TRE&SG Award
Tex Richardson Engineering & Science Guidance Award
This annual Award is jointly sponsored by the Tulsa Engineering Foundation (TEF), the Oklahoma Engineering Foundation (OEF) and with the cooperation of the Construction Specification Institute (CSI). The Award was established in 1992 to recognize teachers and engineers in Oklahoma who demonstrate exceptional service in guidance activities, and is in memory of the late Tex Richardson who inspired so many in his years of guidance servicee. Normally two annual awards, one to a teacher and one to an engineer, recognizing outstandng achievement and service in engineering and science guidance activities in the State of Oklahoma, are presented at the Tulsa E-Week Student Breakfast during the National Engineers Week in Febraruy. The selections committee welcomes nominations throughout the year for the next years’ awards. The nomintions may be sent to the permanent address of OEF or TEF or email wollmersh@aol.com.
The 2009 Tex Richardson Guidance Award recipients are:
Teacher: Ray Snider – Wells Middle School, Catoosa Public Schools. Mr. Snider is the 7th Grade Science teacher for the majority of students at the Wells Middle School. In the ten years he has taught at Wells Middle, his students have consistently had winning entries in the Tulsa Engineering Challenge. He teaches science with a hands-on approach with the seventh graders doing it themselves in a weekly lab. Ray also has started an outreach to sixth grade students, visiting their classrooms to share his enthusiasm in science and technology. A graduate of OCU on a full-5 year basketball scholarship, he started a coaching career along side his science teaching, leading one of his high school teams to state champions for 3 of the 4 years he coached them. He began his career at Guthrie Schools as a science teacher and basketball coach. He also taught at Noble, Union and Immanuel Christian School. After a year of early retirement, he accepted a position at Wells Middle School where he has influence many students with his love of science and technology.
Engineering Couple: Marion and Bob Simmons, P.E. – Marion and Bob Simmons have been active in the Tulsa engineering community for over thirty years. They both have unselfishly contributed much of their time and efforts in the promotion of science and engineering in the greater Tulsa Community. They are volunteers for MATHCOUNTS, Tulsa Engineering Challenge, Engineers Week activities as well as many of the EST and OSPE professional activities. Bob has served as president of EST (3 times) and TEF. He has been a member of AIChE. He earned a professional degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Oklahoma. After graduation, he worked for Dow Chemical traveling to various plants across the US. After retiring early from Dow, he established a successful consulting firm, Bob Simmons & Associates, where he continued chemical engineering work for twenty years. Marion has volunteered along side Bob in many of the engineering activities including Tulsa Engineering Challenge, MATHCOUNTS, and special events of EST and OSPE. She is an active member of the OSPE Auxiliary as well as PEO and Helping Hands. She earned her Physical Education Degree from Rutgers. This may explain why playing a round of golf is high on their list of activities when time permits. They have three children and eleven grand children.
Previous Awardees are:
2008 Teacher Marilyn Ann Thomas Howard -TU University School, MATHCOUNTS, Computer Challenge
Engineer James W. Kilmer, P.E., Retired, Science Enrichment at Eliot School, Endowed Scholarship
2007 Teacher Patricia Yvette Laughlin – Catoosa Wells Middle School, Tulsa Engineering Challenge
Engineer Gaylon Pinc, P.E., Program Management Group; MATHCOUNTS, TECh, OSPE State-Wide
2006 Teacher: Lane Cardwell Matheson – Engineering Academy Coordinator, Memorial High School
Engineer: Robert D. Strattan, Ph.D., P.E.-Emeritus Prof. of Electrical Eng’g & Mech. Eng’g, Univ.of Tulsa
2003 Teacher: Norma Rodriquez — Assistant Principal, 7th Grade Center, Union Public Schools
Engineer: Perry Brown, P.E. – Staff Engineering Technologist, AEP/PSO, MATHCOUNTS
2002 Teacher: Glenda Nelson – Mathematics Teacher, Jenks Public Schools, MATHCOUNTS Coach.
Engineer: Todd Hiemer, P.E. – Sr. Research Engineer, bioMerieux, Inc, Future City Comp. Coord.
2001 Teacher: Donald L. Mathieson, Assoc. Prof. of Math. & Physics, Tulsa Community College
Engineer: Dr. Gerald R. Kane, P.E., Prof. & Chair of Electrical Engineering, University of Tulsa
2000 Teacher: Denny Stanford, Science Teacher, Union Public Schools, Tulsa
Engineer: Thomas A. Carlisle, P. E., Phillips Petroleum Company, MATHCOUNTS
1999 Teacher: Cathie Casper, Mathematics Instructor, St. Pius X School, Tulsa
Engineer: Dennis D. Beckmann, P.E., Amoco Corporation, MATHCOUNTS
1998 Teachers: George E. Abshire, Mathematics Instructor, Jenks Public Schools and
John D. Cook, Jr., Academic Principal, Grace Fellowship Christian School, Tulsa
Engineer: Allison Fate, Management Consultant and President, HFK, Inc., Engineering Explorer Scouts
1997 Teacher: Susan Oliver, Science Teacher, Owasso Public Schools
Engineer: Richard W. Mattes, P.E., Willbros Engineers, Inc, Science and Engineering Fair
1996 Teacher: Tenna Whitsel, Academic Dean, Will Rogers High School, Tulsa
Engineer: Edwin “Bud” Averill, P.E. of Public Service Company of Oklahoma, TECh
1995 Teacher: Dr. Indestructo, a.k.a. Dr. Stewart Ryan, University of Oklahoma Physics Department.
Engineer: Barbara Wollmershauser, P.E., Warren Petroleum Company, Discover-E
1994 Teacher: Richard Maule, Science Teacher, Union Intermediate Schools, Tulsa
Engineer: Harlan Dunn, P.E. retired from the Corps of Engineers, Career Guidance Service
1993 Teacher: Gene Thompson, Physics Teacher, Booker T. Washington High School, Tulsa
Engineer: Dr. Eric Bandurski, Science Enrichment Program, Amoco Research Center, Tulsa
1992 Teacher: Shelley Fischer, Science Teacher, Sand Springs Schools.
