About the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)

Founded in 1911, ASSE is the oldest and largest professional safety organization. Its more than 32,000 members manage, supervise and consult on safety, health, and environmental issues in industry, insurance, government and education. ASSE is guided by a 16-member Board of Directors, which consists of 8 regional vice presidents; three council vice presidents; Society president, president-elect, senior vice president, vice president of finance and executive director. ASSE has 14 practice specialties, 151 chapters, 28 sections and 58 student sections.

About the Louisville Chapter of the ASSE

The Louisville Chapter of the ASSE grew from what was known as the Foreman's Club of Louisville. The group received its ASSE Charter on August 1, 1946. Having requested only the Louisville area, the group instead was assigned all of Kentucky except some Northern counties and one or two Eastern counties. They were also assigned some southern Illinois and Indiana counties.

The following were some of the founding members:

  • James Van Namme Member of 1st Fed OSHA Review Commission
  • Estel Hack Louisville Safety Council
  • Harold Fortney Louisville Fire Department
  • Jess Franklin USF&G
  • L.J. Dunman Sr. L.J. Dunman
  • S.H. Chambers 1st Chapter President
  • Joe Glass Liberty Mutual
  • Ray Guesland Promoted barriers between lanes on Watterson Expressway
  • Roy Nichols Training for Women at Mengel Company, now Kroeler
  • L.J. Dunman Jr. Attended meetings before the ASSE charter was granted

Durning the early years of the Louisville Chapter, meetings were held at the old Children's Hospital for approximately ten years, then were moved to the Mayflower Hotel. L.J. Dunman Jr. was Region VII Vice-President from 1970-73, followed by Maury Clay (GE) 1973-77, and then L.J. Dunman Jr. again from 1977-81.

Pete Muntan (1952-53) was brought to American Standard to play football on a semi-pro team.

The Louisville Chapter attempted to raise money by raffling off a pig, donated by member William Kiefers (1968-69) who was employed by the Fisher Packing Company. This event was very much frowned upon by National ASSE as "non-professional".

Presidents and Important Dates

1946-47 S. Hughes Chambers, Tube Turns   1977-78 Dick D. White, General Electric
1947-48 Paul S. Johnson, Louisville Transit   1978-79 Michael D. Maguire, AGC
1948-49 John J. Cavanaugh, Amer. Air Filter   1979-80 James A. Kratt, MSD
1949-50 H.A. Zachari, Henry Vogt   1980-81 Keith C. Binns, Reynolds Aluminum
1950-51 Joseph Redelberger, Brown Forman   1981-82 Louis N. Gutermuth, P. Lorillard
1951-52 J.A. Bricken, LG&E   1982-83 Virgil L. Flannery, ALEXIS
1952-53 Peter J. Muntan, American Standard   1983-84 Hersil L. Miller, Kaiser-Filtrol
1953-54 Leslie J. Quinker, Shenley Distiller   1984-85 Lomer G. Johnson, Brown Forman
1954-55 Lee W. Robey, International Harvester   1985-86 Leon Johnson, Bremmer Biscuit
1955-56 Earl T. Ober, National Distillers   1986-87 Fred Bonnewell, LG&E
1956-57 G. Wade Amos, Aetna Insurance   1987-89 Frank Gradisek, Phillip Morris
1957-58 William G. Eldred, Jr.   1989-90 Ron Martin, Goodrich
1958-59 Walter S. Worthington, Corps of Eng.   1990-92 Vernon Adair, CAN Insurance
1959-60 Leonard Dunman, Mich. Mutual Ins.   1992-93 Don Robinson, Liberty Mutual
1960-61 Virgil R. Hall, Rohm & Haas   1993-94 Butch Kinsella, Cardinal Insulation
1961-62 Milton H. Yount, DuPont   1994-95 Tom Whitley, Cardinal Group
1962-63 Joseph E. Sparks, Schuler Axle   1995-96 Dan Hunter, KY League of Cities
1963-64 Irving Errickson, Reynolds Aluminum   1996-97 Donald F. McGill, Reynolds Aluminum
1964-65 Jesse R. Geeslin, Rohm & Haas   1997-98 Theresa Bivens, Lifetech, Inc.
1965-66 Collie Smith, Liberty Mutual   1998-99 Brooke Beyerle, TES Group Inc.
1966-67 E.C. Denny, Courier Journal   1999-00 Ronnie Hall, Jr., PW & Milward Inc.
1967-68 Curtis Lamb, Reynolds Aluminum   2000-01 Nannette N. Edwards, MSD
1968-69 William Kiefer, Fisher Packaging   2001-02 Michelle Ashby
1969-70 Eugene E. Roberts, TX Transmission   2002-03 Bart Leist
1970-71 Charles Shontz, Shenley Cooperage   2003-04 Jonathan Brown
1971 Jerome D. Vonderhaar, Rohm & Haas   2004-05 Mike Ray
1971-72 Allen G. Bailey, Corps of Engineers   2005 Bluegrass Chapter Integrated per ROC
1972-73 Robert McFarland, Ford   2005 Eastern Kentucky University Section
1973-74 Barry K. Holder, KY Labor Cabinet   2005-06 Tanis Marquette
1974-75 Robert W. Moore, Harshaw Chemical   2006-07 Steve Williams, Hitachi Cable, Inc.
1975-76 George Reed, Jr., Brown & Williamson   2007-08 Barry Spurlock, Midwest Ins. Alliance
1976-77 Peter A. Bramley, Fireman's Fund   2008-09 Don Coats, Wells Fargo

 

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