Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology (FSCT) Past President Richard M. Hille, vice president of operations for The Flood Co., Hudson, OH, has been named the 2006 recipient of the FSCT's George Baugh Heckel Award. Considered the most prestigious of FSCT awards, the George Baugh Heckel Award honors an individual whose contributions to the organization have been outstanding.

While serving as president of the FSCT in 2003-2004, Hille initiated the Structure & Governance Task Force, a group that was influential in recommending major changes to the FSCT's governance structure. As immediate past president, he headed the Transition Task Force, which was responsible for the design and implementation of the restructured FSCT bylaws. A member of the FSCT's executive committee (1988-92 and 2001-05), he also served on the board of directors (1985-92 and 2000-05). Hille led several FSCT committees, including Manufacturing (1983-87), Program (1988) and Host (1980). As a charter member of the Professional Development Committee, serving from 1984-1990, and a trustee of the Coatings Industry Education Foundation, from 1997-2003, Hille has been a strong advocate for expanding educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as providing professional development programs for industry colleagues.

Presentation of the Heckel Award will be made at the FSCT Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, October 31, at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel. The AGM will be held in conjunction with ICE 2006, scheduled for November 1-3 in New Orleans, LA.