McLernons to be Honored for Support of UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- James W. McLernon, B.S. '50, and his late wife, Nancy A. McLernon, will be honored for their extraordinary support of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) at a ceremony at 11 a.m. Sept. 18 in the Jeannette Martin Room, 567 Capen Hall, North Campus.

McLernon, retired chairman of the board of American Axle, recently pledged two gifts to SEAS, bringing his total giving to UB during the "The Campaign for UB: Generation to Generation" to more than $1 million. The two new pledges of $130,000 each will support the school's Student Excellence Initiatives and its graduate and undergraduate laboratories.

In addition, McLernon said his family, including children and grandchildren, has pledged $75,000 to the School of Nursing to establish an endowment fund in memory of their wife, mother and grandmother, Nancy McLernon. The fund will provide scholarships for nursing students.

McLernon also has served as chair of the SEAS campaign committee, as well as on the executive campaign steering committee during "The Campaign for UB: Generation to Generation."

The ceremony will include the unveiling of a kiosk dedicated to the McLernons and remarks by President William R. Greiner and Jeremy M. Jacobs, chair of the UB Council and honorary chair of "The Campaign for UB: Generation to Generation."

"Our School of Engineering program has a longstanding tradition of excellence and innovation, and these gifts will help us to build on this strong foundation by providing outstanding scholarship opportunities and first-rate research resources," said Greiner.

"As one of SEAS' most distinguished and most dedicated alumni, Jim is an outstanding example of the quality of students who have been educated through this program, and we're delighted that he has chosen to give back to his alma mater in such a meaningful way," he added. "These generous gifts-and the many tremendous contributions Jim and his late wife Nancy have made to UB over the years-will enable many future generations of SEAS students to follow in his remarkable footsteps and will have a lasting impact on our entire UB community."

Jacobs praised McLernon for his ongoing dedication and commitment to UB.

"We all should be inspired by Jim McLernon's spirit of generosity. His gifts and those of thousands of other supporters have helped us surpass our original campaign goal by an impressive margin," Jacobs said. "Jim's ongoing support, including his leadership roles with the executive campaign steering committee and as chairman of the SEAS committee, is vitally important to this university. We are very grateful for his strong support of the campaign and of UB."

Mecca Cranley, dean of the School of Nursing, said McLernon's pledge to establish scholarships for nursing students is another of his many generous acts on behalf of UB.

"James McLernon has given so much to UB and we are touched by his pledge to establish an endowed fund to honor his wife," Cranley said. "The scholarships will be of great benefit to our students seeking careers in a field that is experiencing tremendous demand for new recruits."

A retired licensed professional engineer, McLernon credits UB with preparing him well for guiding several automotive-industry companies to success during his 50-year career.

A native of Kenmore, McLernon began his career as an hourly worker in a Western New York Chevrolet engine plant. His career in the automotive industry includes nearly three decades working with General Motors before rising to become chairman of the board of American Axle, a company that he formed with four partners through the purchase of under-performing General Motors plants. The company has grown to be a major supplier to the automotive industry, with annual sales volumes that have exceeded $2 billion. McLernon retired as chairman in 1998.

McLernon is a member of the American Institute of Industrial Engineering, the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Engineering Society of Detroit.

A founding member of the SEAS Dean's Advisory Council, McLernon received an honorary doctorate from UB in 1998. He was named the Engineering Alumnus of the Year by the SEAS Alumni Association and was the first recipient, in 1978, of the school's Dean's Award for Engineering Achievement.

SEAS Dean Mark H. Karwan praised McLernon's commitment to UB, saying his gifts for scholarships, programs and improved laboratories ensure that SEAS will continue to produce the most academically and technologically skilled students.

"James McLernon has given again and again to the students of SEAS, in order that they might learn, in the words of our mission statement, to think critically and creatively, and to practice engineering with not only technical skill, but also a high regard for ethical principles," Karwan said.