University Park, Pa. — At its meeting Friday (Jan. 23) Penn State's Board of Trustees recognized the passing of Trustee Emeritus Howard O. “Mike” Beaver Jr., a retired executive in specialty steel manufacturing, with a formal resolution honoring his 12 years of service to the University. He was named a trustee emeritus in January 1992.
Beaver, formerly of Muhlenberg Park, Pa., died Nov. 24, 2008, in Wyomissing at the age of 83. Born May 18, 1925, in Lebanon, Pa., he was a son of the late Howard O. and Lessie (Yocum) Beaver and the husband of Jean L. (Shollenberger) Beaver. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a sister, daughter, son, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Beaver attended the United States Naval Academy while serving in the Navy. He received a bachelor's degree in metallurgy from Penn State in 1948 and an honorary doctor of science degree from Albright College in 1982.
Beaver entered his profession in 1944 as a mill employee at Carpenter Steel Company and began as a metallurgist following his college graduation, rising through the ranks from plant metallurgist to president, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, 1971-1983. He also served on the company's board of directors, retiring in 1993.
He taught metallurgy at Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute after graduation from Penn State. The institute became part of Penn State and was later named its Berks campus in 1958. At the time of that affiliation Beaver began his service to his alma mater and to Penn State Berks. In addition to his service as a member of Penn State's Board of Trustees, Beaver was past president of the advisory board and general chairman of the capital campaign at Penn State Berks. The Beaver Community Center at Penn State Berks was named in his honor. He was named a distinguished alumnus of the University in 1991.
Beyond the University, Beaver served as executive board past president, Boy Scouts of America, Hawk Mountain Council; member, board of trustees, Chit Chat Foundation; and past president of the Muhlenberg Lions Club. He was active with the United Way of Berks County, Pennsylvanians for Effective Government and the Keystone Games.
He was a former member of the advisory panel of the Congressional Office of Technological Assessment, Washington. He served on the boards of directors of Girard Bank, Mellon Bank, Hershey Foods Company, and Hershey Entertainment and Resort Company.
Notable among the many awards Beaver received were the Horatio Alger Award (1981); the Humanitarian Award, B'nai B'rith International (1981); Distinguished Pennsylvanian, William Penn Society (1981); Benjamin Fairless Award, American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME, 1981); Billy Wallis Founders Award, Electric Metal Makers Guild (1982); Silver Award, The Wall Street Transcript (1980); Caron Award from the Caron Foundation; and Fellow of the American Society of Metals.