Four graduates who have helped Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in its
student recruitment, career services, alumni programs and national attention for
their alma mater received the 2003 Honor Alumni Award during the Homecoming
Alumni Awards Brunch in the Hulman Union.
Receiving the award from Alumni Association President Owen Meharg were James
Coles, Ernest Davidson, William Lindstaedt and Greg Smith.
The Honor Alumni Award is presented by the Rose-Hulman Alumni Association to
graduates whose professional achievements or service to the alumni association
have contributed to the continued development of the college.
James Coles
Coles is a noted patent, trademark and copyright attorney who has served as a
classroom lecturer at Rose-Hulman and adviser to faculty and student project
teams. He also assists students in their career planning. A native of Columbus,
Ind., Coles earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from
Rose-Hulman in 1969. He also is a graduate of the St. Louis University School of
Law. Coles is a partner with the Indianapolis-based law firm of Bose, McKinney &
Evans. He chairs the firm's Intellectual Property Group.
Ernest Davidson
Davidson has brought national recognition to his alma mater through his
groundbreaking research in the area of quantum chemistry which led to him being
awarded the National Medal of Science from President George W. Bush in 2002.
Davidson has served on the Rose-Hulman Department of Chemistry Advisory Board.
In 1998, Davidson received an honorary doctor of engineering degree from
Rose-Hulman for his contributions to chemical education and research. He has had
an illustrious career in higher education, serving as a distinguished professor
of chemistry at Indiana University, and as a faculty member at the universities
of Washington and North Carolina. Davidson received the Heminway Medal as the
top student in his class when he received a B.S. degree in chemical engineering
from Rose-Hulman in 1958. He earned the Ph.D. in chemistry from Indiana
University.
Bill Lindstaedt
Lindstaedt, director of the Career Center at the University of California at San
Francisco, has been a successful class reunion chair and admissions volunteer
for Rose-Hulman. He was a counselor to Rose-Hulman students during his five
years as Director of Career Services at his alma mater. In that role, he also
enhanced Rose-Hulman's national reputation by increasing involvement between the
college and business and industry. He earned a bachelor of science degree in
chemical engineering from Rose-Hulman in 1986. He earned a master’s in college
administration and counseling psychology from Indiana University.
Greg Smith
Smith has been a corporate ambassador for Rose-Hulman during his tenure in
several executive management positions with Ford Motor Co. He oversees all
operations of Ford Credit worldwide which is the world's largest automotive
finance company. He is responsible for all regional sales offices, dealer
support operations, product development marketing and insurance. Smith is also
responsible for the worldwide operations of Hertz, the world's largest car
rental company that employees about 20,000 people. Smith earned a bachelor of
science degree in mechanical engineering from Rose-Hulman in 1973. He also
received an MBA from Eastern Michigan University.
