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The following history of the Canton-Alliance-Massillon Section of ASME was compiled by Tony Habib. Many thanks go to him. This history is a living document. Its content will be updated from time to time. Please check back on occassion. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers was founded on February 17, 1880 in the editorial offices of the AMERICAN MACHINIST magazine. The 30 founding members were brought together by Professor John E. Sweet of the Stevens Institute of Technology. In 1905, the society promoted the formation of local branches by chartering the Milwaukee Section as the first local section of the ASME. In 1920, the Akron-Canton Section was formed. By the late 1940's the Canton area's steel and power industries had grown considerably, and the interests of Canton area members diverged from the rubber industries of the Akron area. Also in this period, transportation between these neighborhoods was much less convenient than it is today with the interstate system connecting Canton and Akron. For these reasons, the Canton-Alliance-Massillon (CAM) Subsection of the Akron-Canton Section was approved by ASME Council at the May 24, 1949, Executive Committee meeting. The first meeting of the Subsection was held at Yantz Cottage on 12th Street NW in Canton. E. C. Smith, Chief Metallurgist for the Timken Company, was the speaker at this first meeting of 62 members. Rapid growth in membership interest and activity encouraged a resolution to ASME Council on May 1, 1950, that Section Status be granted to the CAM Section. The request for Section Status was approved by Council on May 18, 1950, just one year after formation of the Subsection. Earnst W. Allardt was instrumental in the formation of the CAM Section. At the time, he was Chairman of the Akron-Canton Section. He then served as the first Chairman of the Subsection. In addition to being made an honorary member of the CAM Board of Directors, he was elected to National Office as Vice President of Region V and the National Board of Directors. He was awarded the ASME 75th Anniversary Medal by the CAM Section in 1955. Over the years, the CAM Section's most memorable meetings reflect on technologies that have fascinated the nation. In October, 1958, noted rocket scientist Willey Ley spoke on "The Conquest of Nearby Space" to 450 members and guests. This was the largest meeting in the history of the CAM Section and was held in the Timken High School Auditorium to accommodate the large attendance. In 1979, Dr. Peter Lissaman was invited to speak on the Gossamer Condor Project, the record breaking human powered flight across the English Channel. The meeting attracted 183 members and guests, the Section's second largest meeting. In 1981, Dr. Edward Teller, one of the key developers of atomic fusion, spoke at the 1981 Engineers Week banquet on the subject of energy depletion and materials scarcity, as well as the need for energy produced from atomic processes. In 1983, a demonstration of home/personal computers attracted 147 members, the Section's third largest meeting. The demonstration was given by Robert Leasure of Software Sourcery, with "What Model is Best for You?" as the theme. The Section has been quite active in civic affairs by participating in the Junior Achievement awards program and providing judges for Stark County Science Fairs since 1967. One of the first Engineer's Explorer Posts for the Boy Scouts was sponsored in 1966. The Post was unique in regard to the technical programs presented to the boys by local industry on a bi-weekly basis. The Explorer Post was functional until 1967 and was then dropped due to a lack of participation by high school students in favor of the JETS (Junior Engineering Technical Society). The JETS Club was successful, having good student participation and industry-sponsored technical programs. However, the club suffered from conflicting school activities and was later dropped in 1970. Explorer Post activity was reactivated in 1977 and continues to the present. During 1958 and 1959, CAM Section responded to the challenge of a new United Engineering Center in New York City. Under the leadership of R. F. Cornish as Building Fund Chairman, the CAM Section was one of the first in the nation to exceed its quota. The Section contributed $6,414 to achieve 149 percent of its quota, which was third highest among the 96 local sections of ASME. During the 1961-1962 season, the membership of the CAM Section suffered from the purchase of the Griscom-Russell Company in Massillon and the subsequent move of personnel. This move resulted in the termination of the Ladies' Auxiliary which was formed in 1957. The Women's Auxiliary was again organized in 1972 and has continued to the present. Jean Johanson received the organization certificate from the National President Ethel Boyer in November, 1973. In October of 1977, the name changed to ASME Auxiliary. The formation of an IRAC workshop for officers and committee chairman was initiated in 1966 for Region V. CAM Section hosted the workshop for the first two years and since then in 1972, 1980, 1989, 1992, and 1995. In 1970, CAM Section played an active role in the formation of the Canton Joint Engineering Council (CJEC). The CJEC joins ten engineering and scientific societies in the Canton area to promote public service, cooperation in technical activities, meetings of mutual interest, and education programs. As a sponsoring member in CJEC, CAM Section participates in National Engineers Week activities and programs. In 1977-1978, the Vocational Services and Continuing Education Committee of the CAM Section lead an effort through the CJEC Societies to provide information to area high school guidance counselors on engineering education requirements. The 1977-1978 Vocational Services and Continuing Education Committee, chaired by J. B. Kitto, also started the "Engineer for a Day" program during National Engineers Week in February, 1978, with 120 high school seniors participating. This highly successful program has continued in the years since then, with 160 students participating in 1992. Through the efforts of this same committee and Carson Miller, ASME member and faculty member at Stark Technical College, a Mechanical Engineers' Club was established with 26 student charter members in January, 1978. Later, through the efforts of J. B. Kitto, the Stark Tech engineering club was officially recognized as a Student Section of ASME. The Student Section charter was presented to the Stark Tech faculty advisor and student representative at the February, 1986 Dinner Meeting. 1980 marked the year of four CAM Section members achieving the ASME Centennial award for outstanding engineering contributions. Harry Jones and Bob Sharp were recognized for their contributions to railroad engineering, and Dick Dohrmann and Norm Johanson received the award for their contributions in nuclear fuel and steam plant engineering. In 1983, the "Technology Today" program was introduced to increase the technical content of CAM meetings to provide members with a convenient and economic means of keeping abreast of recent technical developments by drawing on the expertise of CAM Section members. Each year since then, one Section meeting is set aside for this program in which three or four high quality technical presentations are given. P. E. Doepker and R. P. Glasser were presented with CAM Section Recognition Award Certificates for spearheading the Technology Today Program. In 1987, ASME National began sponsoring the Distinguished Lecturer Program to make nationally recognized speakers economically available to local sections. Through this program, the CAM Section has been able to offer notable speakers on subjects including "The Composites Age", "Inelastic Behavior of Materials", "In Search of the Pool Boiling Curve", and in 1992, "The Changing Perception of Science and Engineering in our Society". Providing Continuing Education opportunities for Section members has been a priority for the CAM Section leadership. CAM Section has sponsored professional development seminars on CAD/CAM, Stress Management, and Codes and Standards. In addition, the section publishes a Continuing Education Newsletter to inform members of local short courses and seminars that will keep members' skills current in advancing technologies and support the upward mobility of our membership. J. B. Sandifer was presented a certificate of recognition in May, 1984 for his extensive work as Professional Development Committee Chairman and for his efforts in issuing the Continuing Education Newsletters. The quality of the CAM Section programs and individual members has been recognized by ASME National and sister technical societies. During the 1986 National Engineers Week Banquet, J. B. Kitto was honored by being named recipient of the Canton Regional Society of Professional Engineers "Young Engineer of the Year" award. In 1991, Kitto was awarded the George Westinghouse Silver medal for outstanding leadership and high technical competency in the fields of heat transfer and fluid flow, and J. R. Farr was awarded the Pressure Vessel and Piping Award for outstanding contributions in the field of pressure vessels and piping technology. In the same year, Kitto was also elected to National Office as Vice President of Region V. The CAM Section has had numerous members recognized for their contributions in the field of engineering by being promoted to the grade of ASME Fellow. Top of page Back to About ASME & CAM