Kenneth J. Shouldice Achievement Award: Bill Rothwell

Bill Rothwell is the winner of Lake State's 2009 Shouldice Achievement Award.

To read profiles of other 2009 winners, please click here.

Here's what Lake State says about Bill Rothwell and his award:

************************ Kenneth J. Shouldice Achievement Award

Bill Rothwell '74 will be presented with LSSU's Shouldice Achievement Award, which is presented to alumni whose personal and professional successes serve as outstanding examples to LSSU graduates.

Rothwell is the VP for Innovations and Chemicals Technology for Shell Oil, where he has been working since 1980, and is on the board of directors for Codexis Inc, a developer of clean biocatalytic technology manufacturing processes.

Rothwell said he owes his life-long interest in chemistry to LSSU and his sister, Nancy (Fenlon).

Rothwell was 9 when Nancy took him on a tour of Lake State where he said he vividly remembers seeing a fascinating array of exotic laboratory glassware, which forever piqued his imagination.

Soon afterwards, his sister gave him a chemistry set for Christmas, and he was hooked.

When Rothwell was in seventh grade, high school chemistry teacher David Imig arranged for him to begin college chemistry under then LSSU department chairman Prof.

Ray Chelberg. After a successful initial year, Rothwell continued his studies under another Lake State great, Prof.

John Lehman, in organic chemistry. By the time he graduated from Sault High, Rothwell had amassed 32 credits in college chemistry and biology.

"The only high school science course I took was physics," Rothwell said. "This was quite a turnaround for me, since I managed somehow to fail second grade!"

Knowing he needed to improve his math skills to succeed in chemistry, Rothwell said LSSU Prof. Bernie Arbic, "a very inspirational and challenging math professor," helped convert him to the mathematics field.

He earned two BS degrees at MSU in 1976, one each in mathematics and chemistry.

Following graduation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rothwell and his new bride, Patricia Maki, another LSSU student and Sault resident, moved to Houston, where he began work as a research chemist for Shell.

When Shell’s worldwide chemical businesses were combined in 1998, the Rothwells and their four sons moved to London, where Bill headed up Shell Chemicals global Portfolio Strategy and Planning group.

After a few years, they returned to Houston where he became vice president and general manager of a $1.5 billion global chemical business for Shell.

In 2007, Rothwell returned to technology and now oversees 500 scientists and engineers in five technology centers across the world and leads Shell’s research in areas like petrochemicals, biofuels and CO2 removal.

"I am thrilled to be associated with this award," Rothwell said. "When I first started my studies at Lake State, Dr. Shouldice was president.

I remember him well as a distinguished, visionary leader who did much for LSSU. He created a strong, early impression on me."

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