[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 144 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2067]]


                  CONGRATULATIONS J. MICHAEL WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 23, 1997

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, the ability for our manufacturing industry 
to continue as the world's leader depends upon the knowledge and 
inventiveness of the professionals who devote their lives to their 
respective industries. The automotive industry, which is so important 
in my congressional district, is fortunate to have dedicated 
individuals such as J. Michael Williams, who this year received the 
James P. Keating Founders' Freedom Award from the American Foundrymen's 
Society.
  His award from the American Foundrymen's Society is to recognize the 
many contributions he has made to the foundry industry, and his active 
involvement in government affairs, human resource management, safety, 
health and education. He leads a team of 13,000 people at five 
manufacturing sites and two development facilities. He was directly 
responsible for an outstanding safety record a these facilities, with 
only four tenths of one work day lost per 100 employees, while 
according to the National Safety Council iron and steel foundries 
generally lost 8.3 work days per 100 employees. Several technological 
advances were achieved under Mike's direction. He instituted the first 
plasma cupola in North America, high volume casting of aluminum into 
greensand, and the use of GMBond, a new environmentally friendly core 
sand binder.
  Mike Williams is the components manufacturing manager for the General 
Motors Powertrain Group, working in Saginaw, MI. He has been a leader 
for GM in the development of many advances in casting technology which 
help make our cars both more durable and more efficient. Having started 
at Delco Remy as an hourly General Motors Institute student, he rose to 
several supervisory positions, including superintendent of Delco Remy's 
plant 10 in 1980, and divisional production manager in 1981. He was 
director of production control at the Oldsmobile Division in Lansing in 
August, 1984, and then for the Buick-Oldsmobile-Cadillac J/N product 
team. He also worked at the Central Foundry Division as director of 
materials management. In 1990 he was appointed manager of the chassis 
and transmissions strategic business unit. And in 1992 he became 
director of manufacturing-casting operations for GM powertrain.
  Michael Williams has most definitely had a career of success and 
advancement, culminating in this richly deserved award from his peers 
in the foundry industry. I urge you and all of our colleagues, Mr. 
Speaker, to join me in congratulating him for his award, and in wishing 
him every continued success.

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