For his dedicated service to and his outstanding leadership in ASTM International Committee A01 on Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys, Lester Burgess, director of quality for TSP/U.S. Bolt Manufacturing in Houston, Texas, has been honored with an Award of Merit and accompanying title of fellow. The award is the highest ASTM recognition for individual contributions to standards activities.

Burgess lives in Houston, Texas.

An ASTM International member since 1978, Burgess currently serves as chair of the A01.22.01 section on Bolting and as chair of Subcommittee A01.13 on Mechanical and Chemical Testing and Processing Methods of Steel Products and Processes. He has also been chair of the A01 editorial subcommittee and chair of the A01 officer nominating committee. For his contributions, Burgess has previously received two Awards of Appreciation from A01.

In addition to A01, Burgess is a member of Committees E01 on Analytical Chemistry for Metals, Ores and Related Materials, E28 on Mechanical Testing, and F16 on Fasteners. He has also served on the ASTM board of directors nominating committee. A major contributor to the development and revision of a number of standards under A01 jurisdiction, Burgess, while chair of the editorial subcommittee, led a task group to revise and improve A 994-03, Guide for Editorial Procedures and Form and Style of Product Specifications for Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys, a document used throughout the committee. Among his other contributions, Burgess also regularly responds to inquiries worldwide related to several bolting standards, a task he has performed for many years.

Burgess is, in addition to ASTM International, a 38-year member of ASM International, a 25-year member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a senior member of the American Society for Quality, and a member of the Association of Wellhead Equipment Manufacturers. An ASQ certified quality engineer, Burgess currently directs the quality systems and metallurgical laboratories for two sister companies, TSP and U.S. Bolt. He has been involved primarily in metallurgy, quality control and quality assurance in the manufacturing of fasteners, as well as gaskets, oilfield equipment and textile machines. Before becoming director of quality in 2000, Burgess worked as quality assurance manager for U.S. Bolt Manufacturing, and he previously held positions as metallurgist and quality manager with Standco Industries, McEvoy Oilfield Equipment Corp., and Leesona Corp.

A graduate of the University of Houston with a B.S. in economics, Burgess also holds an M.B.A. in manufacturing from the University of Houston.

Release #7673