This award, in recognition of William J. Grede, was established in 1970. It is given for major contributions in the fields of management, marketing or education thereof which have resulted in expanding the effective use of metal castings. This award is presented at the annual Foundry Leadership Summit.
William J. Grede was an industrious entrepreneur who began his foundry leadership career in 1920 at the age of 23, when he purchased the Liberty Foundry in Wisconsin. Mr. Grede later purchased and launched several other foundries, producing high-quality gray iron, ductile iron and steel castings. A respected leader, he also served as President of the National Association of Manufacturers in 1952.
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Award Recipients
2023: Charles M. Kurtti, Neenah Foundry Co.
2022: Jiten Shah, PDA
2021: Greg Simmons, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry
2020: Atsushi Nagai, Sintokogio, Ltd.
2019: Arthur P. (Pete) Guidi, Jr., Ward Manufacturing LLC
2015: Rick Sutton, General Motors
2013: Manuel Rivera, ALFA Corporativo
2012: Eugene C. Muratore, Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium
2008: Douglas M. Trinowski, HA International
2007: Phil Duke, The Mouat Company, Inc.
2006: Donald E. Gaertner, Retired, Metalcasting Equipment, Inc.
2005: Alan K. Steffe, General Motors Corporation
2003: Robert W. Smillie, Nemak
2001: Charles J. Didion, Didion International Inc.
200: William Allan Hunter, Hunter Automated Machinery Corp.
1999: Donald G. Bruner
1998: Douglas G. Warner, Porter Warner Industries
1998: John R. (Chip) Keough, Applied Process Inc.
1997: R. Conner Warren, Citation Corp.
1996: Ronald L. Claussen, Caterpillar Inc.
1995: Henry M. Rowan, Inductotherm Industires, Inc.
1994: Lewis W. Essex, Essex Castings, Inc.
1993: Edgar B. Butler, Jr., Taylor & Fenn Co.
1992: Eugene E. Langner, Jr., American Cast Iron Pipe Co.
1991: Burleigh Jacobs, Grede Foundries, Inc.
1990: Anthony Yonto, Quality Casting Co.
1989: Robert Eck, Eck Industries
1988: Richard W. Levan, Western Foundry Co. Ltd.
1987: Jack Steele, Grede Foundries, Inc.
1986: Alvin W. Singleton, Lynchburg Foundry
1985: Thomas J. Trezek, Central Foundry Div., General Motors Corp.
1984: George R. Metcalf, III, EMI Co. (Erie Malleable Iron Co.)
1983: Donald B. Birtwistle, Great Lakes Casting Corp.
1982: William S. Williams, Lynchburg Foundry
1981: Leslie J. Woehlke, Grede Foundries, Inc.
1980: Stedman G. Sweet, The Eastern Co.
1979: Jack Miske, M&T Foundry
1978: Francis LeBaron, E.L. LeBaron Foundry Co.
1977: Max M. Anglin, The Dalton Foundries, Inc.
1976: Albert W. Gruer, Jr., Hamilton Foundry
1974: Carl A. Weigell, Motor Castings Co.
1972: Walter O. Larson, Larson Foundries
(Company affiliations shown at time of presentation)