UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Dean B. Girton, of Millville, Pa., has been named an Alumni Fellow by the Penn State Alumni Association. Girton is owner and president of Girton Manufacturing Company Inc., which produces and distributes dairy and food-processing equipment worldwide.

"Dean has contributed an extensive amount of time and energy to many professional associations, Penn State and his community, while directing a highly successful business at the same time," says Robert Steele, dean of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, who nominated Girton for the award. "His rich professional and volunteer efforts make him an outstanding recipient for this award."

Girton earned a bachelor's degree in dairy science from Penn State in 1960. Upon graduation, he returned home to work for his family's business. Under his leadership, Girton Manufacturing today is known worldwide for its production of quality dairy and food-processing equipment, as well as products for pharmaceutical and medical research groups. The company received the Blue Chip Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1993 and the Presidential "E" Award for excellence in exporting in the late 1970s.

Girton has been active in numerous food industry professional groups. He has been a board member of the International Association of Food Industry Suppliers since 1985 and served as board chairman from 1994 to 1996. He also has been a member and co-chair of the World Wide Food Expo and served on the Food Industry Suppliers Association Board. Currently, he is vice-chair of the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation.

Girton has maintained an active role in the Penn State community. He is president of the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society and immediate past president of the Penn State Agricultural Council, which fosters relationships between Penn State and its agricultural industry clientele. He is also a founder and past president of the Food Industry Group, an affiliate program of the Ag Alumni Society that was active in obtaining financial support for Penn State's new food science building. Girton's personal support of Penn State includes his establishment of the Dean and Harriet Girton Scholarship in Food Science. The College of Agricultural Sciences honored him with the Outstanding Alumni Award in 1999.

Girton is involved in his community as council vice president for Boy Scouts of America and is a former scoutmaster. He also has served on the Millville Borough Council and Millville Planning Commission.

The Alumni Fellow Award is the most prestigious award given by the Penn State Alumni Association. It is presented to professional leaders who have been nominated by an academic college and selected by the Board of Trustees. Recipients are invited by the university president to return to Penn State to share their experience with students, faculty and administrators.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Jillian Stevenson at 814-863-2831 or jstevenson@psu.edu.

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