Herman Lindholm, Jr. established this endowment to honor his father and mother, Herman and Brita Lindholm, and his twin sister, also named Brita.
In 1898, Herman's parents immigrated from Ostersund, Sweden, to Morris, Manitoba, where Herman, Sr. served as a station agent for the Canadian National Railroad. The twins were born in 1909 in Dufrost, Manitoba. In 1917, the family moved to Fruitvale, B.C., where they ran a fruit orchard business. Herman, Sr. died in 1928, while his wife, Brita, lived until 1960.
Herman, Jr. worked for the Cominco smelters in Trail, B.C., and both his family and employers encouraged him to purse a college education. He enrolled in the State College of Washington because it was close to home and in a small community, the type he was used to. His major was mining and metallurgy in the School of Mines and Geology. Mr. Lindholm lived in Stimson Hall, where he worked as hall director for his room; he also worked in the cafeteria for his board. He often reminisced about the many train trips from Pullman to Spokane then onto Fruitvale for Christmas, Easter, and summer vacations. He always had a job at the smelters awaiting him.
Herman graduated in 1937 and returned to Fruitvale and Cominco for good. He worked in the assay office connected to the research department, providing technical service and looking for ways to improve the smelting processes. He never married and retired from Cominco in 1975. Herman died in 1995 and is buried in Fruitvale Memorial Cemetery.
All the proceeds from Herman's gift were reinvested in the endowment until 2000 when the invested funds reached sufficient value to fund the endowed chair position. The endowed chair in metallurgy allows the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering to assume strong leadership in the country in development of new materials along with the associated materials shaping technologies. Earnings from the endowment enable the named professor to develop research and instructional programs in materials science engineering and to act as a focal point for interactions with related industries.
Recipients
Professor David F. Bahr 2007-2010
Professor David F. Bahr was named the third Herman and Brita Lindholm Endowed Chair in Metallurgy for the three year period, August 16, 2007 - August 15, 2010. This prestigious appointment was made in recognition of Professor Bahr's contributions in the field of materials science and education.
Professor M. Grant Norton 2004-2007
Professor M. Grant Norton was named the second Herman and Brita Lindholm Endowed Chair in Metallurgy for the three year period, August 16, 2004 - August 15, 2007. This prestigious appointment was made in recognition of Professor Norton's strong leadership in the development of new materials and continued contributions in the field of materials science.
Professor Stephen D. Antolovich 2000-2003
Professor Stephen D. Antolovich was named the first Herman and Brita Lindholm Endowed Chair in Metallurgy for the three year period, August 16, 2000 - August 15, 2003. This prestigious appointment was made in recognition of Professor Antolovich's contributions to the field of materials science and the reputation he enjoys amongst his international peers.