Three Recieve 2005 DESA Honors


The University of Kansas School of Engineering and its Advisory Board honored two of the school's alumni and a former dean of the school for careers that exemplify professional achievement.

On Thursday, May 12, L. Joseph Bauman, Lawrence, and Robert A. Kipp, and David C. Kraft, both of Leawood, Kan., received the Distinguished Engineering Service Award at the Adams Alumni Center. The award was created by the KU School of Engineering Advisory Board in 1980 to honor engineering alumni, or engineers who've maintained a close association with the school, for their outstanding contributions to the theories and practices of engineering research and development in new fields of engineering, or direction of an organization that has made exceptional contributions in design, production and development.

"The School of Engineering and its Advisory Board are pleased to recognize these three individuals who've had extraordinary impact on people, programs and places both near and far," said Stuart R. Bell, dean of the KU School of Engineering. "Joe Bauman, a 1961 mechanical engineering graduate, was a member of the task force that developed the IBM PC, which initiated a fundamental change in commerce and our culture. Bob Kipp, a 1952 civil engineering alumnus, made his mark as city manager of Kansas City, Mo., during a time of major change and as president of Crown Center." No less important are the efforts of Dave Kraft, who served as dean of engineering from 1978 to 1984. "Dave brought about lasting change that has served the university, the school and the engineering profession very well."

"These three engineers stand as exceptional role models of personal and professional integrity for our students to emulate," Bell said.

Bauman, Kipp and Kraft will each receive a bronze sculpture acknowledging the achievement. Portraits of the honorees and highlights of their professional accomplishments also will become part of the permanent DESA display in Eaton Hall, home of the School of Engineering.

Biographical Information

L. Joseph Bauman,

Chairman and CEO Cardinal Brands Inc., B.S. Mechanical Engineering, The University of Kansas, 1961

Upon graduation, Bauman joined Bendix Corp. In 1965 he was hired as a manufacturing engineer at IBM, where he contributed to the firm's success through a variety of positions.
From mid July to mid August of 1980, Bauman became a member of the task force that developed the IBM PC and later a member of the team that built it and put it into production.
The team's effort and IBM's unquestionable reputation for excellence set a worldwide revolution in motion. The PC was catapulted into the realms of commercial necessity and popular culture icon.

Bauman subsequently held several leadership posts at IBM, serving as vice president of manufacturing, PC Division; and director of materials. As director of quality for Manufacturing and Development, IBM's Rochester, Minn., plant won the revered Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

From 1990 to 1995, Bauman was the eighth dean of the KU School of Business and a professor of management. During his tenure, the KU MBA program was recognized by Business Week as one of the 10 best values in the United States. In 1997, he was lured from KU to become president and CEO of Adams Business Forms. At Adams, Bauman crafted the merger of Adams and Eagle OPG Inc. in 2000 to form Cardinal Brands Inc., a leading manufacturer of office and related products. The company, headquartered in Lawrence, has about 1,200 employees and locations in North America and the United Kingdom. Bauman now serves as the firm's CEO and chairman of the board.

Robert A. Kipp,

Chairman of Crown Center and retired Vice President of Hallmark; B.S. Civil Engineering, The University of Kansas, 1952, M.P.A., The University of Kansas, 1956

After graduating with his bachelor's degree, Kipp entered the U.S. Air Force serving as a communications and electronics staff officer. He returned to KU in 1954 to work on a Master's of Public Administration degree. He subsequently held significant positions for three different communities in Kansas and Ohio.
In 1970, Kipp was made director of city development for Kansas City, Mo. By 1974, Kipp had risen up the ranks and was named city manager. He held the post for nine years and oversaw the routine as he facilitated monumental changes for the region. The city completed construction of Kansas City International Airport. Terminal Railroad bridges were rebuilt. Bartle Hall construction was initiated. Kemper Arena construction was completed.

In 1983, Kipp was hired as president of the Crown Center. His vision helped ensure that Crown Center remained a strong cultural and commercial center that gives Kansas City some of its unique flavor. Kipp oversaw efforts to add new buildings and infrastructure to the center. He determined the long-term direction and planning for the development and creatively connected the center's real estate assets in a way that made them more valuable.

Kipp's wisdom, vision and pragmatic approach, combined with his knowledge and experience, have made him a valued contributor on dozens of task forces, commissions and committees that have helped guide Kansas City and KU over the past three decades.

David C. Kraft,

Professor of Engineering Management and former dean of the KU School of Engineering; Bachelor's of Civil Engineering, University of Dayton, 1959, M.S. Structures and Civil Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 1961, Ph.D. Civil Engineering, Ohio State University, 1964, MBA, Rockhurst College, 1983

After earning his doctorate, Kraft was hired as an assistant professor at the University of Dayton, and, demonstrating vision and leadership skills, soon became its dean of engineering.

In 1978, Kraft was hired as dean of the KU School of Engineering and vice president and director of KU's Center for Research Inc., positions he held until 1984.

Kraft's highlights at KU include achieving record undergraduate enrollments in engineering, initiating fund-raising efforts for building the Spahr Engineering Library and the Aerospace Engineering Hangar, forming the School of Engineering Advisory Board, and establishing the Distinguished Engineering Service Award. Dave focused the school's scholarship program to attract the best high school graduates. Through the KU Center for Research Inc., Kraft created incentive programs for faculty that increased engineering research 200 percent.

Kraft launched two new degree programs as dean, the bachelor's degree in computer engineering and the master's degree in engineering management.

Unveiled in 1982, the Engineering Management degree addressed the needs of engineers in the workforce and was popular from the outset. The program stands as the School's largest master's degree program.

Kraft served as director of engineering management from 1990 to 1998. Enrollment more than tripled, and Kraft began the School's first distance-learning courses.

As a professional engineer, Kraft played a key role in creating two consulting firms, and he designed and fabricated the first automated cone penetrometer. The U.S. Air Force and NASA used the device to evaluate soil runways for military aircraft and the Space Shuttle.