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William G. McLean, director of engineering from 1962 until his retirement in 1975, died December 21, 2002 in Scanton after a long illness. He served as head of the department of engineering science from 1946 until his retirement.
From the Scranton Times-Tribune, Dec. 22, 2002:
Born in Scranton, son of the late Michael and Matilda Geueke McLean, McLean was educated in Scranton public schools and earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Lafayette College, graduating summa cum laude. He earned a master of science degree in mathematics from Brown University and was awarded an honorary doctorate in engineering from Lafayette College.
He taught for three years at West Scranton High School, then became an instructor at Lafayette College, where he taught for about 40 years. He was a member of the mechanical engineering department, then became head of the newly formed mechanics department, later the engineering science department. During his tenure, he was a three-time recipient of the Thomas Roy Jones Award for superior teaching. He retired as director of engineering at Lafayette.
For several years in the 1940s, he was a theoretical physicist at Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y. After retiring from Lafayette College, he continued his consulting work in engineering education.
A life fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, he served in section, regional and national offices, including the vice presidency of Region III and vice presidency of codes and standards. He was active in the National Society of Professional Engineers and the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, where he was past president. He was past chairman of the Middle Atlantic Section of the American Society for Engineering Education, a member of the Pennsylvania Registration Board for Professional Engineers, serving a term as president, and past chairman of the Association of Engineering Colleges of Pennsylvania.
He continued his activities on the Board on Performance Test Codes and the Council on Codes and Standards of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He was co-recipient of the first ASME Performance Test Codes Medal and recipient of the first ASME Codes and Standards Medal. He was a past member and chairman of ASME’s organization committee, and a member and past chairman of its Committee on Technical Planning. He was also a member of its Board on Professional Development.
He was co-author of the Schaum Series book on engineering mechanics and co-author of an engineering mechanics text published in its second edition by the International Textbook Co. of Scranton.
He continued his activities with the Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums, Easton, where he served as chairman since 1970. He was vice president of the United Neighborhood Centers of Lackawanna County and vice president of the board of governors of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity at Lafayette College. He was also a member of the national honor societies Phi Beta Kappa, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi and Eta Kappa Nu.
He was a member of Holy Cross Church, Bellevue section.
Surviving are three nephews, Michael, Pittsburgh; Brian, Springfield, Va., and Kevin, Alexandria, Va.; five grandnephews; and two grandnieces.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Wilhelmina “Minnie” McLean; and a brother, Dr. Joseph McLean.