William S. "Bill" Fuller
William S. “Bill” Fuller
Lifetime Member
Federal Way, Washington
Solving forensic TV thrillers is a favorite past-time for self-described CSI addict, William S. “Bill” Fuller, but the career benefits derived from his nearly 50-year TAPPI relationship are anything but a mystery. Having joined in 1966, Bill says his ongoing, active membership opened doors to a vast array of global connections that otherwise would not have been possible in his field of wood technology and pulp and paper science.
Bill now serves as an internationals consultant working in fiber raw material production, quality and pulp mill problem solving, and forest and municipal waste utilization and safety, but previously spent 35 years with Weyerhaeuser Company in Federal Way, WA serving in a variety of positions including Fiber Raw Materials Scientist to Manager of the Western Region Safety and Occupational Health. In 2002 he retired as a Senior Scientific Advisor in the Research and Development section for Pulp and Paper and subsequently opened FRM Consulting. A graduate of the University of Washington, he holds a Master of Science degree in Pulp and Paper Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Wood Technology.
A member of the TAPPI JOURNAL (TJ) editorial board since 1980, he has authored numerous papers for inclusion, as well as contributed chapters for books on chip production for TAPPI PRESS and other academic publications. His first contact with TJ was through former Editor-in-Chief Michael Kouris whom Bill credits with bringing him on as an editor and whose coaching gave him the skills he needed to “help evaluate, improve and refine TJ submissions.” He says Michael’s contagious commitment and enthusiasm were, and still are, a major force in his TAPPI experience.
Throughout his association with TAPPI, Bill has been honored many times for his commitment to volunteer activities. He was named a TAPPI Fellow in 1986 and also received the following awards and recognition: Pulp Manufacture Leadership and Service Award (1193); Pacific Section Outstanding Local Section Member Award (1994); Distinguished Service Award (1995); Outstanding Short Course Chairman (1994 and 1996); and Outstanding Short Course Instructor (1993, 1994, 1995). Bill is well-known for developing and leading the Chip Production and Quality short course for more than 20 years, and co-chairing the Kraft Pulping short course. Students still contact him with questions. Bill was also elected to serve as a member of the TAPPI Board of Directors from 1996 to 1998.
A scientist at heart, Bill is proud of the many on-the-job “mysteries” he has solved during his career and long association with TAPPI, and points to his global contact network as one of the main sources for his success. “Thanks to that network, whenever someone asks me who they should talk to about a technology or a problem, I can almost always direct them to a person or organization to help, or provide direction.” And that, he says, most often results in “case closed.”
Q. Why Did You Decide To Join TAPPI?
My graduate school advisor, Dr. Howard Gardner, himself an active member of TAPPI, advised me several times to be sure to join TAPPI, go to technical conferences and Local Section meetings, and stay involved in committee activity. I did and have been grateful for his strong recommendation.
Q. Please describe your involvement with TAPPI over the years.
In the Pulp Manufacture Division, I have been a member of the Alkaline Pulping and Nonwood Fiber Committee and the organizing chairman of Fiber Raw Material Supply Committee. In the Research Division, I was a member of the Research Needs Committee and in the Pacific Section I was the organizing chairman of the Pacific Section Annual Seminar – 1985-2004. I’ve been on the TAPPI JOURNAL Editorial Board since 1980 and have witnessed several significant technological/research changes, including recovery and recycling becoming a technical and economic success, developments in kraft pulping resulting in increased yield and uniformity, lower energy requirement, and productivity, the development and implementation of chip production technology that delivers increases yield and pulp uniformity, and the development of thermo-mechanical pulping and the ability to utilize it in a wide range of printing grades.
Q. How has TAPPI helped you in your career pursuits?
I owe much of the success in my career to active involvement in TAPPI:
- Contact with the global technology and research leaders in the industry – early in my career, they taught me and coached me
- Development and application of leadership and team-building skills
- Team problem solving skills
- Close friendships – in the industry and the TAPPI staff
- A global contact network – if someone asks who they should talk to about a technology or a problem, I can almost always direct them to a person or organization for help or direction.
My involvement with TJ also helped develop and maintain my global network, as well to keep me current on developing and new technologies and the status of their implementation. Most especially, I enjoyed the challenge of helping authors communicate their work clearly and concisely.
Q. Tell us about some of your interests outside of TAPPI and your professional life.
From 1982 to now I have served as an Affiliate Associate Professor at the University of Washington’s College of Forest Resources Paper Science and Engineering. Since 2003, I have also served as Chair for the Washington Pulp and Paper Foundation Alumni Relations Committee and since 1988 as a meeting planner. I am also a Board member (since 2009) for the University of Washington Forest Resources Alumni Association. As an avid digital photographer, I enjoy shooting nature subjects as, illustrations for my consulting work, and macro-photography (close-up), as well as photographing groups and events I am associated with. I am also a collector of both new and old pen and pencils. Genealogy is becoming a past-time as our family continues to grow with 13 grandchildren. I also greatly enjoy my dog Suzy.
Q. Can you share a unique or fun fact about yourself?
As an older adult, I still feel like a younger person inside. My grandkids call me silly when I play with them, say and do things to make them laugh, do kid stuff, tell funny stories and “draw” my non-art pictures, Other adults rarely see this fun activity. I love shaggy dog stories (the ones with a punny punch line) and with good friends will carry plays on words to the point of exhaustion. I collect pictures of funny signs, take them whenever I find them and use them in courses and presentations. I am addicted to CSI shows and if I could do my career again, would have gone into Forensic Science instead of Wood Technology and Pulp and Paper Science.
Q. Closing sentiments?
The person that the TAPPI JOURNAL and I owe a tremendous amount of appreciation and gratitude is Michael Kouris. Michael surprised me when he asked me to join the TJ editor group. During the years that he was Editor-in-Chief, he coached me in the skills to evaluate, improve and refine Journal submissions. His commitment to the Journal and enthusiasm were contagious and are still part of my experience with the Journal. In addition to Michael, I have learned from, enjoyed and become close friends with many TAPPI staff members. Thank you, my friends!