—Jim Woodward ’69
Giving Starts Somewhere BY M A RSH A L L S W E A RINGE N
When Jim Woodward ’69 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in industrial and management engineering from Montana State University, he had no student debt—a fact he attributes to his summer job guiding tourists through Lewis and Clark Caverns, another job at MSU’s residence halls, plus “a nice little scholarship” his freshman year and some support from relatives. During his subsequent 44-year career with 3M Company, Jim, along with his wife, Carol, established a pattern of giving that now includes the Woodward Family Scholarship, which provides assistance to MSU engineering students each year. “We wanted other people to have the same opportunity that I did,” Woodward said. When he enrolled at MSU, Woodward, who grew up in Whitehall, Montana, was following in his family’s footsteps. His grandfather was a member of the Montana State College class of 1903. His father and all of his father’s siblings, including two of Woodward’s uncles who went into aerospace careers with Boeing and Rockwell after receiving engineering degrees, attended MSC. Woodward, too, hoped for a career in aerospace. But when a Boeing recruiter came to Bozeman in 1969 and told the soon-to-be-graduates that the company wasn’t hiring that year, he turned to a career with manufacturer 3M. The company was then in the process of developing a new line
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lenged themselves too,” she said. of personal safety equipment “It was a small thing to begin “I think that’s admirable.” that included the “8710” dust with,” he said. “We’d give $100 Jim and Carol now spend some mask. Today, one can still find a year. Over time, it got a little of their time traveling, with recent descndents of the 8710—a white, bigger, and a little bigger.” visits to Hawaii, Australia, New cup-shaped filter with yellow Because 3M had a matching Zealand, Peru and Europe, as elastic straps and metal nose gift program, the company was well as many US locations. They clamp—on the shelves of any also contributing to MSU. frequently return to Bozeman and hardware store. “One of the reasons it worked Southwest Montana, often to visit “It was the first government-apout for everyone was 3M would proved toxic dust respirator in the match my donations one-for-one,” MSU, where they have attended Homecoming festivities, football world,” said Woodward. “It was said Woodward. and basketball games, and met much lighter-weight and much A few months before his several times with the dean of the more comfortable” than anything retirement in 2013, Woodward College of Engineering, as well as that had come before. inherited money from the estate representatives of the MSU Alumni In 1971, Jim was tasked with of his uncle—the one who had Foundation. They also attend overseeing the manufacturing received an engineering degree MSU alumni gatherings in the process for the 8710. “It got off at MSC and gone to work for a Minneapolis St Paul area. These to a small start,” he said. precursor of Rockwell. visits help them to keep in touch But in 1974, he and Carol “We took some of that, and with what’s happening at MSU. moved to Aberdeen, South gave it to MSU to start the WoodThe capstone of the WoodDakota, where a new 3M plant ward Family Scholarship,” he said. wards’ giving is the allocation of was being built, mainly to make “We just sat down and said, a portion of their estate, which the 8710. Soon, 3M was ‘You know, it’s time now to start will go to the MSU College of manufacturing the 8710 and giving back, not just in bits and Engineering to empower the colrelated products at several locapieces,’ “ said Carol Woodward, lege’s leadership to create new tions in the U.S., as well as in who also regularly donates to programs and student resources. England and Brazil. That family the library at the University of “We realized the effect that our Oregon, where she received of products now comprise 3M’s education has had on our lives,” her undergraduate degree. “It Personal Safety Division, one of said Jim Woodward. worked out really well to meet 3M’s largest divisions. “I think back to the fact that with the engineering dean and “It was a business we could I got through college in part feel good about because we were Melissa Dulin, senior director of because I benefitted from the development at the MSU Alumni helping people protect themkindness of other people.” Foundation, to start putting the selves from nasty stuff like silica whole thing together.” dust and other things that can “The majority of our donors cause lung diseases.” are like the Woodwards,” said In 1979, Jim, Carol, and son Dulin. “Giving starts someJay (age 2) moved to a St Paul where, and you really suburb near 3M’s Minnesota never know where headquarters. In 1986, Woodit might lead.” The ward was promoted to senior Woodwards “made quality assurance specialist at a commitment and 3M. 1986 also marked the first of what would become many gifts gave what they could, and chalto Montana State University. Jim and Carol Woodward
WOODWARDS COURTESY OF WOODWARDS
2016
‘We wanted other people to have the same opportunity that I did.’