1994 Fredericton Encaenia - Ceremony C
Limerick, Jack MacKenzie
Doctor of Science (D.Sc.)
Orator: Patterson, Stephen E.
Citation:
ENCAENIA, MAY, 1994
JACK MCKENZIE LIMERICK
to be Doctor of Science
In the five decades since Jack Limerick graduated from the University of New Brunswick, he has earned an international reputation in the pulp and paper industry.
Born in Fredericton, he received his BA with Honours in Chemistry and Mathematics in 1931. He attended UNB when everyone knew everyone else, but Jack Limerick particularly stood out as an enthusiastic participant in school activities. In his four years here, he held just about every position a student could hold, and in his senior year he was editor of The Brunswickan, president of the debating society, and class valedictorian. Not surprisingly, his energetic commitment to everything life offers paid off. He took a master's degree in chemistry from McGill and UNB, went to work immediately as a research chemist in the pulp and paper industry, and never looked back.
Jack Limerick built his career with the help of his wife, Elsie, a New Brunswick girl from Campbellton, and together they made their home in Bathurst, Montreal, and Oakville, Ontario. For most of his career, he worked for the company that came to be known as Consolidated Bathurst Ltd. From the rank of chief chemist, he rapidly rose within the company, designed and built their first building devoted exclusively to pulp and paper research, and organized a new department that became Canada's first centre for research and development of corrugated containers. His published research papers focused on high yield kraft pulping and improving the materials and construction of corrugated containers. His 1976 study for the Institute of Paper Chemistry on the use of secondary fibre from used containers in the manufacture of kraft liner board established his process as standard practice throughout the industry. He holds five patents ranging from ways to control or eliminate odors in pulp mill operations to a method for alkaline cooking of wood chips.
From his base in Montreal, Jack Limerick quickly gained recognition nationally and internationally. He lectured in Sweden, headed a prestigious technical delegation to survey the pulp and paper industry in the Soviet Union, was the first Canadian to serve as chairman of the Alkaline Pulping Committee of the U.S-based Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, and served as chairman of the Technical Section of the Canadian Pulp and Paper
Association. He has been a fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada since 1953, and a fellow and honorary life member of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry since 1982. By the time most men think of retiring, Jack Limerick was busy consulting with pulp and paper people world-wide, and assessing development prospects in such places as Iran and Brazil.
What is particularly gratifying is that this distinguished alumnus of UNB has never forgotten his roots or his attachment to his alma mater. He served on the old University Senate, the precursor of the present Board of Governors, from 1947 to 1952; and in 1955-56, he was president of the Associated Alumni. To this day, he has maintained his interest in UNB's program in pulp and paper technology. Fittingly, today that program is being named The Dr. Jack McKenzie Limerick Pulp and Paper Research and Education Centre, and it will hereafter benefit from his name and his distinguished reputation in the field as well as from his generosity.
UNB is proud to recognize this internationally respected chemist, administrator, and consultant and, with this honorary degree, to forge a new bond with a faithful alumnus.
From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 3
JACK MCKENZIE LIMERICK
to be Doctor of Science
In the five decades since Jack Limerick graduated from the University of New Brunswick, he has earned an international reputation in the pulp and paper industry.
Born in Fredericton, he received his BA with Honours in Chemistry and Mathematics in 1931. He attended UNB when everyone knew everyone else, but Jack Limerick particularly stood out as an enthusiastic participant in school activities. In his four years here, he held just about every position a student could hold, and in his senior year he was editor of The Brunswickan, president of the debating society, and class valedictorian. Not surprisingly, his energetic commitment to everything life offers paid off. He took a master's degree in chemistry from McGill and UNB, went to work immediately as a research chemist in the pulp and paper industry, and never looked back.
Jack Limerick built his career with the help of his wife, Elsie, a New Brunswick girl from Campbellton, and together they made their home in Bathurst, Montreal, and Oakville, Ontario. For most of his career, he worked for the company that came to be known as Consolidated Bathurst Ltd. From the rank of chief chemist, he rapidly rose within the company, designed and built their first building devoted exclusively to pulp and paper research, and organized a new department that became Canada's first centre for research and development of corrugated containers. His published research papers focused on high yield kraft pulping and improving the materials and construction of corrugated containers. His 1976 study for the Institute of Paper Chemistry on the use of secondary fibre from used containers in the manufacture of kraft liner board established his process as standard practice throughout the industry. He holds five patents ranging from ways to control or eliminate odors in pulp mill operations to a method for alkaline cooking of wood chips.
From his base in Montreal, Jack Limerick quickly gained recognition nationally and internationally. He lectured in Sweden, headed a prestigious technical delegation to survey the pulp and paper industry in the Soviet Union, was the first Canadian to serve as chairman of the Alkaline Pulping Committee of the U.S-based Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, and served as chairman of the Technical Section of the Canadian Pulp and Paper
Association. He has been a fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada since 1953, and a fellow and honorary life member of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry since 1982. By the time most men think of retiring, Jack Limerick was busy consulting with pulp and paper people world-wide, and assessing development prospects in such places as Iran and Brazil.
What is particularly gratifying is that this distinguished alumnus of UNB has never forgotten his roots or his attachment to his alma mater. He served on the old University Senate, the precursor of the present Board of Governors, from 1947 to 1952; and in 1955-56, he was president of the Associated Alumni. To this day, he has maintained his interest in UNB's program in pulp and paper technology. Fittingly, today that program is being named The Dr. Jack McKenzie Limerick Pulp and Paper Research and Education Centre, and it will hereafter benefit from his name and his distinguished reputation in the field as well as from his generosity.
UNB is proud to recognize this internationally respected chemist, administrator, and consultant and, with this honorary degree, to forge a new bond with a faithful alumnus.
From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 3
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