Former Trustee Auchey ’58 Passes Away

Trustee emeritus Flynn L. Auchey, Ph.D., 5W8, who served on the board from 2007 to 2014, passed away Aug. 6, announced President Michael Rounds.

Rounds said, “We were saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Auchey yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Gloria and his family. We are so thankful for the seven years of service he gave to Williamson College of the Trades while serving on the board of trustees and chairing our Education Committee. His vast knowledge and experience in education, engineering, and business were critical in updating and improving our programs and curriculum. We were fortunate to have this highly successful graduate contributing to furthering our mission throughout his entire life in addition to his service on our board. He was a wonderful person and a great example of a true Williamson man. We will miss him greatly.”

Bonenberger said, “I had the chance to work directly with Flynn the entire seven years he was on the board. He was a roll your sleeves up and let’s get to work true blue Williamson man. There is a very small percentage of Williamson alumni who were committed enough in their pursuit of additional education to ultimately obtain a doctorate degree, as Flynn did. He brought a broad scope of both practical and academic experience to our board and we were very lucky to have him. Flynn made a difference! Our thoughts and prayers go out to his entire family and on behalf of the entire Williamson family we thank them for sharing Flynn with us for those seven great years.”

Dr. Auchey, seven years ago upon joining the board said, “I am very pleased and humbled by my appointment to Williamson’s board. Next to my mother and father, Williamson has had the most profound impact on my life. I remember, almost on a weekly basis, specific events that took place at Williamson with my classmates and the entire Williamson community. I am overwhelmed with the impact they have had on my unbelievably full life. I truly look forward with a concern that I will be able to repay, in some small way, the blessings I received from Williamson.”

After studying masonry at Williamson, he worked as an architectural draftsman with R.S. Noonan, Inc., in York, Pa.; an architectural product sales engineer for United States Gypsum Co., in Chicago, Ill.; an architectural apprentice at Hiedrick and Rischberger Architects in State College, Pa.; and as vice president of General Housing Industries, Inc., in State College.

While CEO of Flynn L. Auchey, Inc., his own design, building, and development company in Florida from 1971-86, he was also general partner of an office complex and several housing projects and the owner of two real estate companies.

Dr. Auchey received a Congressional appointment as a Distinguished Professor to the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Civil Engineering Dept. He was also senior consultant to ESI International, Inc., president of the Success Institute of America, Inc., and senior associate for the Planning and Design Center, Inc.

His academic career included teaching architectural engineering at Penn State University; architectural engineering technology and building construction technology at Greenville Technical College, Greenville, South Carolina; architectural technology at Fanshawe College in London, Canada; and civil engineering technology at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. At the time he joined Williamson’s board, he was an associate professor of building construction at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va.

He was a professional engineer in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Florida; a licensed architect in Pennsylvania and Maryland; a certified class A general contractor in Florida; a licensed real estate broker in Florida; a registered arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association; a certified project management professional; and a certified educational facilities planner.

His numerous awards included the International Homes Design Award in 1979, Outstanding Educator of the Year Award from the University of North Carolina in 1993, the Outstanding Educator of the Year Award from the Tau Alpha Pi Engineering Technology Honorary Society in 1994, and the Exemplary Faculty Award at Virginia Tech in 2005.

He earned a bachelor of science and master’s of science in architectural engineering at Penn State; and a doctor of education at the University of Sarasota.