Howard Beaver Jr

Howard O. (Mike) Beaver, Jr., 83, a retired specialty steel manufacturing company executive died Monday, November 24 at The Highlands at Wyomissing. Mr. Beaver was formerly of Muhlenberg Park.

He was the husband of Jean L. (Shollenberger) Beaver. They were married on June 14, 1945.

Born May 18, 1925 in Lebanon, PA, he was the son of the late Howard O. and Lessie (Yocum) Beaver.

He was a 1942 graduate of Mount Penn High School, he attended the United States Naval Academy in 1944 while serving in the U.S. Navy and graduated with a BS in Metallurgy from Pennsylvania State University in 1948. He received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Albright College in 1982.

Mr. Beaver began his career at the former Carpenter Steel Company in 1944 as a mill employee. Upon graduation from college, he began as a metallurgist. He served as plant metallurgist, melting; manager mill metallurgy; assistant general superintendent; assistant vice-president steel manufacturing; vice-president of production; group vice-president steel; president, chairman of the board, chief executive officer, 1971-83; board of directors, retired 1993. He was a former member of the advisory panel of the Congressional Office of Technological Assessment, Washington. He served on the board of Directors of Girard Bank, Mellon Bank, Hershey Foods Company, and Hershey Entertainment and Resort Company.

He taught metallurgy at the former Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute in Wyomissing after graduation from Penn State. The school became part of Penn State and later Berks Campus in 1958. It began a lifelong connection as a volunteer for Penn State and the Berks Campus.

Mr. Beaver was an executive board past president, Boy Scouts of America- Hawk Mountain Council; past president advisory board Berks Campus- Penn State University; Trustee Pennsylvania State University, University Park; general chairman capital campaign at Berks Campus; Board of Trustees Chit Chat Foundation; Past President of the Muhlenberg Lions Club, active with United Way of Berks County, Pennsylvanians For Effective Government, and the Keystone Games.

Mr. Beaver was the recipient of many awards including: Certificate of Distinction Financial World, 1979; Silver Award The Wall Street Transcript, 1980; Horatio Alger Award, 1981; Humanitarian Award B'nai B'rith International, 1981; Distinguished Pennsylvanian William Penn Comm., 1981; Benjamin Fairless Award from AIME, 1981; Businessman of the Year Berks County Chamber of Commerce, 1982; Billy Wallis Founders Award Electric Metal Makers Guild Inc., 1982; Wilbur Doran Award United Way of Berks County, 1985; Hall of Fame Junior Achievement of Berks County, 1985; Thun Award, 1990; Fellow American Society of Metals; Distinguished Alumni Award Pennsylvania State University, 1991; Caron Award from the Caron Foundation; Mount Penn High School Hall of Fame; and Fellow of the American Society of Metals (Bradley Stoughton Award, 1967, David Ford McFarland Award, 1972, Medal of Achievement for Research, 1980, Distinguished Life Membership Award, 1988).

Two buildings have been named in honor of Mr. Beaver: The Beaver Community Center at Berks Campus of Penn State and the Beaver Family Center headquarters building for Hawk Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America.

He was a member of Alsace Lutheran Church where he served in various capacities including President of the Church Council.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Bonne J., wife of James E. Riefenstahl of Gilbertsville; a son, Thomas A., husband of Cathy A. Beaver of Sinking Spring; and five grandchildren: James A. husband of Marcia, Gregg T. husband of Rebecca, and Matthew H. Riefenstahl and friend Monica Roberts, and T. Andrew and Caitlin A. Beaver. He is also survived by three great grandchildren: Luke, Lauren, and James Riefenstahl.

He is also survived by a sister, Doris Ward of York, PA and her family.

Contributions may be made to Hawk Mountain Council # 528, Boy Scouts of America, 5027 Pottsville Pike, Reading, PA 19605 or Alsace Lutheran Church, 2201 Kutztown Road, Reading, PA 19605.