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John W. Shier, 1923-2009 The college laments the loss of Hall of Famer John W. Shier, BSChE’48, who died Sept. 3, 2009 after a brief illness. He was 86. Shier was among the first group of distinguished alumni to be inducted into Wayne State’s College of Engineering Hall of Fame in 1983. He is survived by Louise, his wife of 65 years, six children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Prior to attending Wayne University, Shier served in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II under General George Patton and upon returning home received a Bronze Star Medal for his bravery. He worked nearly 50 years for Acheson Industries as a director and former executive vice president until his retirement in 1998. Shier expanded Acheson facilities across Michigan and organized the building of new factories all over the world during his nearly five-decade tenure. Shier was very active in the Port Huron community. He was the longest-surviving member of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County before leaving in 2008 after 50 years. His fellow members have said he is responsible for building up the foundation and making it what it is today. He received the foundation’s Distinguished Service Award in 2003. Shier served as chairman of the board at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Port Huron, director of the Peoples Bank of Port Huron, and trustee and first vice president of the Port Huron District Foundation. He was a member of the Port Huron Golf Club, and was named president in 1971. He was also a member of the Engineering Society of Detroit, the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the Economic Club of Detroit. Shier gave back to his community with generous donations to engineering at Wayne State. He also supported the Mid City Nutrition Program and Soup Kitchen and the People’s Clinic for Better Health in Port Huron Township, among other groups. A celebratory mass was held Sept. 9, 2009 at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Port Huron. Shier, a devout Catholic, was a reader there on many Sundays. Burial was held at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Port Huron. |
