Texas Tech University

Distinguished Engineer Citations

                 
Distinguished Engineer Photo: Leon Ince
Leon Ince

Leon Ince

Distinguished Engineer

1983

Degree

Mechanical Engineering – 1936

 

Citation

At Time of Nomination in 1983

Leon Ince was born in Glum, Texas, and attended school in Cleburne, Texas, where he graduated from high school in 1929. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech in 1936. He was very active at Tech as a member of the Student Council, ASME, and Tau Beta Pi; president of the student body; and laboratory assistant. He was also elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities while he was at Texas Tech.

After graduation, Mr. Ince worked a short time as plant superintendent for Cabell’s Creameries in Dallas and McKinney, Texas. Later that year he accepted a job as a sales engineer in Kilgore, Texas, and in 1938 he established his own company, Leon Ince Company, Kilgore, Texas, distributors of oilfield engineered products. In 1942, he formed a partnership titled the Lynn Elliott Company, Houston, Texas, which acted as manufacturers’ representative for electrical products and controls. He was one of three founders of the EIM Company, Inc., Houston, Texas, in 1949. He is presently the executive vice president of EIM. EIM is the second largest manufacturer of valve actuators in the world and has supplied actuators for the U.S. Navy, major pipeline companies such as Alyeska, and for NASA use in the space program. Mr. Ince is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas.

Mr. Ince is an active supporter of Texas Tech. He was a member of the Board of Directors (presently Regents) for five years and has served as president of the Houston Chapter of the Texas Tech Ex–Students Association.

Mr. Ince has been very active in civic affairs. He has served as president of the Houston, Texas, Central Lions Club and is a member of the Advisory Boards of the downtown Y.M.C.A., South Texas College, and Salvation Army. He has also been heavily involved in church activities. He is presently chairman of the Annual Conference of Christians and Jews and is an elder in the Central Presbyterian Church where he has served as president of the Men’s Association and Sunday School teacher.

Mr. Ince is married to the former Elizabeth Dolsen. They have four children: Sara, who is presently working on a degree in Fine Arts at Texas Tech; Joe, who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy; Ann, who received her Bachelor of Science degree from Duke University and is head of the Pediatric Nephrology Laboratory at Texas Medical School; and Jim, who received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech.

Mr. Ince has been characterized by his friends as "a self–made man," a unique individual, and a man of great courage and dedication. It is with great pride that Texas Tech University joins with his many friends in recognizing Leon Ince by conferring on him the title of DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER.

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