Alumni

William “Bill” F. Allyn

William “Bill” F. Allyn is the grandson of William Noah Allyn, co-founder of the Skaneateles-based medical device manufacturer Welch Allyn. Despite being born with large shoes to fill, Bill emphatically met and exceeded the task.

Of all his business and family accomplishments, Bill Allyn served our country for three years in the U.S. Coast Guard. Following his service, he attended Dartmouth College to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and then an M.B.A. from Syracuse University in 1959. He married his wife and SU alumna, Penny, in 1960. Together they raised a family of four sons and 11 grandchildren.

From 1980 to 1999, Bill Allyn served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Welch Allyn, Inc., the family-owned holding company. While CEO, Bill led the company through incredible growth, transforming it into a competitive, global enterprise. He also founded Handheld Products, Inc. and Everest VIT, which manufacture remote visual inspection devices for boilers, jet engines, and nuclear reactors.

An unmistakable Renaissance man in the business world, Bill Allyn has served as board member, trustee, or director to numerous corporations and organizations including the John Dau Foundation, Allyn foundation, Manufacturers’ Association of Central New York, Business Council of New York, and M&T Bank Corporation. In 1999, William F. Allyn was a finalist for Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year. The Business Journal quoted Allyn on his leadership philosophy stating, “My father’s favorite saying is ‘always be kind and true.’ At Welch Allyn, we strive to implement this through integrity and the golden rule.”

The Allyn family remains an active Syracuse University supporter too, for example, through the creation of Blue Highway LLC, a health-technology incubator that offers internships to SU students. The Allyn Foundation has also helped to fund The Warehouse and the IDEAS Collaborative at Syracuse University. In 2012, Bill Allyn received the Melvin A. Eggers Distinguished Alumni Award for his loyalty and service to Syracuse University as a life trustee and visionary donor.

While Bill and Penny Allyn spent the majority of their lives in Central New York, they now reside in Naples, Florida, and return home to Skaneateles during the summer. SU news highlighted that one of Bill’s fondest memories was coaching Skaneateles boys’ youth hockey for 19 years and winning three New York State championships.

William F. Allyn is an alumnus of Syracuse University and a veteran of the U.S. military. You should know his story.

The Honorable Norman A. Mordue

Following his distinguished military service, Norman returned to Syracuse University in 1971 to earn a degree in law. After graduating with his J.D., he served as the district attorney for Onondaga County. He eventually worked his way up to the bench, serving as the State Supreme Court justice in the county from 1986 until 1998.

Stacy L. Pearsall

Now combat disabled and retired from military service, Pearsall continues to work worldwide as a freelance photographer, and is an author, educator, military consultant, public speaker and founder of the Veterans Portrait Project.

Seymour ‘Cy’ Leslie

After graduating from DeWitt Clinton High School, Cy went on to Syracuse University, and then wartime service with the United States Army’s Signal Corps during World War II.

Senator Warren Bruce Rudman

In 2001, President Clinton honored Senator Rudman with the Presidential Citizens Medal to commemorate and celebrate his legislative accomplishments. Rudman later championed a team of lawyers as independent counsel to investigate the suspicious accounting practices that had been occurring at Fannie Mae from 2004-2006.

Sean O’Keefe

Notably, from 1992 to 1993, Sean O’Keefe served as the acting Secretary of the Navy under President George H.W. Bush. Later during President George W. Bush’s first term, Sean served as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget for a year and then as the NASA Administrator from 2001-2004.

Samuel V. Goakjian

He graduated magna cum laude in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in history. The following year, however, he joined the U.S. Army as a mortar gunner and served for two years during the height of the Korean War. Following his combat service, Goekjian attended Harvard Law School and graduated in 1957.

Robert A. Beck

Enlisting in 1943, Robert A. Beck served five years in which he rose from private to 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. After basic, Beck earned his parachutist badge and joined the officer ranks. In 1945, Beck was sent to Southern Germany as part of the Allied Occupation Force (AOF).

Richard M. Jones

Currently, Richard M. Jones serves as the Executive Vice President, general tax counsel, and chief veteran officer for CBS Corporation, responsible for oversight on global tax planning, strategy, operations, litigation and legislative matters—in addition to CBS’s veteran-related initiatives.

Richard L. Thompson

Richard L. Thompson put his studies on hold, however, to serve his country as an officer in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Vietnam. During his two years of military service, he was awarded a Bronze Star, two Army Commendation Medals, and the Vietnam Service Medal.