FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 196" THE MICHIGAN DAILY FIUiDAY, OCTOBER 20, 196'7 TIlE MICHIGAN DAILY Conductron: Industrial (Continued from Page 1) Meanwhile Conductron has also accepted $39 000 in business from r the University, including a $35,000 project in 1965. In this job Con- ductron tested radar absorbers (devices for converting electro- magnetic energy or radar waves to heat). In the project, the University had purchased the absorbers for the U.S. Air Force. The Univer- sity then sub-contracted Conduc- tron to test the absorbers. Some of the absorbers had been pur- chased from Conductron by the University, so Conductron ulti- mately was testing some of its own products. "I don't think there was a con- flict of interest here," says Vice- President Norman. "My philosophy in these situations has always been that the best way to avoid con- flict is to shine the light on the situation. That is, everyone con- ' erned such as purchasing agents should be aware of the relation- ships." "Of course occasionally we have to tell people to shed some out- side connections - such as when professors take too many different advisory roles - but I don't think the Conductron situation has been a conflict." And Dean Gordon Van Wylen of the Engineering school says, "I really don't know anything at all about the situation I've never looked into it. We're trying to run a clean show here, while keeping in mind diverse responsibilities." And Siegel says, "Nobody ever raised any questions. General Motors buys from Ford, and there's nothing wrong with that. One of the advantages of Con- ductron's spin-off status is that it can easily keep abreast of the latest technical developments in the University research world. "There were curious parallel de- velopments between what was going on in University research and what Conduction was market- ing. In essence Conductron would learn about hot new research here, then steal the professors away- or at least the techniques-and then market the idea." For example Norman points out from underground explosions dur- ing oil explorations. But Siegel says, "Conductron discovered the techniques first, we did it first." Nonetheless Norman says that "Now we simply say to our (Uni- prnoff officer for two years at the Uni- versity WRL (59-61)." University officials say they were not dismayed by this exodus of talent: "The University is a pro- ducer of trained people, the ma- jority of which it expects to move of 'U T Under the system engineering time Siegel faculty can retain full professor- of Conductr ships while consulting for as McDonald much as two working days a and 25,000 month. stock in e Vivian at Cond By NEAL BRUSS Conductron's best known em- ploye has probably been Weston E. Vivian, the firm's Vice-Preidnt for Engineering from its inception :n abb to19ti5. Vivian was Michigan's 2nd dis- strict Democratic Congressman during 1965-66. He credits his Con- ductron job with making his polit- Ical career financially possible. Vivian has extensive experience in military research. From 1949 through 1953 Vivian worked on BOMARC, a joint missile project between the University and Boeing aircraft designed to knock out >'1(er aircraft. He worked at both Boeing and the University. From 1951 through 1960 Vivian was a research engineer and lec- turer in the electrical engineering department at the University. From 1953 through 1955 Vivian worked on high resolution radar at the University's Willow Run center which does the bulk of the school's militaryresearch. He was a leader of the design team which produced sharply focused high resolution radar prototype which is in use today. "Just before Siegel decided to form Conductron," Vivian says, "I decided my capabilities as a re- searcher where adequate to keep me in the research business but not as a top man. Still I enjoyed the activities of an engineer. "At the time I had a family of four, outstanding bills, andta re- cent doctorate. I decided. to use my talent where there would be a clear-cut return. The money is much better off in commerce, where there's a chance for growth of equity. "I had also been city Dem- Conductron's headquarters are on Plymouth Rd. near North Campus. "The University had done pioneer versity research) people, 'let's stop on," says Norman. "The fact that work in the field of detection of the informal interchange. Don't they move to industry doesn't underground explosions, Conduc- talk about your research so much.' trouble us. tron went ahead and applied the We told this to people in fields Siegel retained his professor- parallel to Conductron's." ship as did Conductron's Vice- techniques for a commercial de- After Siegel became head of r vice used for interpreting data Conductron his role as a University Louisd J.Cutrona, and Chief professor was largely confined to Scientist Dale M. Grimes. supervising doctoral candidates. According to Conductron's 1962 But last April the University [iic triiiii { annual report one of his doctoral decided *you've got to wear only students was David M. Rabin whoI one fraternity pin," says Siegel.I was simultaneously a Conductron In a statement Dean Van Weylen ing, and it was obvious from the department head in radar cross of the engineering school said examples of Romney, Williams and detmnt that "each person who wishes to sections.1 Kenedy that politics meant com- While there were many reasons be involved in . . . education-in-{ peting with people equipped with for Conductron's success, the key dustry interaction should have a money. It h c i sthta te erstystfmajor and primary commitment being able to afford to take the me is the talented Cniersity staff to either industry cr the Uiver- time off than anything else." members who started the firm. sity" Among them were: "A post in the Democratic state -Wayne Burdick, assistant head In effect the statement meant office in Lansing was offered to of the radiation laboratory from professors who are working vir- me, but I decided that it would 1958 through 1961 tually full time for outside in- make me a servant of the party- -Thaddeus B. Curtz, head of the faculty positions. Instead they and this would be the wrong role. computation department at WRL would be made "adjunct" pro- "I took the Conductron job (and from 1958 to 1961 fessors. 4,900 shares of stock at a penny -Dale M. Grimes, chairman of apiece) became immersed in busi- the electrical engineering depart- ness and four years later I was ment's committee on electromag- not in debt. In 1964, events hap- netic field theory. pened so the plan came true. I -Robert R. Graham, who "en- was able to make a start in finan- gaged in the development and test cing my Congressional campaign.' of BOMARC system ground control - After he defeated Republican in- equipment." cumbent George Meader in the fall -Weston Vivian, research en- of 1964 Vivian sold the 4,900 Con- gineer and lecturer in Electrical ductron shares that he had origin- Engineering. ally purchased for a penny apiece. -Elliott M. Fox, "The Univer- The original $49 investment earned ty onsuant to Norh Amer- Viviain over $100,000 when he soldityn Air.DconstnttoNortA mer-" the stock. Vivian got rid of the icanhAr J. (NORAD) " stock to avoid a possible conflict--Richard J. Sylvester "security of interest. As a congressman he - was a member of the House Com- mittP n Rip dPnf Acts rnat- 's But faculty members who work less than 75 per cent of their time in the University-that is less than 15 out of 20 working days a month-are not generally given fractional appointments. They get "adjunct" status. Faculty members who want to explore outside jobs generally can get leaves of up to two years. But "after two years, the person must decide where his primary commitment lies," says Van Wy- len. Siegel left the University fac- ulty May 23. All the faculty ties between the University and Con- ductron are now terminated. How did Siegel fare financially in his Conductron venture? In November 1966 McDonald Aircraft Corp. (now McDonald- Douglas) gained controlling stock interest in Conductron. At that STAMP IT! IT'S THE RAGE ' Ns REGULAR MODEL ANY ${ 3 LINE TEXT The Itnest I D!M3TIBLE METAL POCKET RUBBER STAMP. 'B" x 2". Send check' or money order. Be sure to include your Zip Code. No postage or handling charges. Add sales tax. Prompt shipment. Satisfaction Guaranteed THE MOPP CO. P. 0. Box 18623 Lenox Square Station ATLANTA, GA., 30326 shares of C The McD worth $51 a and Siegel' Conductron 608,000 (at value of $41 do not refle other compa ciation of t after the n Aircraft in . servativelyv Siegel is a new firm, says he is KMS. echnolog held 138,000 shares Siegel's new venture will work on. in educational - military systems gave Siegel $625,000 holograms, sophisticated drilling shares of McDonald devices, and adult games. xchange for 50,000 A number of the new executivei onductron stock. with KMS were formerly with Donald is currently Conductron. Among them are share or $1,275,000, Weston Vivian and Thaddeus s remaining 88,000 Curtz. shares are worth $3,- Three KMS executives are cur- the current market rently on the electrical engineer- a share). The figures ing faculty at the University ct Siegel's holdings in They are Louis J. Cutrona, Chen- inies and the appre- To Ta and Murray H. Miller. the McDonnell stock Siegel values his talented staff, merger with Douglas "In Talent We Trust" was hi- April. Thus he is con- Conductron motto. worth $5,501,000. "When a few disappointed now busy setting up staffers left Conductron to returr KMS Industries. He to the University," says Norman the sole backer of "he complained that the schoo was raiding his staff." The Hefty Hustlers of West Bursley the Gruesome Gophers of East Bursley to o TUG OAF WAR Saturday, Oct. 21 Over the 9:15 A.M. Huron River FOR YOUR HOMECOMING WEEKEND miLee on cence an sronam- ics. ocratic chairman, and a City Vivian is now a vice-president Council candidate," says Vivian. of Siegel's new venture, KMS In- WESTON VIVIAN "Politics were very time-consum- dustries of Ann Arbor. Fraternity-Sorority European Flight May 5-June 17 N.Y.C.-LONDON PARIS-N.Y.C. Boeing 707 Jet-Air India 123O Rebate when plane fills up. Full Amount Due at Sign Up SIGN UP NOW!! 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