Fletcher L. Byrom

In 2000, George Middlemas announced that he would donate a million dollars to the University Libraries in honor of his mentor, Fletcher L. Byrom and that the Earth and Mineral Sciences Library would be named in his honor. Born in Cleveland, OH on July 13, 1918, Mr. Byrom received a degree in metallurgy in 1940 from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State. He is a retired chairman and CEO of Koppers Co. He is past director of both the Institute for Advanced Study and the Hudson Institute, and past chairman of the Conference Board, the Committee for Economic Development, the President's Export Council, the Public Education Fund and AT International. He was president of the Penn Sate Alumni Association from 1965 to 1966 and served on the Penn State Board of Trustees from 1970 to1973.

Among the many awards received by Mr. Byrom are the Distinguished Civilian Service Award from the U.S. Navy Department, Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award, Penn State Chapter of ASM David Ford McFarland Award, Penn State Alumni Fellow Award, Penn State Distinguished Alumnus in 1963, and the Engineer's Society of Western PA William Metcalf Award.

In 1978, Time magazine wrote an article on Mr. Byrom, entitled, " Rebel with Many Causes."

Mr. Byrom died on July 23, 2009. His obituary enumerated his many achievements.

Some of Mr. Byrom's publications include:
"A message to my successor" Directors and Boards 23(3):32-40 (1999)
"Business in the Society of the Future" Tax Executive 31(2):89+ (Jan. 1979)
"Is Our Government Obsolescent" Nation's Business 63(5):76+ (May 1975)
"Creating Wealth for a Better World" The Conference Board Record 10(5):6+ (May 1973)