Winter 1996

Alumnus' estate provides $5 million for scholarships

Rose-Hulman has received a $5 million gift from the estate of alumnus Carl Carlson and his wife, Mildred, to provide new scholarships for its students.

The donation from the Cresskill, N.J., couple is the largest donation for scholarships the college has received. The gift will create the Carl and Mildred Carlson endowed scholarship fund.

As many as 50 Carlson scholarships may be awarded annually. The first Carlson scholarships were awarded in October.

The manufacturing laboratory in the Department of Mechanical Engineering will be named in honor of the Carlsons, according to Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert.

The gift was received following the recent death of Carlson’s wife. Carl Carlson died in 1986.

Carlson graduated with honors from Rose-Hulman in 1947. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Two years after graduation, Carlson formed Versa Products Co., Paramus, N.J., which is a leading international manufacturer of pneumatic and low pressure hydraulic directional control valves. He retired in 1980 as chairman of the board and president of the company.

"This generous gift will be a tremendous help to generations of academically talented students," Hulbert said. "The Carlsons were visionaries who realized the importance of providing future financial assistance to help students achieve their educational and career goals," he noted.

Carlson first studied at Rose-Hulman as part of the United States Army Specialized Training Program. After being discharged from the military in 1946, he returned to campus and completed requirements to earn a bachelor of science degree.

"The gift is another indication of the Carlsons’ lifelong commitment to education, according to Richard Sharkey, a longtime friend and legal counsel to the Carlsons.

"Carl was ever cognizant of the career opportunities his education presented, and often mentioned his gratitude to Rose-Hulman in that regard," Sharkey stated. "This gift was obviously given in recognition of that appreciation," said Sharkey, who is associated with the Sharkey & Campisi law firm in Roseland, N.J.

"Carl was an innovator and an outstanding engineer," said Karl Larsson, who is Carl Carlson’s brother-in-law. Larsson is president of Versa, and worked with Carlson to create the company.

Versa products are used in industrial process and high technology applications. In addition to its New Jersey headquarters, the company has a plant in Holland that serves the European and Middle East markets.

"The anti-extrusion valve Carl designed 45 years ago is still an industry leader and the company’s major product," Larsson noted. "It’s unusual for an industrial product to last that long."