10/10/95
Mitch Emmons (emmonmb@mail.auburn.edu)
U.S. MANUFACTURING EXPERT TO SPEAK IN AU LECTURE SERIES
AUBURN -- Tracy O'Rourke, an Auburn University alumnus and an expert on U.S. manufacturing, will be the guest speaker for the first lecture of the Thomas Walter Center Distinguished Lecture Series that begins Friday.
The lecture, "Engineering and Business -- Critical Partners in America's Manufacturing Turnaround,"will begin at 2:15 p.m. at the AU Hotel and Conference Center, Meeting Room 1.
O'Rourke, who graduated from AU in 1956 with a degree in mechanical engineering, is chairman and chief executive officer with Varian Associates Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. -- one of the firms that formed the nucleus of California's Silicon Valley high-technology industrial mecca.
With annual sales of $1.5 billion, Varian is a major producer of components and equipment for health care, scientific and industrial markets worldwide.
Before joining Varian, O'Rourke was one of three executive vice presidents and operating officers with Rockwell International Corp., with management responsibility for the Rockwell-owned Allen-Bradley Company, Rockwell Graphic Systems and Rockwell Communications Systems.
O'Rourke began his business career as a marketing development specialist with DuPont after graduating from AU and spending three years with the Air Force. He also held senior management posts with Chemetron Corp. and the Carborundum Company.
O'Rourke in 1978 became president and CEO of Allen-Bradley, where he was credited with transforming the $450 million privately held firm into a $1.4 billion international electronics business.
He was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in February.
AU's Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management was established in 1989 under a grant from the Perot Foundation. Its mission is to develop university curriculum materials and to conduct research that links business with engineering programs.
oct95:au-o'rourke
CONTACT: Dayne Aldridge, 334/844-4333.