Judge William B. Groat Alumni Award
Judge William B. Groat (1899-1986) served as counsel to the New York State Joint Legislative Committee on Industrial and Labor Relations, where he played a pivotal role in founding the ILR School and drafting its charter. The Groat Alumni Award was established in 1971 in honor of Judge Groat's vision and in tribute to his professional accomplishments, which culminated in appointment as justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Eleventh Judicial District.
The single most important criterion for selection as the Groat recipient should be achievement in "the field" of industrial relations, as broadly interpreted to include all aspects of labor relations and human resources management in any of the major sectors labor unions, management, neutrals, government service and academe. Service to the School and participation in alumni activities are also criteria to be considered in selecting the Groat awardee.
Nominators are required to supply a letter of nomination and biographical information about the nominee. Other letters of support giving additional perspectives on the nominee's career accomplishments and service to the School are encouraged.
Groat Alumni Awardees
1971 Eric F. Jensen '51, Vice President, Industrial Relations, ACF Industries
1971 Jacob Sheinkman '49, General Counsel, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, AFL-CIO
1972 Chris Argyris '51, Conant Professor of Education and Organizational Behavior, Harvard University
1973 Robert D. Helsby EdD. '58, Chairman, NYS Public Employment Relations Board
1974 Paul J. Fasser, Jr. '51, Assistant Secretary of Labor, Labor-Management Relations, US Dept. of Labor
1975 Gerald L. Dorf '57, Counselor-at-Law
1976 Richard Goldstein '49, Vice President of Labor Relations, NBC
1977 Paul Yager M.S. '49, Director, Region 1, Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service
1977 William J. Kilberg '66, Attorney-at-Law and Former Solicitor of Labor
1978 Harry T. Edwards '62, Professor at Law, University of Michigan Law School
1979 Jack Golodner '53, Director, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
1980 Peter Cusack '56, Vice President, Personnel, ABC
1981 Marica L. Greenbaum '62, Labor-Management Arbitrator
1981 Jacob Seidenberg '51, Labor-Management Arbitrator
1983 Walton E. Burdick '55, Vice President, Personnel, IBM Corporation
1984 Saul J. Kramer '54, Attorney-at-Law
1985 Stanley L. Aiges '58, Labor-Management Arbitrator
1986 Joan Greenspan '64, National Director, Industrial Organizing, SAG
1987 Carl Behnke '61, Vice President, HR Management Division, Edison Electronic Institute
1989 Robert F. Risley M.S. '49, PhD. '53, Professor, ILR, Cornell University
1990 Theodore Hawryluk '49, Director, Employee Services and Programs, Philip Morris Management Co.
1991 Eileen Barkas Hoffman '69, General Counsel, Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service
1993 Vicki A. Saporta '74, Director of Organizing, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
1994 Stephen A. Ploscowe '94, Partner, Grotta, Glassman & Hoffman, P.A.
1995 Sheila H. Akabas '51, Professor and Director of the Workplace Center, Columbia University School of Social Work
1996 Carolyn J. Jacobson '72, Director of Public Relations, Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers International Union, AFL-CIO
1997 Kenneth F. Kahn '69, President, LRP Publications and Human Resource Executive Magazine
1998 David B. Lipsky '61, Professor, ILR, Cornell University and Director Cornell/PERC Institute on Conflict Resolution
1999 Bruce S. Raynor '72, Secretary-Treasurer, Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, AFL-CIO
2000 Francis N. Bonsignore '68, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration, Marsh & McLennan Companies
2001 Randi Weingarten '80, President, United Federation of Teachers
2002 Paul Salvatore '81, Partner, Proskauer Rose LLP
2003 Elizabeth Moore '75, Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP
2004 Gary B. Bettman '74, Commissioner, National Hockey League
2005 Harris L. Raynor '69, Southern Regional Director and an International Vice President of UNITE HERE
2006 Martin F. Scheinman ’75, MS ’76, Arbitrator in private and public sector disputes
2007 Jay W. Waks '68, J.D. '71, Attorney, Kaye Scholer LLP
