April 26, 2007 — Paul Barker, now retired from Dalton Corp., where he held the post of director of Industrial Engineering, recently was honored by Tri-State University in Angola, IN, which recognized his contributions to TSU and the community there.

The presentation took place April 13 at an annual community breakfast at TSU's Witmer Clubhouse. Barker was commended by TSU president Earl Brooks II, as was Steuben County (IN) executive director for economic development, Gary Niedlander.

The university president called Barker "a tireless champion of Tri-State's cast metals program," and listed his efforts to fund acquisition of a scanning electron microscope, and to establish a sand test laboratory, including securing discounts for lab equipment. Barker was a member of the TSU Cast Metals Advisory Board for five years, and was instrumental to the university's successful effort to regain accreditation with the Foundry Educational Foundation in 1995.

"(Barker) helped students interested in the cast metals industry to find co-op jobs, summer internships, and permanent employment," the president detailed. "He also assisted in recruiting new students into the department, and gave freely of his own time to speak with prospective students on weekends and evenings."

Barker — the most recent inductee to FM&T’s Hall of Honor — is the recipient of the American Foundry Society's William H. McFadden Gold Medal (2002), as well as the FEF's E.J. Walsh Award (2003). As summarized by Brooks, "Paul’s influence on the excellence of Tri-State’s cast metals program cannot be understated."