A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 3 2 2 (ASM president 1973-1974), among others. It’s a measure of the time that has passed that none of these wonderful scholars and ASM Fellows are alive today. Dave’s original plans for a few years of experience in the United States were sidelined by his love of Lehigh and its extraordinarily supportive faculty. We can both call out Joe Goldstein, FASM, because he mentored both of us so effectively and wrote Dave into his research grants from NASA (which also funded my Ph.D.). Twenty years later Dave and Joe were still funded by NASA. Below is a rare picture of Joe and Dave next to an early analytical electron microscope at Lehigh, with one of their students, Cathy Duffield. Dave accompanied Joe on visits to NSF and NASA, and Joe introduced him to world leaders in microscopy and microanalysis. He taught Dave how to write proposals and eventually how to write books. Dave’s very successful TEM textbook with Barry Carter was inspired by Joe. We should all be so lucky to encounter such individuals in our lives. LEADERSHIP Early in Dave’s career, Joe was elevated to Lehigh’s Office of the Vice Provost for Research, and he entrusted Dave with leading the university’s Electron Optical Laboratory (EOL) even though he’d made tenure just a couple of years before. With Joe’s guidance, Dave built Lehigh’s EOL into the largest electron microscopy of materials facility in the country. He also became president of the Microanalysis Society and the International Union of Microbeam Analysis Societies, and a fellow of both ASM and TMS. With this leadership experience, Dave followed Joe to become vice provost for research at Lehigh in 2000, and he has remained in administration since then. Having doubled Lehigh’s research in six years, he left in 2007 to become president of UAH. Dave led the university into the Carnegie R1 research classification — the smallest public university (only 6000 students) in that classification. In 2011, Gordon Gee invited Dave to become executive dean and dean of engineering at The Ohio State University. Having retired from that position last year, it is now time for Dave to give back to ASM and the materials professions just as Joe and so many of our ASM mentors have done. Dave takes great pride in having taught and advised many colleagues, students, and friends (including me) and it is particularly rewarding to see that several of themhave taken on leadership roles in ASM International. I was ASM president from 1997-1998, and Ann Bolcavage, Ryan Deacon, Doug Puerta, Ji-Cheng Zhao, Laura Moyer, James Demarest, Don Susan, and many others are leaving their mark on ASM and our affiliate societies as board members, trustees, and award winners. Clearly the thousands of hours that Dave spent in the classroom and (occasionally) on the microscopes were worthwhile. There are few experiences in life that are more enjoyable than witnessing the successes of those whose careers you helped start and guide. FAMILY AND LEGACY On the home front, Dave was fortunate that Margie raised their sons as he pursued his career, and he did find time to take the family not only across the U.S., but also around the world on academic leaves and to electron microscopy conferences. As the young Williams men grew up, Dave went running with Matt, got a black belt in Tang Soo Do with Bryn, and was regularly thrashed at golf by Steve. Like Margie and Dave, they all learned to play the piano and together they make fine music on piano, guitar, and drums. This doesn’t happen very often these days because the boys now live in Chicago, London, and Toronto (soon to be New Orleans). Dave says you should always encourage your children to live in great places. There are other “Dave stories” available, but only by subscription! So those are some of Dave’s formative experiences, some of which I was privileged to share. His name is well recognized in the world of TEM materials as the lead author of the most widely used TEM textbook (over 6.8 million chapter downloads). He has been honored by fellowships in nine professional societies spanning materials, microscopy, microanalysis, aerospace, aviation, and economic development. LIFE LESSONS Rugby taught him that it’s all about building the right team, even though you might take a beating on the way. His sons and his students taught him that it’s never about you but about those you have the privilege to teach. Margie taught him that it’s all about loving and being loved as we evolve and change over the decades. It is my pleasure to introduce to readers of AM&P my good friend and long-time research partner in the analytical electron microscopy of materials: Dave Williams, president of ASM International. ~AM&P From le : Student Cathy Du ield and professors Joe Goldstein and Dave Williams at Lehigh University. Margie and Dave Williams at home in Columbus, Ohio.
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