Jim Bertelsmeyer - A∆577
Growing up in Florissant, MO, Jim Bertelsmeyer, ChE’66, is one of our most involved Alumni donating over $20,000 to further his Brothers’ collegiate experience. During his time at school Jim was part of Lambda Chi Alpha and Student Council while also having both a co-op at Monsanto and internship at General Motors. In 1989, he founded Heritage Propane Pr. Bertelsmeyer was honored as one of S&T’s Alumni of Influence in 2011. His endowment to two new Lambda Chi’s in the latest in alumni association history. He also made the naming gift for Bertelsmeyer Hall, the chemical and biochemical engineering building in 2014.
David Heikkenin - A∆1079
A native to Rolla, MO, Dave is still an active member of Alpha Delta Zeta acting as the High Tau’s (treasurer) Alumni Advisory Board advisor. A 1993 mechanical engineering graduate of Missouri S&T David and his wife Ann moved to New Orleans where we began work for Shell Oil. Transitioning into oil and gas investment research in 2000, he began work for Southeast Capital and five years later joined Dan Pickering, S&T PetE’88 at Pickering Energy. He left the company in 2012 and founded Heikkinen Energy Advisors, a company which provides research and consulting services to energy investors and companies. In 2017 he mad a $250,00 gift to the S&T Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) .
Tom Akers - A∆1257
Tom Akers, Math’73, MS Math’75, is a veteran of four shuttle missions. He has spent over 800 hours in orbit. In his second mission, Akers was part of the first three-astronaut spacewalk to repair the Intelsat (International Telecommunications Satellite). During his thirds mission he was part of the team that repaired the famed Hubble Space Telescope. Akers; last mission in 1996 involved a rendezvous with Mir, the Russians station. After retiring for NASA and the Air Force, Akers served as a math instructor for over a decade at Missouri S&T.
Jerry Bayless - A∆1065
Jerry came to Rolla in 1955 to study engineering at what was then known as the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. After earning his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1959, he joined the civil engineering faculty while pursuing a master’s degree in that discipline. He remained on the faculty and held various administrative positions until his retirement 58 years later in February 2017 along with serving as academic advisor for our chapter. Known by students and alumni as “Mr. MSM,” “Mr. UMR” or “Mr. S&T,” depending on the era, or simply as “Mr. Miner” to many, he is also remembered as a dedicated professor who was the “heart and soul” of Missouri S&T. He served as an assistant chair of engineering, assistant dean of engineering, associate dean, and in 2004, the university presented him with the Chancellor Medal in recognition of his service. Bayless was named an Honorary Knight of St. Patrick in 1999.
The Faenger Brothers - Bob A∆519, Gene A∆580, and Al A∆609
Upon Bob’s initiation, his younger brother, Gene Faenger ’65, got to know many Alpha Delta Zeta members before he came to Rolla to start school. Fortunately, the decision to join ΛXA was hardly a challenge for Gene. “Everyone was great,” Gene said. “There was no other choice for me.” When their younger brother, Al Faenger ’68, pledged in 1961, it truly became a family affair. “I never gave it a second thought not to pledge,” Al said. Throughout each of the brother’s time in the Chapter, they served in several leadership positions both in the Fraternity and around the Missouri S&T campus. “Lambda Chi Alpha provides brothers with people and administration skills for life,” Gene said. “All of us are examples of that.”
Leonard Kirberg A∆610
Len will be remembered by all who knew him as the driving force behind Alpha-Delta Zeta’s new Chapter House. He was a civil engineer and innovative industry leader as a chairman, CEO, and president of Horner & Shifrin Inc. from 1988 to 2004. Len received his bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1966. Under Len’s guidance, the Housing Corporation undertook their much-needed capital campaign for a new Chapter House at 1705 Pine St. Brothers shared his ambitious goal of completing the project before the Chapter’s centennial celebration in November of 2017. His goal was met, as the capital campaign raised more than $2 million. Because of Len’s vision, leadership, and perseverance, the men of Lambda Chi Alpha will enjoy one of the best homes on Missouri S&T’s campus for years to come.
Dr. Harry B. Smith - A∆226
Raised in the greater Baltimore, MD area, Harry graduated from Rolla with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1942. Serving the United States Army in the elite intelligence unit at Harvard and MIT, Harry led a group of engineers developing electronic systems to analyze code. This work was part of the famed “Enigma Project” that helped the Allies break German code. At the end of WWII, Harry and two other Westinghouse Air Arms Division engineers created and developed pulse-Doppler radar, which allowed high altitude surveillance aircraft to detect and track moving targets despite obstructions of sight such as clouds or trees. He is known as the “Father of pulse-Doppler radar.”
