Monday, October 20, 2025
Media Contact:
Kristi Wheeler | Manager, CEAT Marketing and Communications | 405-744-5831 | [email protected]
The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University
has introduced the 2025 Hall of Fame and Hall of Fame with Lohmann Medal inductees.
Since 1954, CEAT’s Hall of Fame has acknowledged distinguished engineers, architects
and technologists who’ve made outstanding contributions within the fields of enterprise,
authorities and neighborhood, along with those that have made main contributions to
CEAT and OSU.
The Melvin R. Lohmann Medal was established in 1991 to acknowledge people for his or her
outstanding contributions in tutorial fields together with analysis, scholarship growth,
innovation and schooling within the fields of engineering, structure and expertise
and have made main contributions to CEAT and OSU.
The faculty will maintain a Hall of Fame and Lohmann Medal Ceremony on Nov. 1, 2025, to
honor the next inductees:
William S. (Steve) Bowers (Hall of Fame inductee), Dr. Delores M. Etter (Hall of Fame
inductee with Lohmann Medal), Jaime Lyle McAlpine (Hall of Fame inductee), and Eric
Rock (Hall of Fame inductee).
William S. (Steve) Bowers
Bowers earned a bachelor’s diploma in mechanical engineering from OSU in 1975 and a
grasp’s diploma in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University. Bowers is
a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Executive Program and is the recipient
of a number of U.S. and European patents.
In April 2021, Bowers was appointed CEO of the Slow Pass Bourbon Company. Prior, Bowers
spent five-plus years as a associate at Visionary Automotive Group and seven-plus years
at Federal-Mogul Corporation as a company officer and senior vice-president of gross sales
and advertising and marketing. His earlier profession was with General Motors and world automotive provider
Delphi Corporation.
During his profession, he was based mostly in Tokyo because the Asia-Pacific Regional Executive Director
for Delphi’s Powertrain, Chassis and Steering Divisions. He was accountable for the
revenue and loss of the unique gear producers and aftermarket companies,
inclusive of main the features of engineering, buying, operations, manufacturing,
gross sales and customer support within the markets of Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea
and Southeast Asia. Prior to that he labored as a powertrain chief engineer and spent
4 years as technical director of GM’s European Technical Center in Bascharage,
Luxembourg.
Motivating groups to increased efficiency finest describes his 38-year automotive profession.
Combining intensive worldwide and home government assignments in world product
engineering, program administration, buying, operations, and gross sales and advertising and marketing,
Bowers drove methods that considerably elevated gross sales, market share and constructive
earnings efficiency.
He efficiently led product design and engineering applications all through the world,
flawlessly introducing industry-first merchandise to market and led the design and constructing
of engineering facilities in Europe, South America and Tokyo. He has additionally developed vital
joint ventures and wholly owned operations in Asia Pacific to profitably improve market
place and customer support. For new manufacturing amenities in Australia, China,
India, Korea and Thailand, he led based mostly on the rules of “lean manufacturing.”
Recognized as a forward-thinking and results-oriented chief, Bowers directed world
groups and possesses huge data of worldwide enterprise, world automobile producers
and world markets. He established lasting relationships with key world {industry} leaders
and is broadly revered for his means to develop options that foster long-term
firm alliances.
Named an Outstanding MAE Senior throughout his undergraduate research, Bowers proves that
the teachings and management expertise gained in CEAT make an enduring distinction. He embodies
what it means to present again to his alma mater by way of mentorship, philanthropy and
advocacy, usually speaking concerning the impression his OSU mentors and professors had on his
life. He routinely returns to campus to share classes realized throughout his outstanding
profession within the automotive and bourbon industries in addition to offers funding for college kids
from the OSU Formula SAE racing crew to attend the Indianapolis 500 and sponsors scholarships
and innovation in CEAT.
Dr. Delores M. Etter
Etter was born in Denver and raised in Shidler, Oklahoma. She enrolled at OSU in 1965,
by no means contemplating one other college. Though her undergraduate schooling in the end
continued elsewhere as a consequence of her husband’s navy service, OSU formed her early path
and has remained central to her life’s journey, serving to her construct a profession outlined
by excellence in engineering, nationwide service and schooling.
Etter went on to earn her bachelor’s and grasp’s levels in arithmetic from Wright
State University and her doctoral diploma in electrical engineering from the University
of New Mexico. Soon after, she served in an educational function as an assistant and affiliate
professor at UNM, later becoming a member of the University of Colorado–Boulder as a professor
of electrical engineering. She additionally spent a 12 months as a visiting professor at Stanford
University. Over the years, she pioneered analysis in sign processing, biometrics
and engineering schooling, authoring 18 textbooks which have been utilized in school rooms
worldwide by 1000’s of engineers.
From 1998 to 2001, she served as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and
Technology, overseeing protection analysis on the Pentagon. She was later appointed assistant
secretary of the Navy for analysis, growth and acquisition, the place she guided
the Navy’s main R&D efforts, together with oversight of the Joint Strike Fighter program.
The Department of the Navy later established the Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists
and Engineers Awards, an annual honor that acknowledges those that display exemplary
scientific and technical excellence in assist of nationwide protection.
Etter continued to interrupt floor in her profession as the primary girl to function president
of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Signal Processing Society.
She additionally held key editorial positions with IEEE’s main journals. Her distinguished
contributions have been honored with election to the National Academy of Engineering
and recognition as a Fellow of IEEE, the American Society for Engineering Education
and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Among her many awards
are the IEEE James H. Mulligan Jr. Education Medal; the Department of Defense Medal
for Distinguished Public Service; and the Federal Women in Science and Engineering
Lifetime Achievement Award.
Beyond her skilled accomplishments, Etter has been an advocate for schooling
and neighborhood service. With her husband, Jerry, they generously created the Etter
Scholarship at OSU to open doorways for the subsequent era of engineers, empowering
college students who display management and promise. In her hometown of Shidler, they
have actively promoted math schooling with annual awards, supplied scholarships for
each graduating senior, whether or not pursuing a commerce certificates or a college diploma,
and funded the total renovation of the Shidler Elementary School. Etter and her husband
additionally share a deep dedication to conservation, supporting the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
in Osage County, and incomes recognition from The Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma as
2023 Conservation Champions.
Throughout her life, Etter has believed that schooling is the pathway to independence
and alternative. By opening doorways for numerous college students by way of educating, mentoring,
management and philanthropy, she has left an everlasting legacy in engineering and in
her communities.
Jaime Lyle McAlpine
McAlpine was born in Tulsa in 1957 and later moved to Oklahoma City. His option to
attend OSU was a pure one, as his dad and mom had been each vitality professionals and proud
Cowboys, instilling in him a love for the {industry} and the college. He obtained
his bachelor’s diploma in Petroleum Engineering Technology from CEAT in 1979, laying
the groundwork for a profession within the oil and fuel {industry} that will span over 4
a long time.
In 1982, McAlpine based Chermac Energy Corporation, an organization that started as a drilling
and recompletion marketing consultant, whereas additionally working oil and fuel wells. Over the course
of his profession, McAlpine oversaw greater than $300 million in drilling, recompletion,
and pipeline tasks and managed manufacturing on over 500 wells for Chermac shoppers.
Led by his entrepreneurial spirit, McAlpine based Chermac Services Corporation,
a technical measurement firm that expanded into six states earlier than being efficiently
transitioned to worker possession in 2010.
By 1999, McAlpine expanded into renewable vitality growth by way of Chermac’s Renewables
Group. He developed tasks totaling 2,800 megawatts of wind energy in operation and
initiated Oklahoma’s first industrial photo voltaic undertaking. His firm acquired greater than
80,000 acres in renewable leases, superior greater than $3.9 billion in renewable vitality
tasks and had 1,200 megawatts of photo voltaic tasks in numerous levels of growth.
Later in his profession, McAlpine started laying the groundwork for geothermal vitality growth,
additional establishing himself within the various and sustainable vitality discipline.
Alongside his skilled success, McAlpine’s dedication to his alma mater was simple.
While serving on the CEAT Strategic Advisory Council, McAlpine supplied perception on
renewable vitality curriculum and helped advocate for elevated funding for STEM schooling
within the public faculty system. He additionally supported hands-on studying by way of his contributions
to the McAlpine Energy Systems Platform within the CEAT ENDEAVOR Lab and was a loyal supporter
of OSU lecturers and athletics. A proud cowboy, McAlpine was a soccer season ticket
holder who might usually be discovered cheering on the Cowboys along with his household in Stillwater.
Beyond OSU and his profession, he was deeply concerned in his neighborhood. He and his spouse,
Cheryl, had been constitution members of Oak Hills Church in Edmond, the place he served in management
positions and participated in mission work. McAlpine traveled to El Salvador and Nicaragua
to assist drill freshwater wells, construct houses and enhance the residing situations in underserved
communities. Whether working with worldwide mission groups or mentoring aspiring
engineers by way of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, he believed in lifting others
up by way of service and mentorship.
A registered skilled engineer, McAlpine was identified not just for his technical
experience but additionally for his unwavering optimism, generosity and relentless dedication.
Professionally, he leaves behind a legacy of innovation in vitality, steadfast assist
for schooling and loyalty to OSU. His contributions will proceed to encourage future
engineers to forge new paths with braveness and creativity. Personally, he leaves a
legacy of the significance of a powerful work ethic, dedication, loyalty and main by
instance.
McAlpine handed away in November 2024, leaving his mark on the {industry}, his neighborhood
and OSU. In 1978, he married Cheryl; collectively they’ve a daughter, Caitie; a son-in-law,
Ryan; and grandsons, Zeppelin and Jett. His impression endures by way of the vitality tasks
he pioneered, the scholars and professionals he mentored, and the communities he served.
He shall be remembered not just for his skilled achievements but additionally for the
instance he set to his household of a life properly lived in service to others.
Eric Rock
Rock was born and raised in Tulsa. Rock grew up with a powerful household custom of
OSU, along with his 4 siblings having attended the college earlier than him. When the time
got here for his personal schooling, the selection was clear. He earned bachelor’s levels in
each electrical engineering and laptop engineering from OSU in 1990. These experiences
laid the inspiration for a profession constructed on innovation, entrepreneurship and a deep
connection to his alma mater.
From an early age, Rock found his calling. At the age of 14, he knew he wished
to turn into a software program engineer, and by 15 he was already demonstrating his entrepreneurial
spirit. Using an Atari laptop, he developed stock administration software program for his
father’s firm and negotiated a recurring contract that paid for his first automobile.
Shortly after, Rock created a restaurant administration program that advanced into the
front-end of OpenTable.com by way of acquisition. These formative experiences sparked a
ardour for innovation that has outlined his profession.
Over the previous three a long time, Rock based 4 software program firms, every turning into a
chief of their respective markets. His firms have been acknowledged for his or her innovation,
fast progress and {industry} impression. His work has additionally been featured in quite a few enterprise
and expertise publications. In addition, he holds a number of expertise patents, highlighting
a profession pushed by technical experience and problem-solving.
Beyond his enterprise achievements, Rock has invested in his neighborhood and occupation,
serving as a Boy Scout chief and youth sports activities coach for practically a decade. He has additionally
served as a mentor to early-stage technological entrepreneurs, serving to many discover their
personal success. His dedication to giving again extends to his alma mater, the place he’s
a proud donor and serves on the Industry Advisory Board for CEAT’s School of Electrical
and Computer Engineering.
As a scholar, Rock discovered alternatives for tutorial and private progress by way of the
Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He credit his experiences gained throughout this time with
serving to him construct the arrogance and character which have guided his profession.
While Rock has led a profession full of success, his proudest accomplishments are rooted
in household. He and his spouse, Sharron, additionally an OSU alum, have constructed a real OSU legacy.
Their son, Logan, earned his bachelor’s diploma at OSU and is now pursuing his grasp’s,
whereas their son, Dylan, is at the moment working towards his bachelor’s diploma at OSU.
For Rock, seeing his kids comply with in his footsteps and turn into half of the Cowboy
household is the best honor of all.
Through all of his achievements, Rock stays grounded in his perception that success
is measured not solely by private accomplishments however by lifting others up. He hopes
his legacy shall be one of empowering individuals to imagine in themselves and obtain their
full potential, making a ripple impact of alternative and private progress.