EoW May 2009

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EuroWire – May 2009 14
english corporate news
Industry mourns two old friends
Elmer ‘Ace’ Godwin
John Barteld, CEO and director of IWCS,
writes that the wire and cable industry
lost a legendary leader and friend when
Elmer ‘Ace’ Godwin, former CEO and
director, passed away in late February.
An electronics engineer, Ace worked
with the US Army Electronics Command
research and development laboratories
at Fort Monmouth, NJ. Upon his
retirement from the Army in 1979, Ace
joined the International Wire and Cable
Symposium as its CEO/Director. Ace led
the IWCS for 23 years, retiring in 2002.
Ace came from a very humble back-
ground in rural Virginia. His education
commenced in a one room, segregated
schoolhouse on his grand- parents’ farm,
where the value of education became
deeply embedded in him. Eventually
leaving the farm for further education,
Ace faced the realities of a segregated
country in the pre-World War II era.
Joining the US Army early in the war,
Ace became a member of the Tuskegee
Airmen, the all black 223rd Fighter
Squadron. Ace distinguished himself
during his service to the country, being
awarded a Good Conduct Medal and the
Distinguished Unit Badge while serving
in Italy.
After the war, Ace continued his pursuit
of education, first at Monmouth College
and eventually at Rutgers University,
where he received his BS degree in
engineering. He then went to work as a
civilian for the US Army.
Ace became a leading international
lecturer and authority on wire and
cable engineering, and contributed
significantly to the growing International
Wire and Cable Symposium, which was
also headquartered at Fort Monmouth.
John writes, “On a personal note, I have
had the honour of knowing Ace for only
the past six years, but Ace continued to
‘look over my shoulder’ at the operations
of the IWCS. He was keenly interested
in the success of the IWCS and always
available to offer a kind word of advice,
or just to offer encouragement when
obstacles loomed. I shall miss him.”
IWCS – USA
Fax: +1 732 389 0991
Website:
William (Bill) F
Hankel
The founder of H&W Pressure Welding,
Bill Hankel of Warminster, Philadelphia,
died on 6th February 2009, aged 84.
A WWII veteran serving in the United
States Navy, Bill was previously
employed as a theatre manager for
Warner Brothers in Philadelphia. The
Heintz Corporation in Philadelphia then
employed him for 35 years before he
started his own business, H&W Pressure
Welding. In 1984 he became sole USA
distributor for British company PWM
(Pressure Welding Machines).
Following a very fit and active life Bill
never really submitted to retirement
convinced that the next day he would
be back at work. A keen follower of
thoroughbred horse racing, Bill enjoyed
nothing better than a day at the races.
Bill was the father of a son, William
F Hankel Jr, and three daughters, Carolyn
Schermerhorn, Suzanne Davidson, and
Jennifer Schermerhorn, and had eight
grandchildren. His wife, Constance
J Hankel, predeceased him.