The University of Missouri-Rolla will award eight honorary professional
degrees during its winter commencement Saturday, Dec.
15.         

Commencement begins at 11 a.m. in UMR’s Gale Bullman Multi-Purpose Building.
About 650 degrees will be awarded in addition to the honorary
degrees.         

The professional degree recipients are: 

Larry K.
Britt         

Larry K. Britt, who earned a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering at
UMR in 1979, is a consulting engineer with NSI Technologies Inc. in Tulsa,
Okla. Britt manages NSI’s Rock Mechanics Laboratory at Tulsa University, serves
as an adjunct professor in the UMR petroleum engineering department and is a
member of the department’s Industry Advisory Board. Prior to joining NSI, Britt
worked for Amoco Production Co. for nearly 20 years. He is the author of more
than 25 technical papers on reservoir management, pressure transient analysis
and hydraulic fracturing. 

Charles L.
Casteel         

Charles L. Casteel earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UMR
in 1970. Casteel, who also holds a juris doctorate degree from the University
of Colorado School of Law, tries product liability cases. He is a partner in
the trial group at Davis, Graham & Stubbs in Denver. From 1978 to 1980,
Casteel served as assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Colorado in the
criminal division. He is a member of the Board for Product Liability Advisory
Council Inc., the Defense Research Institute and the International Association
of Defense Counsel. He is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and
has served as president of the Denver Bar Association and as a member of the
Board of Governors for the Colorado Bar Association. 

John W.
Edwards         

John W. Edwards, who earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from
UMR in 1972, is senior vice president and chief operating officer for Bonar
Group in Fort Wayne, Ind. Edwards also holds a master’s degree in civil and
environmental engineering from North Carolina State University. He is a
registered professional engineer in seven states and is a board certified
environmental engineer and diplomat of the American Academy of Environmental
Engineers. Since 1995, Edwards has been in charge of Bonar Group’s
environmental engineering consulting practice in Indiana and adjoining
states. 

Michael C.
Fox         

Michael C. Fox, who earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from
UMR in 1990, is a partner in Accenture’s consumer goods and services client
group. His recent clients include Pepsi, ConAgra, Anheuser-Busch, Frito-Lay,
AT&T and Caterpillar. Since joining the firm in 1990, Fox has held a
variety of roles in the company, including the St. Louis location’s lead for
products and technology resources, quality assurance director for the consumer
goods client group and recruiting lead for consulting and outsourcing personnel
in St. Louis.  Fox is a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and currently
serves on the UMR Corporate Development Council. 

Steven R. Frey Jr.

Steven R. Frey Jr., who earned a master’s degree in physics from UMR in
1986, is director of applied research for Lockheed Martin. His team of 50
scientists, engineers and business professionals develops leading-edge laser
applications for military and security purposes. Frey, who also holds a
bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from Bradley University, joined the
company, then called Martin Marietta Corp., as an electro-optical systems
engineer. During the next 18 years, he took on roles with increasing
responsibility with what is now Lockheed Martin’s missiles and fire control
division before being named to his current position in 2004. Frey lives in
Orlando, Fla.  

Harvey Edwin
Goodman         

Harvey Goodman is a research consultant with Chevron Energy Technology Co.’s
Rock Mechanics Analysis Team. Goodman earned a bachelor’s degree in geological
engineering from UMR in 1977 and a master’s degree in geological engineering
from UMR in 1987. He is a recipient of Chevron’s Chairman Award, the company’s
highest technical achievement award for work in geomechanics. He was a
distinguished lecturer for the Society of Petroleum Engineers from 2004 to
2005. He serves as an adjunct professor in petroleum engineering at UMR, where
he lectures in the new Mechanical Earth Model. Goodman lives in Humble,
Texas. 

Mark
Krahenbuhl         

Mark Krahenbuhl is co-founder and chief executive officer for Voyager
Resources L.L.C., where he is responsible for engineering, business development
and finance. Krahenbuhl earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from
UMR in 1979. Prior to founding Voyager, Krahenbuhl spent more than eight years
as senior vice president of business development with Vintage Petroleum
International. Previously, he held senior management positions with Samson
Canada, Samson Resources and Bridge Oil. He began his career as an engineer
with Exxon Co. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the
Society of Petroleum Geologists, the Association of International Petroleum
Negotiators and the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain. Krahenbuhl
lives in Tulsa, Okla. 

Charles A.
Watts         

Charles A. Watts is president of Communications Engineers Inc., a company he
established in 1979. Watts earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering
from UMR in 1958. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration
from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Following graduation from UMR,
Watts joined General Telephone Co. of Illinois, where he served in a variety of
positions in engineering and operations. In 1967, Watts joined TWA as central
region communications manager. In 1970, he accepted a position with Finley
Engineering Co. He is a member of the National Society of Professional
Engineers and currently serves as president of the Association of
Communications Engineers. Watts and his wife, Pat, live in Springfield,
Ill.