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<p>I'm thinking the <span class="Fid_6">Walt Woltosz featured in
the big story on the front page </span><span class="Fid_6"><span
class="Fid_6">of today's Huntsville Times</span> must be the
same</span><span class="Fid_6"><span class="Fid_6"> Walt Woltosz
</span> I remember working at Thiokol in the '70s. I do find him
in the 1976 phone book sharing a phone number with Hill English.
As I recall he had some really big ideas, but I didn't think he
could work them at the Huntsville Division. I guess he came to
the same conclusion because he didn't stay long. The Walt
featured today apparently made big ideas work elsewhere. See
below and attached photo If you don't take the Times.</span></p>
<p><span class="Fid_6">Happy New Year everyone!!!<br>
</span> </p>
<p><span class="Fid_6">Cec</span></p>
<p><span class="Fid_6">==================================================================</span></p>
<p><span class="Fid_6">FRONT PAGE OF 1/1/2020 EDITION OF HUNTSVILLE
TIMES<br>
</span></p>
<p><span class="Fid_6">After they announced they were donating $10
million to Auburn University for a new football facility, Walt
and Ginger Woltosz took a picture with defensive tackle Derrick
Brown during the coin flip of the Georgia game. Walt Woltosz was
stunned at how big Brown is in person.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> “His head starts up here
somewhere,” Woltosz said, extending his arms well above his own
head. “The guy is huge!”</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> The big guy is also the
perfect example of why the Woltoszs decided to donate $10
million to the football program. Brown, who coach Gus Malzahn
said should have been a legitimate contender for the Heisman
trophy, which signifies college football’s top player, is
projected to be a firstround NFL draft pick. As an NFL player,
Brown would represent Auburn nationally, potentially becoming a
more widely known name than many of the school’s successful
academics, engineers or scientists.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> And, in turn, his notoriety
could help fuel Auburn’s recruiting efforts.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> “Sports are sometimes the
front door to the university,” Woltosz said. “I know many people
around the country know the name Auburn University. And they
usually think of us as a football school. … But basically sports
are a way to attract top talent academically.”</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span style="font-weight:bold;"> THE FOUNDATION FOR
GENEROSITY</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> Walt Woltosz is a 74-year-old
Auburn alumnus and father of five who loves Chappy’s Deli and
brings home half of his muffin to his wife, Ginger, a quiet but
incredibly attentive woman.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> “Together, they’re a very
dynamic couple in a very humble way,” Auburn Athletic Director
Allen Greene said. “You wouldn’t know by looking at them that
they’re that successful.”</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> Walt is best known for
developing Professor Sir Stephen Hawking’s communication system,
but he has a long list of inventions, innovations and creations
under his name. Ginger has been a driving factor behind much of
his success and his generosity.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> Years before Woltosz got into
designing communication systems, he graduated from Auburn with a
bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and started working
at Northrop Services in Huntsville on the space shuttle. His job
was to figure out how to get the shuttle from the launchpad into
orbit. The shuttle wouldn’t be launched for another 10 years,
but at the time Woltosz was working on it, they were trying to
figure out how to get 80-100 more pounds of payload — the amount
of cargo a shuttle can carry.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> Woltosz was in the Air Force
before attending Auburn, and he thought about how he rolled his
plane when he wanted to turn. He decided to put the ability to
roll into the program and let it run overnight. When he came
back the next morning, he had an extra 8,000 pounds of payload.
Now, when you see a space shuttle turn over when it launches, it
is because of Woltosz’s discovery.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> After getting a masters in
administrative science from the University of Alabama in
Huntsville and a masters in aerospace engineering from Auburn,
Woltosz moved to California to work in the Air Force Rocket
Propulsion Lab.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> One day, his secretary,
Ginger, came in to ask him for assistance. Her mother had ALS
and could no longer communicate. Ginger wanted to know if
Woltosz could find a way to help her speak again.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> Woltosz said it wasn’t his
area of expertise. Ginger persisted, and Woltosz finally gave
in, bought some supplies at Radio Shack and went with Ginger to
meet her mother. Ginger’s mother died before she could benefit
from what Woltosz developed, but the process birthed both a
marriage and a company.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> In 1981, Ginger and Walt were
married and together formed Words+ Inc. Four years after forming
the company, a physicist reached out to Woltosz asking for
assistance in finding a way to help an English physics professor
speak again.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> “Are you talking about Stephen
Hawking?” Woltosz asked. “Let me know if it’s Stephen Hawking.
I’ll donate whatever he needs.”</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"> A few days later, the
physicist confirmed it was for Hawking who was in an intensive
care unit at the time. Woltosz sent something over, but British
Customs held the package for three weeks, wondering why someone
would send such expensive material for free.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> By the time they released it,
Hawking was out of ICU, so Woltosz sent over something more
advanced. Hawking used it until the day he died, even after
Woltosz developed bigger and better systems.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> “It became a stand ard joke
betwe en us,” Woltosz sa id.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> After working with Words+ Inc.
for many years, Woltosz decid ed to see if he could use his
computer simulation and modeling skills in health care. He and
Ginger started Simulations Plus in 1996. The company discovered
a way to better help drugs absorb i nto the gastroi ntesti nal
tract. It went public, growing enough to allow the Woltoszs to
make generous donations to the causes they choose — animal
shelters, disaster relief and medical research — and to pursue
other passions.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> Because of his work with
Hawking and other patients with ALS, Woltosz has a ssisted wit h
documenta ries and mov ies t hat dea l wit h the subject.
Recently, Woltosz decided to pur sue his interes t in fil mm
aking by starting a production company, Iron Compass
Entertainment, with his son, Daniel. The father and son created
a film called “Do Not Reply,” which won awards at the Orlando
Film Festival in October.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> Woltosz said he’s nowhere near
thinking about retirement — aside from the fact that he plays
golf a little more often now.</span><span
style="font-weight:bold;"> FOREVER PART OF THE AUBURN FABRIC</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> Woltosz was once one of the
Auburn students packed into the stands cheering on Connie
Frederick as he ran a fake punt 84 yards for a touchdown in the
1969 Iron Bowl. He was working hard on his aerospace engin
eering degree, in no way anticipating all the turns his life
would take. When one of his professors told him he probably
would n’t stay in aerospace engineering, he was taken aback.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> “What are you talking about?”
Woltosz said at the time. “I just spent all this time and energy
getting the two degrees... Of course, I’m going to be an
aerospace engineer for the rest of my life.”</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> “He just smiled,” Woltosz
continued. “He was a very wise man.”</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> Woltosz’s career has crossed
through four different fields, and he’s found so much success in
all of them that Auburn made him one of the graduation keynote
speakers for its fall 2018 commencement ceremony.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> For 37 years, Woltosz was
“stuck” out in California and could only return for a football
game every so often. As his company found more success and he
was able to delegate more responsibilities, he and Ginger were
able to come to more games. Eventually, they decided to buy a
game weekend house. Before buying, they did their research</span><span
class="Fid_0"> and found out the house originally belonged to
Frederick Biggin, the school’s first dean of a rchitecture.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> “They knew rig ht then that
when they died, they would give it to Auburn University and the
school of architecture,” said Vini Nathan, the current dean.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> They found themselves coming
to Auburn more and more, so they decided to make Aub urn their
permane nt residence. Whe n they found out they couldn’t put a
garage on the house, they decided to just donate the house and
find a new one.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> The house was named the
Biggin-Woltosz House on Sept. 5, 2019. After the donation,
Woltosz rem ained involved with the college of architecture,
engaging in projects and providing feedback despite being a
college of eng ineering graduate.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> “Walt and Ginger are these
kind of extremely enlightened alumni,” Nathan said. “It’s one
thing to be generous, as they absolutely are. They are
absolutely enlightened. What that means is they are able to have
the long-term and broad view because t hey give where they can
give the most impact.”</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> Now, there are more facilities
around campus that bear the Woltosz name or were built wit h
their support. They have become firmly entrenched in the
community. They love the Gogue Performing Arts Center, and now
it has a Woltosz Theater. The engineering research lab is named
after them.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> They’re huge supporters of
different athletics programs, too. As soon as Walt Woltosz heard
Bruce Pearl was hired, he bought four season tickets. They’re
proud of the nationa lly accla imed equestria n tea m and
supported a new barn that was built. Together with the other
lead donor, Suzanne Mott Dansby, they decided to name the
building after the coach instead of themselves.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> “They don’t just give to
something to put their name on it,” Greene said.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> The Woltoszs even sup po rt
the Canin e Performance Sciences. Ginger is passionate about
animals, and she and Walt like to take time to feed and pet the
puppies.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> So far, Woltosz has lured one
grandchild to Auburn. She’s a sophomore and recently attended
her first football game with her grandparents, and her younger
sister was r ecen tly accepted to Auburn. His 13-yearold gra
nddaug hter is an equestria n and also wants to go to Auburn.
Woltosz’s hope is to get all seven of his grandchildren to
attend so that they draw their parents to the Auburn area, too.</span><span
style="font-weight:bold;"> STEP ONTO AUBURN’S FRONT PORCH</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> After the Woltoszs donated $10
million toward a new football facility, Woltosz said there were
people who complained, asking why he’d donate so much to a
program that already receives so much funding.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> Football has always been
Woltosz’s favorite sport, but he’s recently become a bigger sup
porter of many other Auburn athletics programs. However, the
football program provides something the others don’t — the
chance to represent Auburn on the biggest stage.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> Auburn currently has 45
players on National Football League ros ters. Jus t one former
Tiger is in the National Basketball Association, and fo ur are
in Major Leagu e Baseball, not inc lu ding minor leagu es. When
players like Cam Newton or Montravious Adams or Jamel Dean go on
to the next level and find success, it brings attention to
Auburn.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> “(The Woltoszs) are not just
thr owing money to the wind and seeing where it’s going to lan
d,” Nathan said. “They’re very carefully calib rated and selecti
ve abo ut where they put their resources.”</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> Woltosz fee ls like people
outside the Southeast may not realize what a quality academic
institution Auburn is, but they’ve maybe heard of it because of
its spo rts teams. However, to keep up the athletic succes s,
Aubu rn needs to draw goo d recru its, which is hard to do when
its facilities are outdated.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> Woltosz said he didn’t realize
tha t Auburn’s football facilities are decades behind the other
SEC schools until he heard Malzahn speak. In order to get the
next Derrick Brown, Auburn needs to update, and it wanted to
raise $30 million to get started. The Woltoszs decided to give
the campaign a little jump start. Their donation, as well as a
$2 million donation from Malzahn and his wife, were among
several that put Auburn in</span><span class="Fid_0"> a position
where it could move to the design phase for the new football
facility.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> The acade mic part of the
institution doesn’t begrudge the football program the money at
all.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> “They’re the front porch of
the university,” Nathan said. “I think at some point, we all
step back and say it’s not about me, it’s not about my college.
It’s about Auburn, and if there’s strength in one area, we are
delighted when our athletic programs do well.”</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_0"> Woltosz has a long-term
vision. “There’s a trickle-down effect over the years because a
good, well-performing school in sports attracts the academic
interest in the school as well,” Woltosz said. “And that
eventually leads to the alumni later on who will become
successful and provide the updated kind of support that we’re
providing now.”</span></p>
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<p class="abody"><span style="font-weight:bold;"> Walt and Ginger
Woltosz were guest captains when Auburn played Georgia.</span><span
style="font-style:italic;"> Todd Van Emst, AU Athletics</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span style="font-weight:bold;"> “(T he Wolto szs)
are not just throwing money to the wind and seeing where it’s
going to land.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span style="font-weight:bold;"> T hey’re very
careful ly calibrated and selective about where they put their
resources.”</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span style="font-style:italic;"> Vini Nathan,
Auburn University dean</span></p>
<hr class="headerBar articlehr bottomhr">
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_6"></span></p>
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