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Lehigh Valley Section 50th Anniversary:

PHILADELPHIA SECTION - Scholarship Awards Criteria

• Two $750.00 Scholarships are to be awarded during 2006 to Philadelphia Section ISA members and/or their families. ISA Student members active in the Philadelphia Section are also eligible. Members must be in good standing with membership active for at least one year prior to submittal.

• Scholarships will be awarded based on merit as evidenced by past accomplishments and future goals and aspirations of the applicant.

• Application shall be by a one-page summary of accomplishments and future goals prepared by the student applicant accompanied by a short letter of submittal by any Philadelphia Section ISA member. Applications must be submitted by April 15, 2006.

• The scholarship award will be in the form of a check presented to the student along with a certificate of presentation.

• Preference will be given to a student studying in a technical discipline. Prior recipients of this award are also eligible.

• While preference will be given to a student presently enrolled in a two or four year study program; students enrolled in other programs are encouraged to apply, including those enrolled in short one-term courses.

• Applicants must have a high school diploma or will have by the summer of 2006.

• In case of disagreement, the definition of all terms, including ‘technical discipline’ and ‘family’, will be decided by the Scholarship Committee of the Philadelphia Section ISA.

• Applications can be submitted to any Philadelphia Section board member or directly to:
John N. McGrath
2601 Pennsylvania Ave. Apt 1222
Philadelphia, PA 19130-2309
E-mail submittals to: JMcg1752@aol.com

To learn more or to register, please visit www.lean2005.com or contact Reliable Plant editor Paul Arnold by phone or e-mail: 920-568-9768; parnold@noria.com.

Obituary - Martin Wurzer

Martin (Marty) an instrument and controls engineer died after a persistent illness on May 25, 2005 according to his wife, Carolyne.  Marty worked for Conoflow Company, a manufacturer of split-body valves and other accessories during the early days when it was in Philadelphia.  His wife said that Jack Koch was the Conoflow President at that time.  Later employment was with the Catalytic Construction Company in Philadelphia and C. B. Ives.  He was well known for his technical knowledge and high ethics.

After retiring he was active for the remainder of his life in Whitpain Township activities where he had become chair of the Planning committee.  The township residents enjoy many historical sites and green acres due to his extensive efforts.  Consequently, he was appointed to the Board of Supervisors to fill a vacancy.  At the next election he was elected by a wide margin.  Here again he was noted for his ethical standards.  Retiring from his elected office activities he continued to be active in the well-known Whitpain Historical Society.  Friends of Marty remember him for his dedication in the areas of automation as well as community service.  Information on a designated Whitpain Historical Society fund that has been established to honor him can be obtained from his wife, Carolyne, at 559 Beale Rd. Blue Bell PA 19422 (Telephone 215-542-9631).

Obituary - Bernard L. Skwirut

Died March 30, 2005, unexpectedly of cardiac arrest, age 71, beloved husband for 40 years of Lauretta Stella (nee Gonsowska); devoted father of John Laurence (Patty) and Mark Eric (Tina); loving grandfather of Katie, William and Rachel. Retired Professional Engineer from United Engineers and Constructions, formerly of General Electric, NASA Space Center. Life member of the Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation society, Cub Scout Master, volunteer to Read for the Blind until incapacitated by his own loss of sight. He earned a masters degree in Physics from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a masters degree from Temple University in Business Administration.

Bernie was a valuable member of the Philadelphia Section ISA education committee for many years, including managing certifications. He was a rare man who did for others and was an example to all who met him - Quiet, decent and strong.

Silver Club Press Release:

As requested, here is the Transducer report of the charter induction of the 25th Silver Anniversary Club on November 20, 2004

President John Dezzi asked the class to come to the podium. He then read his proclamation letter and gave each candidate a signed copy. A photograph was then taken for the Transducer.

John turned the podium over Ross Forman who gave a review of the importance of 1979, the base point for this class. Notable events of that year were the first Instrument Certifications by our Education Committee and the charter Old Shoe Society inductees. (This Society is for sales personal only and has become so popular that it is used throughout the District II.) Other key events were the peak growth of the Nuclear Power Industry, which required many instrument engineers, many of who attended our Advanced Education courses in that field. In 1979 there was the rapid growth of the new Honeywell TDC technology, which changed our profession at all levels of membership. (Our section was most pleased that in the previous year of 1978 member Renzo Dallimonti of Honeywell received the National “Excellence in Documentation” award for his paper describing the technology of the TDC.) Forman closed the induction by stating, “The Section is proud of the class of 2004. They stayed the course and we heartedly welcome them to our 25th Silver Anniversary Club.”

The board approved a unique Silver pin for new members of the Club which is being procured by Robert Swan. It will be mailed to them.

The charter members are—

Frederick Kent

Honeywell expert for designs that meet worldwide codes for hazardous locations including petrochemical plants and LPG tankers. Includes South Korea, China, the Orient, Europe and South America as well as the National Bureau of Ships and the United States (SP 12).

John N. McGrath, P.E.

Education Committee Chair, Section President 1987-88, District II Vice President 1992-1994, Golden Eagle Award 1993, Fellow 1999, Distinguished Society Service Award, Student Bowl (Many years), and Scholarship Chair (current). Leader in Power Plant instrumentation technology and related computer systems.

Obituary - Bob Miller

Robert L. Miller The Intelligencer November 18, 2004 12:00 AM Robert L. Miller of Lansdale, former longtime resident of Horsham, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004, in Abington Memorial Hospital. He was 79. Bob Miller, a former member of ISA, was involved as membership chairman while his wife, Alice, was Transducer producer for several years prior to also becoming editor from 1983 until 2000.

He is survived by his wife, Alice (Bogdanoff) Miller. They would have been married 55 years in January 2005. Born in Parkland, Bucks County, he was a son of the late Walter S. and Jennie C. (Shegog) Miller. He graduated from Langhorne Middletown High School, in 1943, and then enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve in World War II. He was awarded various service medals, including a Bronze Star.

After his service, he continued his education at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, graduating in 1949. with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering.

Mr. Miller was employed as an electrical engineer with Honeywell, retiring in 1985, after a 35-year career with 17 patents to his credit. He then went to work with Inertial Motors in Doylestown for 10 years. In addition to his employment, he taught night school at Drexel University for 15 years and also taught at Delaware Valley College in the Continued Learning in Retirement Program.

He was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Lansdale, where he served on the vestry and as rector's warden. He also was a member of the Full Gospel Businessman's Fellowship International.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his four children, Roderick J. Miller and his wife, Carol, of Ellicott City, Md., Deborah L. Brown and her husband, Bill, of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Christopher S. Miller and his wife, Joyce, of Sinking Spring, Pa. and Elizabeth M. Marshall and her husband, Steven, of Allen, Texas; six grandchildren; one niece and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his two brothers, John Walborn Miller and William Dudley Miller.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, in Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 4th and Broad streets, Lansdale, where the family will greet friends after 10.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are preferred to Dock Woods Sharing Fund, 275 Dock Drive, Lansdale, PA 19446. Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home,

Lansdale

Frederick J. Ryan - Obituary

Frederick (Fred) J. Ryan, Jr. died July 5, 2004 at Normandy Farms Estates. Fred joined ISA in 1951. He co-founded the ISA Golf outing over a quarter century ago and became a senior member in 1964.  He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and served as an officer in the Air force in North Africa and Italy in World War II.

He was an early employee of the C. B. Ives Company as a salesman. He continued at this firm until retirement handling major accounts. Call the Ives Equipment Corp. 610-768- 1600 for additional details. 

Fred Ryan was in the founding class of the Old Shoe Award, being inducted in May 16, 1979. In addition to Fred, the class included G. Fischer, Y. Wayne Miller and Howard J. Smith. All have taken their briefcases to that great white sales kingdom where all the clients are friendly and easily pass out purchase orders to the “lowest bidder, highest quality”, in the best tradition of the Old Shoe.

Funeral Mass was. at Epiphany of Our Lord Church, Township Line and Walton Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA.

All ISA members who knew him will cherish his memory.

Rowland G. Lex Jr. - Obituary

Rowland G. Lex Jr. - ISA Fellow 1978
Phila Section ISA member Rowland Lex died on November 15, 2003 at age 78 due to complications from Parkinson's disease.  He was granted Fellow status in 1978, which is given to qualified members who have made exceptional engineering or scientific contributions to the effectiveness of instrumentation, systems and automation professionals worldwide for the benefit of industry and humanity.

As Vice President of Engineering at Leeds & Northrup, among other contributions, he was responsible for the release of their DCS called MAX1 (Current version is Metso Automation's MAX1000Plus).  An avid tennis player, he also regularly played drums in a jazz combo, and was involved in a project of recording readings for the blind.

Weapon for mass production
Distributed microprocessing enables control of hybrid operations, without the traditional complexity, cost, and limits.

By Samuel Herb
01 August 2003  InTech magazine

Communicate any information over any network using any device! That's the vision of pervasive computing, and it is a vision a new breed of process controllers is bringing ever closer to the plant floor. The benefits include greater flexibility, greater scalability, and lower costs of purchasing and operating control technology.

With previous technology, manufacturers wanting to automate simple, discrete applications had few control options other than programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Those automating large-scale process applications had to use distributed control systems (DCSs), and those running mixed operations relied on a combined set of disparate products.

In today's highly competitive global markets, however, manufacturers increasingly need the flexibility to cross traditional control boundaries to offer greater customization and tighter enterprise integration, and to run more complex processes. The need for automation in highly regulated industries is even more pronounced.

Fortunately, automation technology has been advancing steadily and has converged to a point where manufacturers can adapt automation options to their processes and budgets with greater flexibility and lower cost than ever before. Regardless of whether their operations are large or small—and whether they are process, discrete, or some combination—effective, economical control solutions are well within reach.

MAKING DISCRETE OPERATIONS FLOW

Discrete manufacturing operations, such as automotive, aerospace, and machining, typically require relatively simple control functions. Turning a system on and off, managing conveyors, or positioning parts for machining are typical of functions that low-cost PLCs accomplish best.

PLCs have excellent logic handling capabilities, can tolerate rough (although not corrosive) environments, are flexible, and are generally very compact. They do, however, have certain drawbacks, which become more prevalent as applications grow larger, more complex, and more continuous.

PLCs are not, for example, well suited for unit control applications that go beyond simple single-loop applications. The more control variables or controllers involved, the more difficult it is to implement PLC-based solutions. Nor can PLCs support fast process loop response times as easily, which can be disastrous for proportional, integral, and derivative (PID) control.

You can implement PLCs with human-machine interfaces (HMIs) to give users more opportunity to interact with their applications, but using HMI from any vendor other than the original manufacturer typically requires separate configuration.

And, because PLCs sell at the device level, you often need an independent integrator to configure any complex applications; the added cost can counter the low-cost advantage of the PLCs themselves.

A LITTLE HELP FROM THE PC

Using PCs to manage PLCs helps somewhat in extending the applicability of the PLC. The low cost of the PC makes it possible—at least in theory—to program control applications from easily available off-the-shelf components, bringing multiple PLCs under PC control. Using a PC as an HMI to configure PLCs over a network is a low-cost approach that enables easy configuration of a robust control solution at a local process. It does, however, have some drawbacks. For one, you must configure each PLC separately and exercise considerable discipline to avoid the pitfalls of operating independent systems, such as duplicating tags.

There is also no peer-to-peer awareness. Using this architecture for complex control strategies that are confined to individual PLCs requires configuring each PC to communicate with each PLC to find specific variables and configuring it again for views, again for history, again for trends, and so on. Likewise, you must configure and reconcile multiple databases.

Because the PC software defines the control strategies, they are very flexible, but the extent to which you can leverage that flexibility depends on the availability of systems integrators with sufficient industry knowledge. If you have to bring in outside services, the expense can easily offset any cost advantages to the implementation.

CONTROLLING COMPLEX PROCESSES

The more continuous and complex discrete operations grow, the more they resemble process applications such as chemical, oil and gas, and food and beverage production, where sequences of multiple variables need regulation. Such processes were among the first to undergo automation. A central mainframe or minicomputer managed the initial systems.

Central computers enabled secure, compute-intensive operation for multiple loops, but the process control logic, user interface, and database were all part of the same system. When any part of that system went down, production stopped until a fix took place.

The distributed control system reduced that risk of central computers by distributing the user interface, control logic, and database functionality among different circuit boards within that computer, thereby reducing failure of the entire system.

Then, as industrial networks became secure enough to avoid ground loops and other "advances," it was also possible to distribute processing physically. This reduced the risk and high costs associated with mainframe or minicomputer implementations, without losing the benefits of central control.

With such architecture the user could configure the entire system from a workstation. Now, however, distributed databases were part of the mix as well. Each of the controllers could access the database of the other controllers in a peer-to-peer synchronization needed for complex strategies.

A copy of the database traditionally would reside on the workstation. Depending on the application and vendor, you might access it in real time, download it to controllers, and upload it for backup. Views, history, and trends could be configured as needed.

A significant benefit of the DCS architecture is that it allows the use of a single unified environment, often called an integrated development environment, to create the application.

This is different from PLC-based systems, which require users to use one application development package to configure the control strategy running in the PLC and another to configure the supervisory interface.

With a DCS, supervisory applications such as the database, alarms, trends, displays, and system management emanate automatically from the control strategy.

The distributed nature of the system also enables common creation of control strategies from a function block library, which simplifies creating, testing, and subsequently validating the control applications.

It is also much easier to implement redundancy at both the control and supervisory levels, making DCSs more appropriate for operations requiring high availability.

But despite such benefits for sequential, multivariable operations, DCSs were still not as well suited for rough factory-floor environments or high-speed switching as PLCs.

And, although less expensive than the central computers, the cost of implementation made DCSs cost effective only for applications involving numerous control loops.

CONTROLLING HYBRID OPERATIONS

Although PLCs could easily do rapid discrete actions, and DCSs originally were well suited primarily for process control loops, neither was particularly good at batch control. So when a complex process needed both discrete and analog processing, a hybrid kludge would come about.

Usually such a system was custom tailored for each application, which increased complexity significantly and added costs for configuring, programming, documentation, training, and troubleshooting.

Matching different systems across multiple protocols required complex linking strategies, which increased vulnerability, slowed data movement, and jeopardized the overall quality of the process information.

These first generation hybrid control architectures involve many and all combinations, including single-loop controllers. It is also possible to implement local operator interfaces with DCS controllers or PLCs, but when this is done, the DCS and the PLC would likely be configured separately, from different configuration stations, using different methods.

In addition to being harder and more expensive to configure and change, these first generation hybrid control systems do not enable easy peer-to-peer communication and synchronization, which makes integration with advanced control or enterprise systems very difficult.

A new generation of control systems is now emerging that enables control of hybrid operations without the complexity, cost, and limitations of the traditional approach.

DISTRIBUTING INTELLIGENCE

New architectures leverage advances in microprocessors to bring cost-effective intelligent control to discrete operations, to smaller scale process operations, and to hybrid operations integrating discrete and process functionality.

Rather than simply networking traditional DCSs and PLCs together like the original hybrid approaches, this new breed links microprocessor-equipped controllers together to form a mini-DCS. In this way, a very small operation can enjoy economical multiloop control. Or, a large organization can enjoy greater flexibility in deploying control strategies throughout its operations.

The traditional DCS got its name because it distributed the functionality of a central computer; the distributed processor–based systems take this same functionality and distribute it physically into the plant.

This distributes risk, intelligence, and processing power deeper, without losing the benefits of central control and configuration. In this way, you can implement DCS functionality economically and technically from a few I/O points up to thousands of I/O points.

Users can configure the controllers and diagnostics as a single system, like a DCS, but can also use open technology to connect controllers to other HMIs, much as they would a PLC.

Even if each control were using a different control strategy, it would be possible to enforce a consistent HMI throughout the plants to simplify maintenance and consistency of operator navigation. This also makes it much easier to implement screen and alarm hierarchies at operator stations wherever process control functions require it.

Implementing a distributed processor system delivers cost benefits at just about every level. Yet it properly permits alarm detection and preliminary management within each controller, where it belongs.

There are, for example, distributed processor–based controllers designed to control one to four loops. One of these would cost about the same as a comparable PLC, but would bring the added ability to scale intelligently to become part of a larger system.

This type of controller is a self-contained micro-DCS that can handle up to four loops of continuous control with embedded I/O. It includes a wide range of function block libraries with control structures including cascade to ratio. It is expandable, seamlessly integrated via peer-to-peer communications, has multiple I/O options, and supports batching as well.

Distributed processor-based solutions provide additional control functionality. These solutions include an advanced HMI, through which users can implement continuous control, sequential control, batch control, set point control, trending and logging, touchscreen control, and recipe management, and an I/O Network integrating with field devices over digital networks such as Profibus and Modbus.

You cannot achieve this degree of functionality with a conventional DCS, particularly as the number of control loops drops below 100. It's not worth the money.

For example, the cost of implementing a typical DCS-based industrial boiler control installation involving an operator workstation, an engineering station, 50 points of I/O, and an historian would be about $25,000 for the first boiler and approximately $19,000 for subsequent boilers in the same facility.

Using distributed processors, however, the first boiler could be done for about $19,000, with each subsequent boiler added at $9,000.

LOWERING TOTAL COST

These comparisons rely on purchase and implementation price only. There are also significant benefits that lower the total cost of owning a system. With a distributed processor–based system, standards are much easier to implement and enforce.

The graphical interface using IEC 1131 tools such as function block, sequential function charts, and structured text make tasks using ladder logic control strategies much simpler and less expensive to configure. The single database also allows users to manage the control strategy and the tag data without mistakes.

The common HMI also means that configuration can happen on any PC—even on a laptop in an airplane—and suppliers typically provide software applications, which work with standard spreadsheets or other off-the-shelf applications. This also means that any PC could be used as a process simulator (using appropriate software, of course).

The overall integration of the components of distributed processor systems lends itself to much easier database management, which means faster access to required information by the various components, as well as by the operators and even by the business systems.

Other benefits, which are not always as obvious to users—until they get into the heat of installation—are the uniformity of quality assurance that comes from operating a system as a unit and the uniform documentation that is becoming increasingly important.

This is especially important when the system needs to go through validation testing for regulatory agencies. More and more industries are requiring increasing degrees of validation.

Uniformity also means that maintenance is more consistent, not just because of the system-wide diagnostics, but because of ease of troubleshooting and the ability to review the control strategy configuration and the designer's intention.

And because training applies to more of the components, there is less training. The uniformity of system-wide diagnostics also tends to reduce ambiguity, so locating problems is much faster and more effective.

With such scalable, affordable functionality, DCS capability can be delivered to applications that previously used primarily PLCs or that were not automated at all, including the following examples:

·                 Skid-mounted original equipment manufacturer (OEM) projects, such as gas delivery systems

·                 Boat monitoring and shipboard control systems

·                 Municipal water treatment systems

·                 Boiler systems

·                 Waste burning

·                 Offshore platforms

·                 Ethanol plants

·                 Metals processing

Where there are some control points that need never integrate or require alarm, trending, and other intelligence, PLCs may continue to be the control strategy of choice. But if there is even a chance that the application will change or grow, starting out with a micro- or mini-DCS will cost no more and will offer far greater potential for process improvement.

MOVING AHEAD

The trend is toward pervasive computing. Control intelligence is moving toward distributing intelligence ever closer to the process, the interface is moving closer to the user, and there is at least some interest in deploying communications across the Internet.

Whether closer, more mobile, and more public communications media are better or add more value to the manufacturing process remains to be seen. This will, of course, depend on users' evaluation of their control requirements.

They must as always weigh the trade-offs to pick the control solution that fits their process at a price they can afford. What is certain now, however, is that distributed microprocessor–based computing has brought us to a new plateau of scalability, flexibility, and economy.

Each manufacturer can now base control strategies far more on their business needs than on the limitations of available technology. IT

Behind the byline

IN MEMORIAM
It is with deep regret that we have to report the passing of three great members of our section in this past month.

Allen J. Kevser, 84 years old, joined ISA 1/3/49 and was a Life Member. Allen was President of the Section in 1965, and became a District II Vice President in 1970 He was an active member of the Philadelphia Section, and he was a long time employee of Honeywell Inc.

Howard J. Smith., on Dec. 3, 2002, age 85, of Freedom Village, Coatesville, formerly of Springfield. Beloved husband of the late Jean (nee Hoppes), devoted father of Patricia J. McBride, Kathleen E. Patenaude, Glenna Jean Deen and Judi L. Gordon; also survived by 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren and a cherished and joyful companion Elizabeth Rawding. Relatives and friends are invited to call Fri. eve 7 to 9 P.M. in THE FRANK C. VIDEON FUNERAL HOME, Sproul and Lawrence Rds., Broomall and Sat. after 10 A.M. in Grace Lutheran Church, School La. and Edmonds Ave, Drexel Hill, PA 19026 followed by his service at 11 A.M. Memorials may be sent in his name to the above named church. Int. Arlington Cem.
Published in the Philadelphia Inquirer/Philadelphia Daily News on 12/5/2002.

- Howard  J Smith  joined ISA 1/5/46 and was a Life Member. Howard was an active member in the section; some of his functions were Company Rep., Program chairman, and a early organizer of Section Trade Shows. Howard’s wit and comments will be missed. Howard was the president of the H. J. Smith Co., a Manufacturer Rep. Firm.

W. Spencer Bloor, on Dec. 8, 2002 of Meadowbrook; devoted husband of the late Barbara P. Bloor; loving father of William G. of Hamilton Square, NJ and Robert S. of Rutherford, NJ; dear grandfather of Christine, Robert, Jr., and Lindsey; brother of Jeanne Adams, Betty Snook and Harry Bloor; also survived by many nieces and nephews. The family will receive relatives and friends, Fri. after 10 A.M. at Abington Presbyterian Church, Old York and Susquehanna Rds., Abington. Funeral Service, 11 A.M. Int. private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to: Lafayette College for The Barbara P. and W. Spencer Bloor Laboratory Apparatus Fund, c/o Lafayette College, 307 Markle Hall, Easton, PA 18042. (BARON ROWLAND F.H., Abington)
Published in the Philadelphia Inquirer/Philadelphia Daily News on 12/10/2002.

-Bloor W. Spencer (84 years old), joined ISA 6/3/59, and was a Life Member. Spence was influential in the founding years of our Society and in forming the future of ISA. He was National President in 1974 and Department Vice President, he became an ISA Fellow in 1971. Spence was a life-long employee of the Leeds and Northrup Company A teacher and example to many in our profession.

PHILADELPHIA SECTION CELEBRATES ENGINEERS WEEK PROCLAMATION LUNCHEON

A large delegation from the Philadelphia Section, ISA, attended The Annual Delaware Valley Engineers Week Proclamation Luncheon on Friday, February 15, 2002 at the Union League in downtown Philadelphia.

The Engineers Week Council seated our group at our traditional front table of the packed banquet hall because of our continuous support of Engineers Week over the years.

Attending were:

Edwin F. Gregg, PE, President
Robert H. Swan, Sr, 1st Vice President
Edward M. Lempa, 2nd Vice President
John Dezzi, 3rd Vice President
Mark A. Best, Secretary
Daniel J. Oswald, Treasurer
Anthony J. Sandone, Jr, Program Chairman
Jack McGrath, PE, Past President, Student Bowl Liaison
E. Ross Forman, Past President, past Engineer of the Year
Alma K. Forman, PE, Professor Emeritus, Temple Engineering

Founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, National Engineers Week is celebrated by thousands of engineers in education, government and business. Over 100 organizations are in the consortium which plans the events. Co-chairs for 2002 are ASCE and Dupont. More details are found in the two pages spread in the business section of The Intelligencer Record of February 17, 2002.

Being Professional During a Crisis
Samuel M. Herb, PE

Class started at 8 AM of the second morning of my three-day seminar at ISA2001 in Houston.  During the first break we discovered the “small plane that crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Center.”  A TV monitor had been set up across the hall from the coffee, where we arrived in time to see the second plane crash.  There is no describing the various thoughts that went through our heads.   Now just try to complete the course, which should run to Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 PM.

Another second morning of another three-day seminar during another ISA show at another time in another city.  On the way into class I just heard about the riots in Los Angles due to the beating of Rodney King.  I was incensed.   I had worked with inner city kids while helping to convert some street gangs of Philadelphia into Boy Scout units.  I personally knew many people who worked so hard to improve themselves and their children.   I was angry and upset about rioters who quickly take away what so many people worked so long to build. 

As the class was gathering that morning, there was only one topic.  Before class started I could not contain myself from also voicing my own thoughts.  Three members of the class misunderstood me and thought I was some bleeding heart liberal, although far from the truth. They began to walk out on me and I realized how inappropriate it was for me to deviate from the course content, even if it was before class. 

I apologized to them, and had to convince them to return to class.   They reluctantly returned.  Others in class did not feel my comments were inappropriate, but they were wrong.  It was I who was unprofessional.  The three were from Los Angles.

This time I am faced with a terrible tragedy that was not just a report in the news. This actually unfolded in front of our eyes during the class break.  What am I going to do?  Say, “OK guys, break’s over, go back to work?”  There are no rules for these situations.

We had to get our fill of the TV reports.  After a bit, I reluctantly began to walk back.  Fortunately they followed the slight motion of my arm.   When seated, there was some dialog about the significance of what we witnessed.   Trying to take cues from the relative lull in conversation I said something like, “Until we get more news, we can only speculate, so for now let’s go to the topic at hand.  During the next break we can check for any new developments.”  

Next break found reports from the Pentagon crash, then rumors that US fighters shot down another commercial plane.  No one knew what was really going on or what would be next.  It was clear that we were under attack.   Again, without much to go on, or anything we could do, I was fortunate that the class allowed us to continue our “topic at hand.”

After lunch, everyone actually returned to class on time.   Rumors were rampant.  I allowed those with cell phones to leave them on their tables should family or co-workers want to call them.  The lines were jammed anyway.  It became obvious there would be no flights home for quite while.  We returned to the “topic at hand.”

Surprisingly, everyone returned the third morning to complete the class.  Realistically, what else could we do?   It was heartwarming but eerie to pass the thousands of people who came to give blood at the convention center.  The lobby was a continuously changing, orderly crowd.   Some were brought to tears at the sight.

Breaks & lunch were consumed with exotic plans on how to return home.  I had no choice but to ignore my own plans.   Somehow the class completed on time with everything covered.  Perhaps it was the island of normalcy the class needed.

I emerged from class much more exhausted than usual.  Emotions take their toll.  To my surprise, the exhibit had been cancelled an hour and a half earlier.  I had hoped to see “the floor” on the fourth day to catch up on the technologies being shown.  By now, all I could see was the floor itself …and piles of crates.   

At breakfast the next day, the waitress told me her daughter was on the 84^th floor of one of the towers, but had left her client to get something from the 46^th floor.  She stepped into the washroom, and when she emerged, she was told to leave.  She sent someone up for her client, who was in a wheel chair.  She got out, but knew nothing of the fate of the others.

On the plane back, my seatmate asked how to get from the Philadelphia airport to a train for New York.  He lived in Manhattan.  His brother-in-law was in one of the towers.  Who would have thought in Houston I would come into direct contact with those so involved in the tragedy?  We are one in such events.  Through it all we must remain vulnerable to be compassionate, but still professional.

Sam is a market analyst for Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc., Spring House, PA. Reach him at sam.herb@sea.siemens.com.

Harold L. Russel - Obituary
17 December 2001

James P. O' Connor Awarded ISA Distinguished Society Service 
16 November 2001  

ISA Philadelphia Section
HPS Incorporated
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Distinguished Society Service Award

Citation:  In recognition of outstanding service and contributions to the Society and its members.

Dedication and devotion are two words that describe Jim O’Connor’s service to ISA. He has been an active Philadelphia Section and District 2 member since joining the Society in 1977. He held an elected office for eight straight years with Philadelphia Section, beginning as Secretary in 1984, Vice President from 1986-1988, Section President in 1989-1990 and finished as Delegate in 1992. Mr. O’Connor also served on numerous Section committees and chaired the program, scholarship, Section show and nominating committees, as well as serving on the ISA Show Host Committee for several terms. He served District 2 as Treasurer from 1990-2000, and became a Senior Life member of ISA this year.

As many know, Philadelphia was one of the 18 independent technical organizations that joined together and formed ISA in 1945. Mr. O’Connor embraced the Philadelphia Section’s strong historic presence within ISA from the beginning. In fact, he conceived and implemented the Philadelphia Section’s 50^th anniversary celebration in 1992. He also served on the Society’s 50^th Anniversary Committee

Previously selected as the winner of the District 2 A.C.E. and Golden Eagle Awards, Mr. O’Connor was recently recognized as District 2’s Distinguished District Individual. He is a recipient of, and chairs, the Old Shoe Award.

Mr. O’Connor graduated from New York City Community College in 1960 with an Associate’s degree in Chemistry. Following six years with American Sugar Co., he has been in outside sales since 1966. He worked as a Senior Account Manager with HPS, Inc. in West Deptford, NJ, until his retirement on 9/30/01.

Douglas N. Brooks - Obituary
08 November 2001

Douglas N. Brooks, a long-time member of ISA and a stanch supporter of the Philadelphia section in its earlier days, died Friday, October 19, 2001, at the age of 79.
Doug’s surviving wife, Marcia, is remembered by older members of the section as not only being quite attractive, but also an active contributor to such section activities as symposia and the annual Ladies Day programs.
Doug was the son of Stephen A. Brooks, who founded Brooks Rotameter Company, which opened for business in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, in 1946. The company’s name is now Brooks Instrument, A business of Emerson Process Management, and is located in Hatfield, PA.(Website: www.emersonprocess.com/brooks).
Doug had more than 35 years of international business experience as CEO of Brooks Instrument, including involvement in acquisitions and mergers.  He was a Chevaliers du Tastevin, Nuit St. George, France; founder of North Penn YMCA; director of Continental Bank and Tiffany  Co.; and consultant to a number of worldwide companies.Doug was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and its Wharton School of Economics.  During World War II, he served in the Marines and Navy.  He was an active member of Towson Unitarian Universalist Church and Towson Elks.  In addition to his membership in ISA he was a member of the Cryogenic Society of America.

Bob Bamford Remembered
10 October 2001

It is with deep regret that we must inform all ISA instructors of the recent
passing of Mr. Bob Bamford. 

Bob was a dedicated supporter of ISA Training and the ISA Training Institute
serving as course instructor and developer for many years, as well as a
valuable contributor to the instrumentation, systems and automation
profession (see below). 

Bob Bamford served as consultant specializing in instrumentation,
application of programmable controller systems, and industrial training on
the application and programming of programmable controllers, and
instrumentation fundamentals. In his previous positions he was responsible
for the design and application of programmable controller systems used for
utility ash handling systems, designed analog and digital circuits, worked
as a field start-up engineer, and designed computational control circuits.
He earned a BSEE from Drexel Institute of Technology, Philadelphia, PA and a
MSEE from Pennsylvania State University and served as a licensed
professional engineer in the states of Pennsylvania and Delaware, as well as
a senior member of ISA. 

According to Bob's family (in lieu of flowers etc.), donations may be made
in his memory to the following:

Hadassah Medical Center (Donations can go to a number of places, but this is
the specific organization they want it to go to)
(215) 925-2188

Address:  Hadassah of Greater Philadelphia
       1518 Walnut Street
       Suite 1518
       Philadelphia, PA  19102-3419
       Main Number:  (215) 732-7100

As many of you who knew Bob personally, he will sorely be missed as a
colleague, friend and signficant part of
the ISA family.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this
difficult time.

ISA Fellow Fred Maltby Honored
09 June 2000
The Philadelphia Section Honored Frederick L. Maltby, founder and former president & CEO of Drexelbrook Engineering Company in Horsham, PA with one of its highest honors – the Outstanding Technical Achievement Award. The theme of Mr. Maltby’s acceptance speech was “The Challenges of Electronic Level Measurement and How They Were Met”.
The award, which was presented May 17, 2000, recognizes Mr. Maltby’s significant technical and management accomplishments in the field of admittance level technology. Mr. Maltby holds a number of U.S. and foreign patents in the field of electrical measurement as the developer and innovator of the RF/Admittance level transmitter.
He is considered an authority in industrial level measurement and is a member of ISA, IEEE, the American Physical Society, NFPA and IRC Advisory Committee CT-31.
Mr. Maltby received his B.S. in General Engineering from Grove City College and his M.A. in Nuclear Physics from the University of Buffalo.
He is an ISA Fellow, cited for pioneering “Innovative Capacitance and radio Frequency Level and Open Channel Flow Measurement and for introducing “Intrinsic Safety in Hazardous Environments”. He is also a past Director of the Standards & Practices committee, and received the ISA S&P Award for his committee leadership on Instrumentation for Hazardous Areas. Maltby founded Drexelbrook Engineering in 1993 and served as President and CEO until the company was acquired by Ametek in 1999.
Under his guidance, Drexelbrook became a world class, leading supplier of capacitance, RF and ultrasonic level measurement. He now serves as a consultant for Ametek Drexelbrook. Congratulations and best wishes to a true Innovator!

ISA EXPO/2000 Honors and Awards
09 June 2000

Two Philadelphia members were honored at the ISA EXPO/2000 Honors and Awards Program held during the in New Orleans. Bill Hodson became ISA Fellows while Lynn Swan was bestowed with the Distinguished Society Service Award.

Bill Hodson—the citation for Bill’s elevation to Fellow status read “In recognition of advancements in distributed control systems and fieldbus technology.”
As chief system architect, Hodson led the design team at Leeds & Northrup to develop one of the first truly distributed control systems. With a team of 12 design engineers, he championed, justified and led the company’s change to a distributed control platform from mini-computers with local I/O. Since 1996, Hodson has worked at Honeywell. There, Hudson has served as lead architect for the implementation of FOUNDATION fieldbus technology in two control platforms, the TPS (TotalPlant System) legacy and PlantScape hybrid platforms. He led a team of up to 20 design engineers on the TPS FF implementation and currently serves as lead architect on the PlantScape design. A long time advocate of FF technology, Hodson is recognized as one of the leading Fieldbus experts in the industry. His has taught the session on fieldbus application blocks for the Philadelphia section. He has also served as vice chair for the Network Theme Committee for ISA EXPO/2000 and has often served as a Fieldbus session developer. Hodson has written several articles for InTech, Oil Patch and Control Systems magazines. At ISA/96, he received the PM&C Division Best Paper Award for “Will Fieldbus Kill the DCS?” Mr. Hodson has been an ISA member since 1969 and a senior member since 1979.

Lynn Swan—the citation for Lynn Swan’s Distinguished Society Service Award read “In recognition of long standing, devoted service and contributions to organizational units of the Society and its members”
Lynn has been an outstanding leader and worker at all levels of ISA for over 15 years. In her position as president of Advanced Controls Engineering, she has enthusiastically promoted the benefits of our industry and the Society.
She has been involved in many section, district and national ISA events and activities and has devoted many years of service to the specific areas of advertising, membership, conference and exhibits. As Membership Committee chair for the last five years, Swan has been instrumental in the growth and member retention of the Philadelphia section. She has also acted as co-arrangement chair since 1997.
At the district level, Swan is editor of the newsletter and has conducted work-shops on advertising, newsletters, and membership. She has been a member of the Philadelphia Host Committees since 1985, organizing spouse programs, and planning advertising. Swan is a past recipient of the District 2 Golden Eagle Distinguished Service Award and received an Outstanding Service Award in 1992 for her work as Advertising Manager for the Philadelphia Section. She has been a senior member of ISA since joining in 1985.

Obituary- Ben E. DeRoy Jr.
18 September 2000
A memorial service was held for Ben DeRoy on August 20,2000. Ben was a member of our ISA-Philadelphia section since 1950, four years after the founding of the society and was considered one the the early pioneers in our field. Ben's profession was an Electrical Engineer in the Food Industry. He became a senior member in 1959 after meeting the rigid technical as well as experience requirements and being voted upon ny the National Membership committee. It is an honor not obtained by many of our members.

Ben was elected president of the Philadelphia Section in 1968 after serving in a number of other important assignments. He projected a remarkable ability to direct people, was very liked and did much during his term of office to ensure our success. Ben also served as program chair before he became president and arranged a year of meetings that set a new standard for the ISA.

Ben DeRoy had made profound contributions that will cast a shadow of greatness on our profession for many years to come and he will be missed.