Retiring from the aviation industry in May 1995 as the president of Raytheon Co. in Lexington, Massachusetts, Max E. Bleck also served on its board of directors for several years.
KANSAS CITY, MO, December 11, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Max E. Bleck with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Bleck celebrated many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he had accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Bleck, a pioneering executive in the general aviation industry, worked for the best in the business. Retiring from the aviation industry in May 1995 as the president of Raytheon Co. in Lexington, Massachusetts, he also served on its board of directors for several years. He previously headed Beech Aircraft Corp., now Beechcraft Corp., in Wichita, Kansas, as president and chief executive officer between 1987 and 1995. During his years with the two organizations, Mr. Bleck was responsible for overseeing the introduction into service of the all-composite Starship and the acquisition of the Hawker jets program from British Aerospace. In addition, under his guidance, the companies received major military contracts, including the United States Air Force tanker transport training system program.
Prior to his work with Raytheon and Beech, Mr. Bleck was employed with the Gates Learjet Corp., now the Bombardier Learjet Corp., in Wichita as executive vice president and chief operating officer between 1986 and 1987. He also worked for Piper Aircraft Co. in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and later in Vero Beach, Florida where he served in a number of positions, including president and chief executive officer between 1975 and 1985. Prior to his service with Piper, Mr. Bleck worked for Cessna Aircraft Co. in Wichita for a total of 13 years, starting as chief engineer of Cessna's military and twin-engine aircraft division. He later served as general manager of the military-twin division, vice president and group vice president, before briefly returning to the organization in 1987 as the company's president for six months. While at Cessna, he was instrumental in the development of many iconic aircraft, including Cessna's first business jet, the Citation I.
While working at Cessna, Mr. Bleck earned a private pilot's license with instrument and multi-engine ratings. He also built his own experimental aircraft in his basement and garage. Named the "Glory-B" after his wife Gloria, the design and construction of the two-place, open cockpit modified EAA airplane took seven years to build and cost $2,000. Prior to his tenure with Cessna, his first aviation job included 12 years at the Stanley Aviation Corp., first in Buffalo, New York and later in Denver, Colorado. He began as a design draftsman and progressed to project engineer, chief engineer and finally vice president of engineering. While at Stanley, Mr. Bleck was responsible for the design and manufacture of escape systems for military aircraft, including the escape capsules for the supersonic B-58 Hustler.
Over more than five decades Mr. Bleck left behind a legend of expertise and service in many aspects of aviation. Notably, he served as chairman of the board of directors for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and the National Aeronautical Association, was a member of the board of governors of the Aerospace Industries Association and the board of directors for the Air Safety Foundation of the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association. He was inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 1992.
Mr. Bleck also left a legacy of community service He was active as the general campaign manager for the United Way of the Plains in Kansas, was a member of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Council, and was chairman of the Boston area United States Savings Bond campaign. Mr. Bleck holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer in Troy, New York, and completed postgraduate work at the University of Buffalo. He received an honorary Doctorate of Engineering from Rensselaer and an honorary Doctorate of Science from Daniel Webster College in Nashua, New Hampshire.
At the beginning of sophomore year at Rensselaer, Mr. Bleck met the love of his life, the former Gloria Robinson of Troy, New York. Their romance and his education were interrupted by his World War II naval service, but after he returned, they were married shortly before his 1949 graduation. The couple settled initially in his home town of Buffalo, NY where their son, Mark, and later, twin daughters Cynthia and Sandra were born.
Mr. Bleck has also been cited in several editions of Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the East and Who's Who in Finance and Industry.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Max E. Bleck has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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