Inducted
1996
Degrees
- B.S. Chemical Engineering, West Virginia University, 1972
Retired Senior Vice President for Manufacturing — Bayer Corporation
William Forester was born October 21, 1950 in Wheeling. Following graduation from Sherrard High School, he enrolled in chemical engineering at West Virginia University.
After receiving a bachelor of science degree, he began his career in 1972 at the New Martinsville operations of then Mobay Chemical Corporation as a process engineer.
Forester had various positions and assignments within the plant attaining the level of production supervisor in 1976, where he was one of the first production personnel involved in an exchange program with Bayer AG, the German-based parent company. He returned in 1980 to head the Isocyanate production areas in the New Martinsville plant.Ten years later, Forester returned to Brunsbuettel, Germany, to head the final construction and production of the MDI department for Bayer. In 1990, he returned to head the manufacturing responsibilities of the polyurethane division of Bayer Corporation in the United States and continues in that position.
Forester is married and the father of a daughter, Laura, and a son, William Roger. The family resides in Upper St. Clair, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.