An engineer at GE for 66 years, ASME Fellow dies

Joseph S. Alford, a chief Jet Engine Design Engineer at GE, died in his New Orleans home on Sept. 5. He was 93.

He was internationally known as a major technical leader, inventor and teacher in the thermodynamic and mechanical design of literally every GE aircraft gas turbine developed from the early 1940s until the end of the century. During his career, Alford received about 30 U.S. patents. He also presented more than 30 technical papers, four of which won major awards from professional societies.

Alford was born June 11, 1911 in Utah and grew up the Colorado mountains. He earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Colorado. In 1935, he joined General Electric, starting what would become a 66-year career. In the beginning, he completed advanced engineering courses and worked on steam turbines in Lynn, Mass.

In 1940, his work shifted to aircraft gas turbines, which then dominated the rest of his career, most of which occurred at the GE Evendale plant, located in Cincinnati.

Joseph Alford was a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and held prestigious titles with several other professional organizations. In 1974, he was honored with the University of Colorado Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in Research and Invention.

In 1976, he was honored as the first recipient of General Electric’s Charles P. Steinmetz Award in the Aircraft Engines group. He was also among the first to be inducted into the General Electric Hall of Fame. He was chosen to represent GE at a Cincinnati Reds baseball game in Riverfront Stadium and throw out the ceremonial first pitch to Johnny Bench.

After retiring at age 65, he returned to work at GE the next day as a consultant and continued working until age 90. A special moment at his 90th birthday party was the reading of a personal letter addressed to him from then GE CEO, Jack Welch.

Joe Alford was among the lucky few whose vocation was also his avocation and his lifetime was largely spent doing what he loved most — solving engineering problems. He would probably have said the same thing about his life that Thomas Edison said about his: “I never did a day’s work in my life. It was all fun.”

On the occasion marking his sixth decade working for General Electric he said: “Working for the company for 60 years has been a rewarding career and has given me enduring satisfaction. People may ask, ‘Why doesn’t this old man get a rocking chair, go down to Florida and sit on the veranda?’ But if you really, truly like engineering, it’s the best show in town.”

He is survived by his wife of nearly 62 years, Mary, his son Joseph Alford of Indianapolis, daughters Christine Pollock and Elizabeth Alford of New Orleans, nephew Dick Alford of Florida, 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

A private family memorial service was planned. Donations can be sent to either Friendship UMC (1025 Springfield Pike, Wyoming, Ohio 45215) or Odyssey HealthCare Foundation (2800 Veterans Blvd., Suite 180, Metairie, La. 70002), a hospice, which brought comfort to Alford during his last days at home.

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Andersen, Robert (1918-2004), Pikesville, Md., Baltimore Section. Member 1980.

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Bauman, Merritt R., P.E. (1923-2004), Marinette, Wis., Northeast Wisconsin Subsection. Member 1979.

Bell, Melvin, P.E. (1915-2004), Rockville, Md., Washington D.C. Section. Member 1939.

Blades, Roger T., P.E. (1913-2003), Bartlesville, Okla., Bartlesville Section. Member 1935.

Blakely, Robert L. (1935-2004), Athens, Ala., North Alabama Section. Member 1980.

Blionas, Costas (1929-2004), Hackensack, N.J., Bergen Passaic Section. Member 1955.

Bradbury, Wilmer J. (1931-2004), Palmerton, Pa., Anthracite-Lehigh Valley Section. Member 1961.

Case, Robert F., P.E. (1928-2004), San Diego, Calif., San Diego Section. Member 1963.

Cate, Robert M. (1915-2004), Dallas, Texas, North Texas Section. Member 1947.

Chaple, William F., P.E. (1919-2004), Edmond, Okla., Central Oklahoma Section. Member 1959.

Cochran, Charles B., P.E. (1913-2004), Pittsburgh, Pa., Pittsburgh Section. Member 1939.

Cochran, John R. (1910-2004), Fairfield, Iowa, Central Iowa Section. Member 1944.

Curtis, Raymond R., P.E. (1923-2004), Colorado Springs, Colo., Pikes Peak Section. Member 1947.

Farrington, Franklin D. (1933-2004), Long Beach, Calif., Los Angeles Section. Member 1998.

Garruto, Edward J. (1926-2004), Wayne, N.J., Bergen Passaic Section. Member 1951.

Gillingham, Robert E. (1929-2003), Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Los Angeles Section. Member 1953.

Gottschalk, Gilbert (1914-2004), Tulsa, Okla., Mid Continent Section. Member 1949.

Gourley, Clifford L. (1915-2004), Centreville, Va., Washington D.C. Section. Member 1965.

Gray, Gooden (1918-2003), Bayside, N.Y., Metropolitan Section. Member 1962.

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Hicks, Lewis F., P.E. (1924-2004), Tega Cay, S.C., Pee Dee Section. Member 1950.

Jones, Charles E., Jr., P.E. (1934-2004), Northridge, Calif., San Fernando Valley Section. Member 1956.

Kennedy, Irwin G. (1922-2003), Indio, Calif., California Inland Section. Member 1964.

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Lynch, James E., P.E. (1925-2004), Lacey, Wash., Puget Sound Section. Member 1963.

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