Wagner College awarded Fred C. Williamson Jr. of Atlantic Highlands, N.J., the degree of doctor of humane letters, honoris causa, at its 2011 commencement exercise on May 20. Dr. Walter Kaelber, professor of religion, read the citation honoring Dr. Williamson, a 1964 Wagner graduate and Marine Corps veteran who has served on the Wagner College Board of Trustees for 22 years. As the vice president of operations for Starnet Commercial Flooring Inc., Williamson has found a way to connect his career with his passion for protecting the environment by serving as a member of the board of the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), whose mission is to divert used carpet, both residential and commercial, from our nation’s landfills. Since 2002, CARE has been instrumental in recovering 800 megatons of old carpet for new uses. He also volunteers on the NSF-140 Sustainable Carpet Committee, which sets standards for recycled content in new flooring material. Williamson is also a member of the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation. Since its founding in 1995, the organization has raised more than $50 million to educate the children of active-duty military and federal law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty. Ninety-seven percent of all donations and net proceeds from special MCLEF events go toward scholarships.
Fred Williamson awarded honorary doctorate
June 1, 2011
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