Richard D. Austin
Encyclopedia
Richard D. Austin held the position of Treasurer
for the Society of North American Goldsmiths
from 1987 until his death in 1990. He believed deeply in SNAG and its purpose and therefore fought hard behind the scenes. Although his work often went unnoticed, it made much of the difference in where SNAG is today financially.
He earned a BS degree in chemical engineering
from the University of Michigan
in 1959. Following four years in the Air Force
, he worked for several companies primarily in new product development and management. After becoming a principal partner in the Delta Planning Group, Austin began working closely with Kerr Manufacturing in developing many of their investment materials and modeling equipment and materials we use today. He would give frequent seminars on model making and investment casting procedures around the country.
He was not only a jeweler, but a prolific writer. In 1977, he co-authored How to Design Jewelry with Iva Geisinger. In 1978, he wrote Model Making for Investment Casting, a book that still sells several thousand copies a year. He’s credited with 84 technical articles for Gems and Minerals alone and served as technical editor of Metalsmith magazine for several years until his death.
In 1988, Austin sold his partnership so he could create jewelry full-time.
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
for the Society of North American Goldsmiths
Society of North American Goldsmiths
The Society of North American Goldsmiths was founded in 1969. It is an international nonprofit organization that serves as the primary organization of jewelers and metal artists in North America. Anyone interested in the related fields may become a member...
from 1987 until his death in 1990. He believed deeply in SNAG and its purpose and therefore fought hard behind the scenes. Although his work often went unnoticed, it made much of the difference in where SNAG is today financially.
He earned a BS degree in chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1959. Following four years in the Air Force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
, he worked for several companies primarily in new product development and management. After becoming a principal partner in the Delta Planning Group, Austin began working closely with Kerr Manufacturing in developing many of their investment materials and modeling equipment and materials we use today. He would give frequent seminars on model making and investment casting procedures around the country.
He was not only a jeweler, but a prolific writer. In 1977, he co-authored How to Design Jewelry with Iva Geisinger. In 1978, he wrote Model Making for Investment Casting, a book that still sells several thousand copies a year. He’s credited with 84 technical articles for Gems and Minerals alone and served as technical editor of Metalsmith magazine for several years until his death.
In 1988, Austin sold his partnership so he could create jewelry full-time.