Paul William (Bill) Beamer

  General Notes:

Bill has Broad experience and involvement at all levels in industry and government as a working executive. He is a major supporter of a strong defense posture and extensively involved in defense-related programs throughout entire career. He is an avid reader and is active in music. He is a recognized authority in industrial and government marketing, product development, international trade and commerce and is strongly committed to civic and community services.

Bill's education included: Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) with degrees in metallurgical engineering and business administration); University of North Carolina- Graduate Level (Physics and Mathematics); Yale University- Graduate Level (Electrical Engineering and Physics); and he Graduated 1st in Class of 464 - scientific course from Greensburg High School, Greensburg, PA.

Bill held many top positions in industry that included: Director of Marketing, Government, GTE Corporation; General Manager of Metal Forming, Wire, Weld and Bonded Component Group of GTE; multi-plant, international sites; Vice President of Marketing, Texas International - a major producer of oil field equipment, oil production, well servicing worldwide and foundry products; President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Subsidiaries of Texas International; Senior Vice President of Valtec - a fiber optic, electronic and telecommunications components manufacturer; Board of Directors - Valtec; Executive Vice President of Electro Fiber Optics Corporation; Board of Directors - Electro Fiber Optics Corporation; Vice President and General Manager of Wyman Gordon - a multi-national, multi-plant corporation; the world's largest producer of forgings for both military and commercial industries worldwide; Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Wyman Gordon; Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Cast Tech Corporation (subsidiary of Wyman Gordon); Director of Rollmet Corporation (subsidiary of Wyman Gordon); Director of Reiser Metals Corporation (subsidiary of Wyman Gordon); One of youngest engineering managers of Westinghouse Corporation; First Director of R&D and Manager of Sales and Marketing of Special Metals Corporation; Director of Metallurgical R&D and Product Development, Austernal (now Howmet Corporation); Marketing Council of the National Conference Board; Director, Executive Committee, Financial Committee, Marketing Council - Forging Industry Association; Invitee and participant biannual conferences on National Materials Policy; Recognized by NASA for contributions to Apollo, Saturn, and Mercury Programs; Recognized by Department of Defense and other agencies for contributions to A-11, Y-12, SR71 programs (Wyman Gordon produced every titanium forging on this program); Marketing Council, Machinery and Allied Products Institute; Director, Smaller Business Association of New England; Government Council, Electronics Industry Association.


Bill has been involved in extensive legislative, governmental, and political activities that included: Commissioner (1970-1973) / Commission on Government Procurement - appointed by the President of the United States (rank equivalent to an undersecretary); Advisor to industry and government on international trade, policy and export, relating to Japan, ECM, India, Taiwan, and Latin America; He worked with national companies and government agencies of Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Columbia, Mexico, Peru, Israel, and Indonesia; He was associated with US Departments of Commerce, State, and Defense and other government agencies on technology and related issues; M ember of Legislative Affairs Council, Electronic Industries Association; Government and Public Affairs Council, ASM International; Invitee and participant Captiva El A Congressional-Industry Conferences on government-industry policy issues; Consultant/advisor, National Sciences Foundation on Small Business Innovation Programs; Advisor to Department of Commerce on US Policy and participation for the Paris Air Show - in 1969; Honored by the State of Israel with Masada Metal; Advisor to Office of Technology Assessment of Congress; Aerospace Industry Association: Industry, Defense, Commerce task group on military preparedness; Close working relationship with DARPA ( Defense Advanced Research Project Agency); Air Force Association; Served in US Army Air Force - Technical Training Command (I942-1946); Ordinance Association; American Defense Preparedness Association; Association of the US Army; Navy League; American Society of Metals (life member); American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers; Aluminum Association; Member of Executive Committee of the Bradford County Republican Committee; Sustaining Member, Republican National Committee; Republican Presidential Task Force; Republican Senatorial Task Force.
Bill's extensive civic duties included: Founder, President and Director of the Bradford County Economic Development Authority; Board of Trustees - Lackawanna College; Member of Towanda Main Street Board; Advisory Committee - Lackawanna College; Manager, Towanda Main Street Program; Planning Commission, Towanda Borough; Executive Committee, Five Rivers Council Boy Scouts of America; Member of the French Azilum Board; Central Bradford County Chamber of Commerce; Member Board and Executive Committee and First Vice President of Bradford County American Cancer Society; Alpha Phi Omega - National Boy Scout Honorary Society; Active in the North Rome Wesleyan Church; Industrial Development Committee of Worcester Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors, Worcester Symphony Orchestra; Co-Chairman Twin Tiers Community Development Foundation; Board of Directors, Utica Symphony Orchestra; Executive Committee - Mohegan Council, Boy Scouts of America; Executive Committee - Corn Planter Council, Boy Scouts of America; Advisory Council on Economic Development - Northern Tier Regional Planning Commission; Board of Directors, Bradford County Historical Society; Board of Directors, Bradford County Dental Assistance Program; Member of Heritage Society- Five Rivers Council, Boy Scouts of America.
In his spare time, Bill was actively involved in the Academic community: George Westinghouse Scholar and Fellow - one of ten outstanding scientist/scholars selected annually throughout the United States for full 5-year scholarship to Carnegie Tech. Member of the fifth class; Guest lecturer on materials; Testified before both House and Senate Committees on Government Procurement Policy, Small Business and National Materials Policy, Industrial Preparedness; Visiting Committee - Carnegie Mellon University; Fraternity Man of the Year by Kappa Sigma Fraternity; Kappa Sigma Fraternity; Omicron Delta Kappa; Member of all class honorary societies - Carnegie Mellon University; Bausch and Lomb Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science; Captain of Track Team - Carnegie Mellon; Captain of Cross Country Team - Carnegie Mellon; Earned 10 Varsity letters in athletics (track, cross country, and football) - Carnegie Tech; Member of Highlanders - Carnegie Mellon University; Member of Homerschlage Heritage Society- Carnegie Mellon University.
A few other achievements in Bill's career, which is continuing, include: Consultant to Ministry of Trade and Commerce on Export Trade Development, Government of Indonesia; In retirement, advisory to Vice President of Chemical and Metallurgical Division of Siemens Corporation on government and defense-related activities; Holder of patents in metals, processing, and alloys for aerospace, nuclear and electronic applications; Bill was also a pioneer in development of: Investment casting for aviation gas turbines; High temperature alloys for gas turbines and nuclear applications; Fiber optics technology; Vacuum melting and vacuum investment casting; Forging of titanium and high temperature alloys; Concepts in industrial marketing and strategic planning. He used consulting firm of Arthur D. Little, McKinsey, Boze Allen, Stanford Research and Battelle Institute to assist in business development and R&D and headed operation divisions in France, Israel, India, Mexico and Puerto Rico.


Paul W. (Bill) Beamer passed away on April 16, 2011, while a guest at the Bradford County Manor in West Burlington, Pa., at the age of 87. He was the only son of Paul John and Mabel Ruth (Silvis) Beamer and was born Nov. 17, 1923, in the home of his grandparents, William and Lulu Beamer, in Manor, Pa.
Bill Beamer was a sterling example of giving back to one's community, availing his immeasurable talents toward the enrichment and economic development of the community in which he chose to spend his so-called retirement years after an impressive career in business. "Bill gave much to the Central Bradford County community. He really is the man responsible for the founding of the Central Bradford County Progress Authority," said former Bradford County Commissioner and long-time Towanda businessman, Gary Goeckel, upon learning of his old friend's death. "Many came to him for help organizing or fundraising. Bill seldom turned them down."

As a young person, he was an exceptional student and was awarded the Westinghouse Science Scholarship. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. While at the university, Bill was a varsity athlete in track, as well as serving as the captain of the track and cross country teams and the manager of the football team. He also studied at a graduate level at Yale University and the University of North Carolina. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a sergeant during World War II .

As the consummate overachiever, Bill had many accomplishments over his lengthy career. Most recently, he was Director of Marketing, Government for GTE, working out of their headquarter offices in Danvers, Mass. It was through this position that Bill became acquainted with Towanda.

Throughout his career, he held executive responsibilities at several international companies. Among them were Texas International, Valtec Corporation, Wyman Gordon Company and Westinghouse Corporation. In the 1970s, he was appointed by President Richard Nixon to be a member of the Commission of Government Procurement for a three-year term. Bill was honored by the State of Israel with the Masada Medal for the support of his defense work. He was a member of several national organizations: American Defense Preparedness, Association of the U.S. Army, Navy League, American Society of Metals, American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, Aluminum Association, Republican National Committee, Republican Presidential Task Force and the Republican Senatorial Task Force.

His greatest pride was in the work he did in Bradford County, Pa., in economic development, charitable and political organizations. He was President and Director of the Central Bradford County Economic Development Authority, on the Board of Trustees and Advisory Committee member for Lackawanna College, member of the Towanda Main Street Board, Manager of the Towanda Main Street Program, member of the French Azilum Board, Central Bradford Chamber of Commerce, Bradford County Planning Commission, Alpha Phi Omega, Bradford County Historical Society, Bradford County Dental Assistance Program and a member of the Five Rivers Council, Boy Scouts of America. Bill also attended the North Rome Wesleyan Church when his health permitted.

He traveled the world extensively, with his first trip being to Alaska as a young boy. Bill loved to argue, in a friendly way, especially about politics, and greatly enjoyed music and cooking.. Bill also leaves many dear, faithful and cherished friends.

Paul married Sara Jane Kalbfus on 17 Mar 1950. (Sara Jane Kalbfus was born on 27 Aug 1923 and died on 21 Nov 2008.)