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Dr. C. Walter "Doc" England
(50th Anniversary)
Dr. C. Walter “Doc”
England, Ph.D., co-founder and ever-present builder of
the Dairy Technology Society of Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Doc has spirited and nurtured the Society
ever since he and Dr. Randall Whitaker agreed back in June 1938 that our area
would benefit from a Dairy Technology Society. Indeed, it could be said that
Doc has been our shepherd: always there to serve, give opinions, and provide us
with an indispensable historical perspective. Doc has always genuinely enjoyed
being a “work horse”; a champion of democracy, fairness and accuracy; and
maintaining a relatively low profile when praised comes his way.
Since 1948 the Society, through its
Affiliate members, has provided Annual Scholarship Awards to students majoring
in Dairy Technology. Most of the recipients of this award have been productive
employees in the dairy and allied industries. A Distinguished Service Award is
presented to members of the Society for outstanding contributions to the dairy
industry and the Society.
MEMORIAL
C. Walter England, 99, a well known dairy manufacturing authority and former
University of Maryland faculty member died January 25, 1999. England had a
distinguished professional career during his active years. He supervised the
dairy technology program at the University of Maryland for 11 years, 1933-1944,
and was technical director for C. Y. Stevens industries in Washington, DC, for
10 years, 1944-1954. From 1954 to 1969, he operated his own commercial dairy and
foods laboratories at both Beltsville and Frederick, Maryland.
England helped to gain passage of the first dairy inspection law in Maryland.
His guidance in the design and efficient operation of dairy plants and his
creation of accepted dairy products standards have been recognized throughout
the nation. A native of Calvert, (Cecil County) Maryland, England received a
B.S. degree from Maryland in dairy processing in 1923 and earned M.S. and Ph.D.
degrees in the same field at Cornell University in 1931 and 1933, respectively.
He has been honored by the agriculture alumni chapter at the University of
Maryland and the Dairy Technology Society of Maryland and the District of
Columbia, which he helped to found nearly 60 years ago. His portrait hangs in
the Maryland Dairy Shrine's Hall of Fame at the Clarkville facility of the
Central Maryland Research and Education Center. The Department of Animal & Avian
Sciences in the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources at Maryland has been
awarding the C. Walter England Scholarship since 1963 to outstanding agriculture
students with an interest in milk technology. The department also established an
annual C. Walter England Dairy Technology Lectureship in 1998 to honor the grand
old man of dairy processing.
England is survived by his wife of 16 years, Edna Swart England; a daughter,
Nancy E. Tysdal of Adelphi, MD; two granddaughters; and four
great-grandchildren. His first wife, Alma L. England, died in 1981 after more
than 50 years of marriage.
Memorial contributions can be made to the C. W. England Scholarship Fund, c/o
College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Maryland, College Park
20742.
OBITUARY (University of Maryland
College Park, Summer 2000)
Charles Walter England, AGNR, died of congestive
heart failure Jan. 25, 1999, at Washington Adventist
Hospital.
England, a native of Calvert in Cecil County, was
a former faculty member with the College of
Agriculture, where he supervised the dairy
technology program from 1933 to 1944. He was
technical director for C.Y. Stevens Industries in
Washington D.C., from 1944 to 1954. In 1954, he
established his own business in Beltsville, C.W.
England Laboratories, which specializes in quality
and bacteria testing of dairy products.
England helped to gain passage of the first dairy
inspection law in Maryland, establish accepted dairy
products standards and improve the design and
efficiency of dairy plants.
England has been honored by the university's
agricultural alumni chapter as well as the Dairy
Technology Society of Maryland and the District of
Columbia, which he helped to found nearly 60 years
ago.
The C. Walter England Scholarship was established
in 1963 at the university's College of Agriculture
and Natural Resources, which awards the scholarship
to students interested in milk technology. In 1998,
an annual C. Walter England Lecture was established.
England is survived by his wife of 16 years, Edna
Swart England; a daughter, Nancy E. Tysdal of
Adelphi; two granddaughters; and four
great-grandchildren. His first wife, Alma L.
England, died in 1981 after more than 50 years of
marriage.
Mr. Michael J. Stengel
(Member Handbook 2001-2002: In Our
64th Year)
July 13, 1936 - December 9, 2000
Dairy Technology Society President July 1994 thru June 1995
We dedicate this publication to our memory of
Mike, who was a most outstanding member, Officer and President. He sought-out
membership in the Dairy Technology Society of Maryland and District of Columbia,
shortly after coming to work for Giant Food Stores Dairy & Ice Cream in 1982.
Mike had been a member of other dairy technology societies when he was working
for other dairies in other parts of the country. He was well aware that
membership in Dairy Technology offered an extra dimension to one’s career
experience: sharing of time and talent, knowledge, fellowship and a special
esprit de corps for the industry.
These attributes of the Dairy Technology Society were very important to Mike,
no, not just important, they were at the core of his own philosophy of how he
should conduct his life.., doing for others was Mike’s strong suit. Mike also
championed the idea of knowing everyone else in the Dairy Tech. Society, and
where they worked. Once you met Mike you had a new friendship. You could call on
him for anything. Mike’s gregariousness helped to create a cohesiveness to our
group... especially during his Presidency.
Michael Joseph Stengel was born July 13, 1936 in Suring, Wisconsin. His parents,
Frederick and Jennie Stengel were dairy farmers, as were his grand parents, who
lived across the road. Mike was the eldest of four children: two sisters,
Suzanne and Phyllis; and a brother, Dan. His father passed away in 1986. His
mother is now 96, and in relatively good health. She lives in Racine where she
and Frederick had moved in 1981 after selling their farm. In their childhood
years, Mike, Suzanne, Phyllis, and Dan learned the meaning of love,
responsibility, hard work, loyalty and dedication to family and friends. The
family farm and 4-H activities and good schools were all great reinforcements
for the very solid values code which Mike lived by. Mike was thankful for and
proud of his heritage and would share a personal comment or two about it, but he
would good-naturedly shift the focus to you or your interest or concerns. Mike
was a good listener. He was also a quick learner. He had the gift of creating
calm and order along with his deliberate, one-step-at-a-time analysis of most
situations which came his way.
After graduating from Suring High School Michael enrolled at River Falls State
Teacher’s College (now University of Wisconsin-River Falls). He graduated in the
Spring of 1958 with a BS Degree in Agricultural Education, Biology minor. In the
Fall of 1958 he enlisted in the US Army. After training at Ft. Sam Houston,
Texas he was assigned to the Veterinary Food Inspection Corps unit stationed in
Buffalo, New York. It was there that he met a young lady from Brookville, PA,
with a BA in Sociology, who had just graduated from Villa Maria College in Erie,
PA and who was seeking employment. Her name was Amelia Ferraro, daughter of Pat
and Pauline Ferraro. Pat was in the wholesale produce business with his family
at the time. Pat and Pauline are now retired, as is Amelia’s younger brother,
Joe, who lives in Florida.
Michael received an early discharge from the service in the Fall of 1961 to
accept a position with Sealtest Foods in New York City.
(Michael) Mike and (Amelia) Millie were married on June 23, 1962. Mike’s dairy
career involved a number of moves. In 1963 he began working for Dairylea
Corporation, so he and Millie moved to Clark, New Jersey. Their son, Brian
Steven was born in 1964. In 1965 Mike went to work with Bordens of New York.
They were still living in New Jersey when Victoria Lynn was born in 1966. Being
most comfortable in small towns, Mike was attracted to employment with Soldwedel
Dairy in Canton, Illinois in 1968. Their third child, Elaine Marie was born in
1969. Four years later, Mike accepted employment with The Great A&P Tea Co.,
Dairy Division in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Millie has fond memories of the
family-oriented community and its proximity to Mike’s family. A&P closed the
Manitowoc office in 1977 and moved Mike to their Landover, MD facility. Mike and
Millie moved their family to Laurel, MD into the house in which Millie still
resides.
In 1982 Mike left A&P and began his rewarding employment with Giant Food Dairy
in Landover, MD. After a brief time at the dairy operation, he was assigned to
the Giant Ice Cream and Beverage processing plants in Jessup, MD with duties in
quality control and as Manager of the waste treatment plant for the facility.
Earlier in this biography we mentioned Mike and Millie’s three children. Today,
they are young adults. Brian and wife Sandy have three daughters: Delaney Ray (7
yrs), Jenna Anne (5 yrs) and Alexa Rose (13 months). They live in Brunswick,
Ohio. Brian has a BS in Computer Science/Business and is a computer network
specialist. Victoria and her husband, Greg Sylvain have two sons: Andrew Michael
(3 yrs) and Mitchell Joseph (4 months). They live in Leesburg, VA. (Victoria)
Vickie has a BS in Nursing and is employed part time at Loudoun County Hospital.
Elaine has a BS in Elementary Education and has been a 1st Grade Teacher in
Howard County for six years. She lives in Elkridge, MD.
“Doing for others” seemed to be a contentment, almost a therapy for him. After
family, his employer, Dairy Tech and other friends, Mike’s focus was on
community needs. He was a long-time member of and advocate for St. Mary of the
Mill parish in Laurel. He was for many years a member, and served as President
of the Laurel High School Boosters club. Another volunteer activity/service for
the kids in his community was to video-tape their sporting and other events. He
spent countless hours at Laurel games taping, then editing and producing the
video tapes. The tapes provided resounding benefits to the athletes, their
school and family. Mike’s video tapes helped the school and students with
scouting, personnel development, and college recruiting for student-athlete
scholarship opportunities. His interest in the video-taping medium led him,
along with others, to form a media-related community events network. The effort
blossomed into the Laurel Cable Network over a decade ago. Mike served as
Treasurer for the most recent 12 years.
In summary, whatever facet of Mike’s life you examine, you will find the people
involved held him in high esteem and recognized him for his sincerity, optimism,
and willingness to help. He was seen as a pillar of strength and a “mover and
shaker” to get things done. However, he maintained humility and a low profile
when praise came his way.
Being judgemental is risky business for us humans, but, we believe all who knew
Mike would agree that he earned a place in Heaven. And following that severe
heart attack on December 9, 2000 at his home here on earth, he went to be with
the Lord.
This Dedication/Biography is Respectfully Commissioned to be included in the
Society’s 2001-2002 Member Handbook by The Executive Committee:
Chrm. & Pres. Ed Kennedy
Member & Past Pres., Tony Vona
Vice-Chrm. & 1st V.P., Al Moyer
Member & Secy’ Treas., Blair Penn
Member & 2nd V.P., Bill Chomicki
Many thanks to Mike’s family, friends, and associates for their contribution to
this biography, especially his wife, Millie.
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