James Calkin, retired Vice President at the HORN Company, will receive the 2018 Samson-Adler Award this morning. Calkin first became an ACA Member in 1966 and spent 50 years as a member. During that time he served on both ACA’s Industry Suppliers Committee and the Architectural Coatings Committee for 25 years.

Raised in New York City, he graduated in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and History from Columbia University. Calkin served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps which included a tour in Vietnam. In 1966 he joined The Sherwin-Williams Company’s Container division. In 1967 he went to work for the Titanium Pigment Division of NL Industries until 1973. Calkin then joined Borden Chemical and stayed until 1977, followed by five years at Reichhold Chemical. In 1983 he joined E.T. Horn-as HORN was formally known-where he remained until retiring in March 2017.

Calkin has be a stalwart supporter of the coatings industries a member of the Los Angeles Society for Coatings Technology (LASCT) for 50 years, during which he served on the society’s Board of Directors from 1987 to 1993; and president from 1990 to 1991. For his dedication to the coating industry he earned an Honorary Membership from the society in 2017.He also helped establish the coatings program at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and serves as a member of its Industrial Advisory Committee.

He was presented with the Industry Statesman Award by the American Coatings Association in April 2018.