IPST alumnus and former board member William Haselton completed a gift early this year that brought $1.55 million into the IPST-Georgia Tech endowment fund. The Haselton gift will generate an estimated $60,000 a year for the benefit of graduate students pursuing degrees in paper science and engineering, specifically to cover tuition, stipends and graduate research.

“This gift from the Haseltons is tremendous for IPST and our students,” said IPST Director Norman Marsolan. “Our existing endowment funds continue to provide a strong base for our research students. This represents significant growth for years to come. We are deeply indebted to the Haseltons and appreciate their commitment to our mission.”

The original gift was a tract of Florida property donated by William and Frances Haselton to IPST in 1995 and recently sold with Dr. Haselton’s cooperation.  Income from the endowment will become available beginning in July 2013 (FY2014).

Haselton contributed a substantial monetary gift to the Institute in 1992.“ Several years ago I reached a decision that the Institute had made a major difference in my business career and my life in general,” he said. “And for this reason, I became interested in showing my appreciation in some appropriate and tangible way.” The William R. Haselton Library was dedicated at IPST on April 6, 1993.

Haselton spent his entire career in the paper industry, and was named Papermaker of the Year in 1982 and Packaging Man of the Year in 1989. After graduating from the Institute in 1953, Haselton joined the staff of Rhinelander Paper Company as technical director. When Rhinelander was acquired by St. Regis Paper Company in 1956, Haselton went on to assume a variety of positions in the new company, including vice president and general manager of the forest products division and senior vice president for timberlands and forest products. He was named executive vice president of operations in 1958, responsible for all operations of the Rhinelander plant.

He served as president and chairman of the board of the National Forest Products Association and was a member of the executive committee of the American Paper Institute. Haselton was also a member of the IPST Board of Trustees from 1979 through 1988, serving on the executive committee and as chairman of the finance committee

Haselton was elected Director of St. Regis Paper Company in 1972 and President in 1973. In 1979, he was elected Chief Executive Officer, and he was named Chairman of the Board in 1981. When St. Regis merged with Champion International Corporation in 1984, he became Vice Chairman and a member of the board of directors.

Now retired and living in Florida, Haselton’s contributions to the United States pulp and paper industry have been significant.