Left to right: Ben Easterling (representing William H. Mobley, Ph.D.), Mark Carson, Janet Chordas (representing Nora Severance Whitten),
Greg Macko, Shirley Bauschlinger (representing Harry J. Bauschlinger), Frederick A. Slezak, M.D., MBA, Duane Richard Stephens
Photo courtesy of Carl Boon, The Barberton Herald
Harry J. Bauschlinger, Class of 1943
After graduating from Barberton High School, Bauschlinger served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-1946 (World War II). After his honorable discharge he attended Kent State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1950. In 1955, also at Kent State University, he earned a Masters Degree in Education.
Bauschlinger worked in the Barberton City School District for 30 years. He served first as a teacher and then as an administrator. He was well respected, not just by his students, but also by his colleagues. Bauschlinger remained active in the schools after retiring in 1980 by working on levy campaigns and volunteering at Memorial and Oakdale Elementary Schools. Bauschlinger not only influenced students in the classroom, but also on the court and on the field. He coached basketball, football, Little League baseball and was a YMCA football coach for 17 years. After retiring from his career in education, he started a new career in politics and community involvement. Bauschlinger served 20 years on the Barberton City Council. He also served the community through the Red Cross, Mum Fest, the park’s board, BCDC, participated in the sale of Barberton Citizen’s Hospital and was an active member of Covenant Baptist Church.
He was recognized as an Akron Beacon Journal Teacher of the Year and received many other awards including the O.C. Barber Award (1991), Outstanding Community Leader of the Year (Chamber of Commerce), and Varsity Teen Center Citizen of the Year (2002). Former Mayor Bob Genet profoundly stated: “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. If we all lit as many candles as Harry did, we would know our life was very successful.”
Bauschlinger passed away June 21, 2003. At that time, he and his wife Shirley of 53 years had two children, Jim (Becky) and Lori Huffman (the late David) and five grandchildren. The family has grown over the years to include spouses of the grandchildren, as well as three great-grandchildren with two more on the way. Bauschlinger’s son Jim followed his path of his involvement in the city and has held the position of Barberton’s Building Commissioner for the past 30 years. His daughter Lori followed his path in education and is completing her 29th year of teaching in Barberton.
Mark Carson, Class of 1974
Carson earned a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry & Mathematics in 1978 from Michigan State University. He also earned a C. Phil in Mathematics from the University of California, Berkley in 1981 and attended the Doctoral Program in Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. While a senior at Barberton High School, Carson was the Captain of the BHS Academic Challenge team which won the Grand Championship in 1974.
Starting as a Graduate Assistant, Carson worked in the Department of Mathematics at Michigan State University and then as a Teaching Assistant in the Mathematics Department for the University of California. Carson worked as a consultant for the University of California’s Chancellor’s Office, CIT-Alcatel, and the National Association of Realtors & Systems Integrations, Inc. In 1986 he was a Senior Software Engineer for PSI International, Inc. He was an Advisory Programmer at Lockheed-Martin for ten years where he won many awards; Special Appreciation Award, Informal Award, Individual Achievement Award, Publication Award and Invention Award. Since 1996 Carson has been a Computer Scientist for the National Institute of Standards and Technology where he received the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal in 2004. He has also received the New Research Award, Outstanding Technical Contribution Award & the Innovations in Measurement Science Award.
Carson authored and co-authored many publications. Two of his top accomplishments are “NIST Net – A Linux-based Network Emulation Tool” and “Secure Xenix/AIX Windowing System”. Carson has reading knowledge of French, Italian, Russian, Latin, Greek, Japanese and Chinese. He holds patents on “A Trusted Path Mechanism for Virtual Terminal Environments” and “A Trusted Path Mechanism for TELNET” and also has several patents pending.
Carson lives in Rockville, Maryland with his wife, Mary who is a biochemist with the FDA. They have two daughters, Melanie, an artist and Leila, a graduate student in Mathematics at the University of Oregon.
Nora (Severance) Whitten, Class of 1973
Whitten graduated from the University of Akron in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. She continued her education at the University of Akron where she received her Masters Degree in Business Administration in 1982 and her Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2001. Whitten also attended the McDermott International “Leading Growth” program, the Babcock & Wilcox Leadership Development program and the Project Management Institute.
From 1977-1978 Whitten was a buyer of electronics equipment for the U.S. Department of Defense in Dayton, Ohio. In 1978 she started her years of employment with the Babcock & Wilcox Company, first in Contract Administration and Purchasing and then as Project Manager for OEM and Turnkey Projects. She served as Project Manager for many domestic and international power projects. After leaving B&W to attend law school, Whitten became a Corporate Attorney for Brouse McDowell, LPA in 2001. She returned to Babcock & Wilcox, Power Generation Group in 2006 as an attorney. While there, she was a key player in negotiation of the profitable suspension and ultimate termination of a $1B contract for supply of coal-fired boilers and the negotiation of a contract for the transfer and completion of two in-process boilers to a new customer. From 2008-2013 Whitten was Assistant General Counsel for the Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group and the Technical Services Group, both based in Lynchburg, Virginia. Here she was responsible for all legal matters for B&W’s government business. Whitten also participated as a legal partner for the launch of the Babcock & Wilcox MPower™ small modular reactor.
Whitten has always treated her colleagues at all levels with dignity and respect. She is known for taking the time out of a busy schedule to uplift others and has been a tremendous role model and mentor. Whitten served on the Board for the Good Samaritan Hunger Center, is a Math Counts volunteer, has worked with University of Akron law students on interviewing skills and career planning and has been a mentor to new attorneys establishing government contracts practice.
Whitten is the daughter of Walter and Eleanor Severance, both deceased. She resides in Lynchburg, Virginia, with her husband of 32 years, Patrick, and practices law part time. Nora and Patrick have two sons, Andrew and John.
William H. Mobley, Ph.D., Class of 1959
Mobley earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Economics from Denison University and his Doctorate Degree in industrial-organizational psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park. He also has been awarded honorary degrees from the University of the Americas in Pueblo, Mexico and the University of Akron. He is an Honorary Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Mobley has served as a visiting Senior Fulbright Professor at National Taiwan University, visiting professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and as a visiting fellow at Cornell University. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Society of Industrial-Organizational Psychology. He is executive editor of Advances in Global Leadership, (Emerald Group Publishing) as well as the author of multiple articles and books on turnover, leadership and multinational organizations.
Mobley is the Visiting Chair Professor of Management and co-director of the Asia Pacific Academy of Economics and Management at the University of Macau and Chairman of Mobley Group Pacific Ltd. (MGP). His focus is on leadership development, executive assessment and coaching, strategic HR, and organizational culture and change, particularly with leaders and aspiring leaders in China and Asia-Pacific.
Mobley serves on the Board of Directors of several firms in Hong Kong and PR China, and the Ta Tong Education and Culture Foundation, Taipe. He previously served as manager of HR research and succession planning for PPG Industries; as dean of the College of Business Administration and later President of Texas A&M University (now President Emeritus) and Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Mobley is also Professor Emeritus at China Europe International Business School in Shanghai where he taught for eight years and served as academic advisor for executive education programs and where he was program director for the IBM A/P Client Executive Program, the L’Oreal North Asia Transition to Advanced Management Program and the Diploma in Management Program among others.
Frederick A. Slezak, M.D., MBA, Class of 1972
Slezak started his studies at the University of Akron in 1971 during his senior year at Barberton High School graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Science in 1975. He then earned his Doctor of Medicine from The Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1978. He completed his Internship and Residency in General Surgery at Akron City Hospital in 1983 and his Fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois in 1984. More recently Slezak received his MBA from Kent State University in the summer of 2013.
Slezak was appointed Clinical Instructor of Surgery, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM) in 1982 and the University of Illinois in 1984. He was appointed Assistant Professor of Surgery for Northeastern Ohio Universities in 1985. At NEOUCOM, Slezak was appointed Associate Professor of Surgery in 1989, Professor of Surgery in 1997 and Clinical Professor of Surgery in 2003. Effective with their name change, he was re-appointed Clinical Professor Surgery at NEOMED in 2011. Slezak first received board certification by the American Board of Surgery in 1984 and was appointed by Summa Health Systems as Chief, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery. He became certified by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery in 1985.
Over the years, Slezak has received many awards and honors including being listed in “Top Docs” seven years and “Best Doctors” six years. In 2004 and 2008-2009, he was chosen Teacher of the Year, in the Department of Surgery at Summa Health Systems. In 2012, Slezak was chosen as a Patient’s Choice Physician. He is the author of 31 articles, 3 book chapters and 3 educational videos.
Slezak is married with two daughters, four cats and one “grand-dog”. In addition to a career in medicine, he has been very successful in his other passion, music. He has performed many solo piano recitals at the Raymond C. Firestone Auditorium. He also was a part of the Art, Music and Medicine Concert Series at the Firestone Auditorium sponsored by Summa Health Systems. Slezak’s band participated in “Docs Who Rock” placing in the top three places four years in a row for a Summit County United Way fundraiser. For ten years he was also active with the Revere Players in the musical pit orchestra for their spring musical productions. Two of these musicals were repeat performances of “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Guys and Dolls” from his high school years.
Duane Richard Stephens, Class of 1965
Stephens attended the University of Akron where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1972. He then went on to earn his MBA at Bowling Green State University in 1990 and in 1997 Stephens completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.
In 1967 Stephens began his career by working his way through college at B.F. Goodrich Tire and Rubber Company and was there until 1978. He held many positions at Cooper Tire and Rubber Company from 1979 to 2001 which led to him becoming President of the International Tire Division. Stephens also served as President of the Cooper Tire Company from 2001 to 2004 where he introduced Lean Manufacturing culture and tools and developed a strategic plan to leverage the North American strengths in Asia and Europe. In 2004 he became President of the North American Tire Division. During his time in that position, he led all aspects of a $2 billion division with about 7800 employees. Their sales grew every year through introduction of new productions.
While serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Findlay, Stephens was genuinely interested in the academic program, the arts, student welfare and student learning. He made many contributions as a trustee preparing students to be leaders of society. Stephens reflected admirable features which benefitted his colleagues and the campus community.
Stephens was President of the Christian Clearing House Board of Directors and continues to be active in his community and church. He is a very giving individual to the many organizations that he belongs to and supports.
Stephens states that three Barberton High School teachers had a very positive impact on his life; Ms. Eckenrode, Ms. Berenson and Mr. Trenta. Stephens is married to Judy and they reside in Van Buren, Ohio. They have a son Aaron and a daughter Sarah. Stephens’ parents are Duane and Joan Stephens and he has a brother David. David is a member of the Barberton City Schools’ Academic Hall of Fame Class of 2010.
Greg Macko, Class of 1973 Macko attended the University of Akron where he earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice in 1987 and a Bachelor Degree in Technical Education in 1989. He graduated with a Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron Law School in 1993.
Macko began his career in public service as a part-time police officer in 1981 and became a Deputy Sheriff in 1982. He served as a full-time Barberton police officer from 1984-1998 becoming Sergeant in 1995 and then Lieutenant in 1997.
Macko was employed as the City of Barberton’s Director of Law from 1998-2006. He served as a Barberton Municipal Court Judge beginning in 2006 until his retirement in 2011. Macko was a part-time instructor for the University of Akron’s Criminal Justice program and Police Academy 1993-2005. Since January 2013, he has been the Assistant Summit County Sheriff and Chief Deputy.
He has dedicated his life to serving the Barberton community in many different capacities. This service includes being on the Summit County Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, the Victim Assistance Board of Directors, the Barberton Youth Coalition, the Tuscora Park Commission and is a member of Kiwanis. He was also a member of the search committee for the Barberton High School softball coach.
Macko and his wife, Melissa, reside in Barberton. They have a daughter, Rachael and a son David.