UA Honors Five Distinguished Engineering Fellows

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama College of Engineering recently honored five alumni and friends of the College by inducting them into its class of 2007 Distinguished Engineering Fellows.

Ronald R. Campbell, Ronald W. Gray, Walter Jones, David S. King and Walter Schoel Jr. received the top honor the College presents in a March 31 ceremony at NorthRiver Yacht Club.

Ronald R. Campbell has dedicated 27 years of engineering expertise to Southern Company. Campbell has held numerous positions in the company, including engineer, project supervisor, operations manager and general manager. In 2000, Campbell was promoted to vice president of technical field services. Currently, he provides technical services to all the operating fossil/hydro plants for Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power and Mississippi Power, and he is responsible for system-wide major technology insertion to help the plants solve problems. Campbell graduated from The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1973. Campbell resides in Birmingham.

Ronald W. Gray has become one of Alabama’s leading experts in missile defense and space programs systems. In 1981, Gray graduated from The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Upon graduation, he began working with Combustion Engineering Inc. in Birmingham as a developmental engineer. In 1985, Gray moved to Huntsville and joined Automated Sciences Group as an engineer. Through his 13 years with ASG, Gray held numerous leadership positions, including program manager, director and vice president. In 1998, Gray founded Gray Research. As president, he is responsible for the overall management and operation of the company, which has more than 150 employees providing engineering and management assistance to the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA. Gray serves as president of the board of directors for the Alabama Aerospace Industry Association and as a member of the board of directors of the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce. Gray resides in Huntsville.

Walter L. Jones has been a leader in the global chemical industry for the past 40 years. As president and chief operating officer of the Pine Chemicals Association, he oversees the operation of a major trade association representing companies in 14 countries. Jones graduated from The University of Alabama in 1964 with a degree in chemical engineering. Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Army for two years, and then joined Union Camp Corp. Jones gained experience with Union Camp in a number of positions, including plant superintendent, plant manager, and division manufacturing manager. He continued to advance at Union Camp, becoming vice president of aroma chemicals and vice president of the chemical group. Following his success at Union Camp, Jones became the president and chief operating officer of Nottingham Company in 1996. In his current position with the Pine Chemicals Association, Jones is responsible for representing and promoting the interests of producers and distributors of chemicals derived from pine trees. Jones resides in Atlanta.

David S. King has excelled in various leadership roles, proof of his expertise in petroleum engineering. King graduated from The University of Alabama in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Upon graduation, King joined Halliburton, one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to oil and gas industries. In 2004, he was named senior vice president of global operations with management responsibilities for Halliburton’s seven geographical regions. Currently, King serves as senior vice president of production optimization and is responsible for strategic leadership and implementation of all business aspects for Halliburton’s production enhancement and completion tools service lines. King resides in Houston.

Walter Schoel Jr. has continued a tradition of engineering excellence through his service to Walter Schoel Engineering Co. Schoel began working for Walter Schoel Engineering while he was in high school. The company was founded by his grandfather, Herman Schoel, and offers civil engineering and land surveying services. After World War II, Schoel returned to school and received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Capstone in 1957. Following graduation, Schoel returned to the company. He was promoted to president in 1968. For the next 30 years, he led Walter Schoel Engineering during continuous growth, and he worked on many projects and properties that shaped the city of Birmingham. In 1998, Schoel was succeeded as president by his son, Walter Schoel III. He continues to serve as the company’s corporate secretary. Schoel resides in Birmingham.

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has about 1,900 students and nearly 100 faculty. In the last seven years, students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater scholars, Hollings scholars and Portz scholars.