The Journal of Explosives Engineering - March/April 2013 - 12

to the underground market.
Paul’s dedication to ISEE and the Black Hills Chapter has
been unmatched. He has served on the ISEE Board of Directors, is a past president of the Black Hills Chapter, and is a
member of the Northern Plains, Bluegrass, and Rocky Mountain chapters of ISEE.While on the ISEE Board, he served as
committee chairman of the ISEE program committee and is
a current member of that committee. He was an author of
the 17th Edition Blasters’ Handbook. He has been a guest
lecturer at the MSHA Academy in Berkley,W.Va., a presenter
at ISEE’s Blasters Training Seminar, and author of numerous
papers at ISEE conferences.
Paul is a model for volunteerism and dedication to the
industry he has worked in for 40 years.

Industry Services Award

John Capers (left) presents award to Jim Dawson (right).

Bob Hopler (middle) approaches the stage to receive his award.

The Industry Services Award is given in recognition of
dedicated service to the industry.

Robert B. Hopler
Bob Hopler holds a bachelor’s and master’s of science
degrees in mining engineering from the Missouri School of
Mines (now the Missouri S&T). His graduate research was
on ammonium nitrate-fuel oil explosives made with dense
prilled ammonium nitrate.
His early work experience included working as a miner
at the N.J. Zinc Company’s famous underground mine at
Franklin, New Jersey, and as a miner and bulldozer operator at a gold dredging operation in Alaska. After earning his
undergraduate degree, he worked four years in mine engineering and shift supervision with St. Joe Lead. Interrupting
Driller’s Leadership Award
The Driller’s Leadership Award recognizes a drill opera- St. Joe employment was service in the U.S. Army Chemical
tor, manager, or drill expert who has given an extraordinary Corps as an officer on the staff and faculty of the Chemiamount of their time and knowledge to help fellow drillers cal Corps School, teaching and handling mustard and nerve
gases, explosives, flame throwers, and smoke generators.
and blasters with application, engineering, or fieldwork.
Mr. Hopler’s explosives industry experience includes 24
years in research and development, technical service, and
James E. Dawson
James E. Dawson graduated from Haileybury School of project and product management with Hercules IncorpoMines in 1960 and subsequently worked as a mine engineer rated prior to the acquisition of Hercules’ explosives diviin several metal mining operations in Canada and Zambia. sion by IRECO Inc. in 1985, which later changed its name
He also worked as an assistant geologist at the Great Lakes to Dyno Nobel in 1993. From about 1974 to 1983 he was
manager of the development and market introduction of
hydroelectric project in Australia.
In 1973, he joined Ingersoll-Rand Company and worked the gas-initiated detonator system know as Hercudet. He
in design and sales in the eastern U.S., western Canada, and also interfaced with the FBI, ATF, and FAA, participating in
finally moving to Seattle as project manager for the raise- conferences and training programs, and assisting the agenboring group. That division was sold and he continued cies by providing information on commercial explosives.
He retired in 1996 from his position as manager of corworking for the new company until 1984 when he joined
GLI Corporation, a division of Baker International. GLI was porate technical service for Dyno Nobel after nearly 35
eventually bought and shut down in 1987.When it was res- years employment in the explosives industry.
After retirement he provided consulting services to the
urrected as Thunderbird, he started his own business as a
dealer for Thunderbird and eventually joined them as full- explosives industry from his home in Oxford, Md., as presitime sales manager from 2000-2011. He retired in 2011 and dent of Powderman Consulting, Inc. He also dealt in antishortly after started another business, Wildcat Enterprises, quarian books pertaining to explosives and blasting under
providing services to the mining industry in western Can- the company name The Old Powderman - Books.
In addition to authoring numerous technical papers
ada.
Jim has been an ISEE member for 20 years, and a mem- on explosives, he has contributed the continuing series of
ber of the Black Hills, Northern Plains, and now the Western articles in the Journal of Explosives Engineering entitled
Canada Chapter of ISEE. He has been a mentor to many in Explosives 100 Years Ago, since the magazine’s launch in
the industry and is always willing to answer questions and May of 1983. A compilation of his articles was published
provide training at meetings including ISEE’s Blasters Train- by the ISEE in January 2001. He was technical editor of the
17th edition of the ISEE Blasters’ Handbook. He authored
ing Seminar.
a history of the IME, and the chapter entitled The History,
Development, and Characteristics of Explosives in the book

The Journal of Explosives Engineers

March/April 2013

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The Journal of Explosives Engineering - March/April 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of Explosives Engineering - March/April 2013