September 4, 2007

Scholarship to be created in honor of Purdue alumnus

Robert A. Hoffer
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The Robert A. Hoffer Memorial Scholarship in Technology is being established to honor Hoffer, a West Lafayette native and 1941 graduate of the College of Science who became a plastics industry leader for more than 50 years. The endowment was created through a $500,000 gift from the Hoffer Foundation.

The creation of the endowment will be announced during a College of Technology scholarship reception at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 in the Purdue Memorial Union. One hundred fifty-four students will receive $239,000 in scholarship funds.

"Scholarships are critical for providing our students access to higher education," said Purdue President France A. Córdova. "We depend on the support of donors like the Hoffer family. Their generosity not only offers opportunity for these young people, it also ultimately helps define the future of our society."

College of Technology Dean Dennis R. Depew said the Hoffer family has supported the college for many years.

"Bob Hoffer was a supporter of the College of Technology from its earliest days, and his support through the years has substantially improved the educational environment for countless students," Depew said. "Bob cared deeply about Purdue and about students and wanted to ensure they had the best possible equipment and support.

"We are grateful to the Hoffer family for creating this endowment that will undoubtedly carry out Bob's wishes to sustain our mission."

The scholarship will be awarded annually to a sophomore, junior or senior in the college and will be based on financial need. Recipients must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25.

Hoffer, who died in February at age 87, founded Hoffer Plastics Corp., a major U.S. custom injection molder, in 1953. The South Elgin, Ill., company now employs 310 and runs 94 injection presses. It serves the automotive, communications, home projects and packaging industries.

He was president and chairman of the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. in 1973-74 and was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame in 1997.

Before starting his own company, Hoffer worked at DuPont Co. and General Electric Plastics.

He received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Purdue and was given an honorary doctorate from the College of Technology in 1986.

Hoffer and his wife Helen met while students at Purdue. All three of the Hoffers' children - Robert Jr., William and Mary - are Purdue graduates.

The Hoffers and the Hoffer Foundation have contributed for many years to the College of Technology. Their gifts in the 1980s and 1990s to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology helped update equipment and expand laboratory space.

Helen Hoffer was the primary donor who established the Margaret R. Taber Electrical Engineering Technology Scholarship, created in honor of a Purdue professor emerita in the department.

Most recently, a gift of more than $42,000 from the Hoffer Foundation went to the department for the purchase of computer equipment and to support student lab assistants in electrical engineering technology. The Hoffers also have contributed to the departments of Organizational Leadership and Supervision and Mechanical Engineering Technology.

The Hoffers' son William, who received a bachelor's degree in management from Purdue in 1971, will attend the ceremony on Sept. 10. He is president and CEO of Hoffer Plastics Corp.

"My dad and my family started supporting the College of Technology many years ago because it was involved with several areas that had to do with our business in plastics molding," he said. "Dad felt it was so important to support research and students who will be entering the plastics field and other fields as well."

William Hoffer said the family decided to create an endowment to honor Robert because supporting students was one of his passions.

"We talked about what he would have wanted, and creating an endowment was a natural," he said. "It's a wonderful way to honor him, and it will be especially gratifying when a year from now, a student who might not have had the chance to attend Purdue will get that opportunity."

Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Source: Dennis R. Depew, (765) 494-2552, ddepew@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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