Memorial Tributes Volume 23 (2021) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
WALTER L. ROBB
WALTER L. ROBB
Pages 250-259
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 251... ...
He and his wife endowed two scholarships as well as the chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering. He also provided support and an endowment to the Engineering Leadership Development program in the School of Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs, focused on helping students develop leadership skills.
|
From page 252... ...
When enough progress had been made to transfer development to a pilot operation to scale up his work to deposit a zirconium coating on full-sized Hanford fuel elements, Walt launched a new research project to separate plutonium isotopes. That soon led to his appointment to head the design of a thermal diffusion plant for the Savannah River nuclear plant to produce tritium.
|
From page 253... ...
After he solved several production issues, tests showed that the film allowed carbon dioxide to permeate 5 times as fast as oxygen, and oxygen to permeate twice as fast as nitrogen. These rates were not dissimilar to the permeation rate of human lung tissue and fish gills.
|
From page 254... ...
They took his advice, and Jack was launched on a fabulous career trajectory that led from chemical engineering to business management and, eventually, to his position as chair and chief executive officer of General Electric, a job he held from 1981 until he retired 20 years later. By late 1971 Jack, who had followed Reuben Gutoff as head of the Chemical and Metallurgical Division, was GE's youngest division manager.
|
From page 255... ...
Despite competitive pressures and a restless workforce, Walt turned the business around by increasing production and reinvigorating the sales and distribution network. When Reg Jones, GE's chair at the time, decided to split GE Plastics off into its own division, Walt was named to replace Jack, who was promoted to group executive.
|
From page 256... ...
The lessons learned during these exciting CT development days were transferable several years later to the equally stunning success of the joint Corporate R&D Center/GE Medical Systems development of high-field magnetic resonance imaging. Walt was key to both wins -- a scientist who was uniquely qualified to take a small, unexciting, marginally profitable x-ray business and turn it into a hugely successful medical imaging powerhouse with a worldwide reach.
|
From page 257... ...
Vantage provided not only critical funding but also access to Walt's vast reservoir of business experience. Some reports suggest he may have invested as much as $20 million in startups in New York's capital region alone to "keep the local talent at home." He also owned two minor league sports franchises -- the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League and the Albany Conquest of Arena Football 2 League -- and served on the board of Double H Ranch, a retreat for developmentally disabled and terminally ill children.
|
From page 258... ...
Throughout his career Walt was the perfect man for the job because his many attributes aligned perfectly with the chal lenges at hand. He persevered even when everyone else was discouraged and advising caution.
|
From page 259... ...
WALTER L ROBB 259 He is survived by his wife of more than 66 years, Anne (née Gruver)
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.