October 1, 2008

Purdue electrical and computer engineering to honor 6 alumni

The 17th annual Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineer awards will be presented during a dinner and ceremony from 6-9 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Select in Lafayette.

"It is with pride that the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering recognizes these distinguished alumni for advancing the engineering profession and leaving a lasting mark," said  Mark J.T. Smith, Michael J. and Katherine R. Birck Professor and Head of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

This year's honorees are:

*Joy L. Arthur, Las Cruces, N.M., who earned a bachelor's degree in 1956. She retired in 2005 as the senior research electronic engineer with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. She was hired at White Sands in 1958. Her career focused on increasing the survivability of the soldier in the battlefield and decreasing the vulnerability of U.S. Army weapon systems. She is married to Paul K. Arthur, also an honoree.

*Paul K. Arthur, Las Cruces, N.M., who earned a bachelor's degree in 1956. He had a 38-year career in the Navy and Navy Reserve, retiring as a rear admiral, and an overlapping 48-year civilian career at the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range. After holding many test and evaluation positions, he finished his career at White Sands as technical director/deputy commander, the senior civilian position. 

*Clarence "Sam" E. Endy Jr., Atherton, Calif., who earned a master's degree in 1967 and a doctorate in 1979. He is vice president and general manager of the Wireless Business Unit at Atheros Communications. Before that he worked at TeleCIS Wireless, ArrayComm, International Wireless, Centex Telemanagement and Sprint. He has had key roles in building four communications companies in the U.S. and 10 mobile wireless companies abroad.

*Donald E. Knebel, Zionsville, Ind., who earned a bachelor's degree in 1968. He is a partner in the Barnes & Thornburg law firm. He is co-chair of the firm's Intellectual Property Department and chair of its Business and Technology Group. Before joining the firm in 1974 after receiving a law degree from Harvard University, he was an electronics design engineer for Lockheed Aircraft.

*William A. Payne III, Glen Ellyn, Ill., who earned a bachelor's degree in 1980. He is vice president of Networks Advanced Technologies within Motorola's Home and Networks Mobility business. He oversees development of broadband technologies and global standardization efforts for the broadband wireless and cellular industries. He holds seven patents and has several pending.

Writer: Judith Barra Austin, (765) 494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu

Source: Mark J.T. Smith, (765) 494-3539, mjts@purdue.edu

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

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