Penn State Behrend receives
$1 million gift from alumnus

"I have been very fortunate," said Benson, who received a degree from Penn State-Behrend in drafting and design technology in 1957. "I think it's important to give back to the community in order to allow others to fulfill their dreams."

Benson made his gift in the hopes of enhancing the College's commitment to working with area manufacturers.

The college will name the fourth and final building in its $6 million Engineering Complex the James O. Benson Building in his honor. Benson joins four other industrialists from the region who have made serious commitments to the complex: Richard J. Fasenmyer, chairman and CEO of RJF International Corp.; Joseph J. Prischak, president of the Plastek Group; and William C. Witkowski, president of Port Erie Plastics. The atrium connecting the four buildings is named in honor of Paul and Margaret Roche. Roche was the founder of Erie Plastics.

Upon graduation, Benson accepted a temporary position with the Parker White Metal Co. "The 'temporary' position lasted about 37 years," he said.

At the same time, Benson started his own machining company operating in the basement of his home. In 1967, it was incorporated as Reddog Industries. In 1984, Reddog Industries acquired Parker White Metal through a buyout, incorporating under the name of PHB Inc.

PHB Inc. has more than 1,000 employees at three facilities in Erie County, recording annual sales in excess of $80 million.

During his career, Benson was deeply committed to service activities in the Erie community. He served on the board of directors of both the United Way of Erie County and the Manufacturers' Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania, and held membership in the Elk Valley Rotary.

Benson, founder and first president of the Behrend Alumni Club, received the Penn State Alumni Fellow Award in 1995.

He and his wife, Gerda, live in Jupiter Island, Fla., where he was recently named chairman of the board and CEO of Fuelbusters International. The company manufactures and markets an environmentally safe fire-fighting material.

Penn State-Behrend officially dedicated the James O. Benson Building and the Engineering Complex in a ceremony on Sept. 20.