Roy Trowbridge is a lifelong ASME volunteer and dedicated Archimedes Club member.  His one request for this commentary was notable mention of his alma mater, so here goes: Stanford University, a 116 year old institution boasts the education of William Hewett and David Packard, former President Herbert Hoover, author John Steinbeck and of course, our Roy P. Trowbridge, mechanical engineer.  According to the National Research Council, Stanford’s Mechanical Engineering Doctoral Program is ranked number one in the United States.  Stanford University is the reason Roy Trowbridge is an engineer.  His original intent was to major in mathematics, but having realized that math was not an exact science, he pursued an engineering degree instead.  Roy believes wholeheartedly that “everything we use, see, feel and experience involves engineering; it’s a basic occupation of mankind.”  It is no surprise then that he is committed to the future of engineering.

Roy began a career at General Motors in 1940 as a test engineer, examining armored vehicles.  He would do the same work for the military after the WWII draft.  Upon a return to civilian life and to GM, Roy quickly moved from GM Research to the Standards Department, with excellent writing abilities in tow, where he retired in 1980 as the Director for Engineering Standards after forty years of committed service.  Work in Standards offered relationships with other industries including the automotive, electrical, agricultural, and insurance industries to name a few.  From a career in the industry, Roy is most impressed at the general growth of Standards activity in the US and the way it combines many activities.  Consider Y14, an active Committee that ASME administers, that combined many similar Standards areas that were once at odds. 

“I have had a very interesting career, even though I never designed anything.”   This is an understatement when you couple his service to Standards and GM with his volunteerism.  Roy was active with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the voice of the US standards and conformity assessment system, serving as Board President from 1970-1974.  Roy traveled worldwide representing ANSI, sharing innovation and best practices with international colleagues.  Roy was also involved with the US Power Squadron, an educational non-profit organization dedicated to safer boating practices.   He incorporated his engineering background to serve as Commander and District Officer.  Roy speaks highly of our society stating that “ASME was a major factor in my development as an administrator and leader in engineering; it gave me the opportunity to really spread my wings.”  And spread his wings he did, as an ASME Director, member of the Board of Governors, and VP on the Council of Codes and Standards in time spanning 1964 to 1982.  Roy is also the recipient of two ASME awards. 

Today, Roy finds great fun in following the progress of The ASME Foundation, on which he previously served as a Board member, is active on the Board of Trustees and is a full-fledged member of the Archimedes Club.  Years ago, Roy made an initial gift toward the Capital Campaign to finance The Foundation Grants Program.  More recently, he has made another generous gift in the form of a charitable gift annuity, funds that will specifically benefit the Engineering the Greater Good Campaign for the Federal Fellows Program.  Roy understands the many benefits of his planned gift including the chance of philanthropy while still alive, an opportunity to improve his income while in retirement, the tax advantages, appreciated securities, etc.  He is even more enthused about the impact of his contribution: “this new gift can further the influence of engineering on national policy, [offering] common sense to Washington politicians, based on good engineering science rather than political expediency.”   Well put, Roy Trowbridge, well put.  Stanford University should be proud.