson’s
noble vision. Mary Nell [his wife] and
I are excited and enthusiastic about the
future of this unique and wonderful institution and look forward to working
with all of you as we continue the great
work of our predecessors and move this
school forward into the future.”
In his opening remarks, Thomas Wisneski, vice president of education, said
“Our new president will take us to places we can’t imagine. We are marking the
passage of 125 years since Isaiah V. Williamson founded the
Continued on page 4
Inside
President’s Message..... 2
Flower Show.................. 3
New Faces...................... 4
Seal Designer................. 6
Class of 1W6................ 7
Giving Back.................... 9
125 Pride................... 10
Alumni Events............ 11
Class Notes..........12-21
Obituaries.................. 19
Shop Notes................ 22
Sports....................... 23
Homecoming ’13........ 24