Commencement Honors - 12/08/94

OHIO STATE HONORS THREE ALUMNI AT AUTUMN COMMENCEMENT

     COLUMBUS, Ohio -- During Autumn Quarter commencement Friday
(12/9), The Ohio State University honored three of its alumni:
an internationally renowned humanitarian, a retired chemicals
industry executive, and a former All-American lineman who helped
open professional football to African Americans.

     Rajammal P. Devadas, who has worked to improve health and
educational opportunities for the people of India for nearly 50
years, received the Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

     Richard H. Leet, retired executive vice president and vice
chairman of the board of Amoco Corp., and William K. Willis, a
1944 All-American and member of Ohio State's 1942 national
championship football team, each received the Distinguished
Service Award.

     Devadas is chancellor of Avinashilingam Deemed University in
Coimbatore, India.  She earned master's degrees in education and
in nutrition and home science from Ohio State in the 1940s, and a
doctorate in nutrition and home science in 1950.  She returned to
India and served as chief home economist and joint director of
extension in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.  From 1960 to
1980, she was principal of Sri Avinashilingam Home Science
College.  Devadas has educated more than 10,000 teachers during
her career.  She holds bachelor's and post-doctoral degrees from
the University of Madras, the National Award for Child Welfare
from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, and the Tagore
Literacy Award from the Indian Adult Education Association.

     Leet served as chair of the National Campaign Committee
during the final years of Ohio State's five-year fund-raising
campaign that was completed in 1990, and served as a member of
The Ohio State University Foundation Board.  He received the
Ralph D. Mershon Award from The Ohio State University Alumni
Association in 1990.  He earned his doctorate in chemistry from
Ohio State in 1952, then joined the Standard Oil Co. of Indiana
as a research chemist.  He worked in various positions with Amoco
companies before being named president of Amoco Chemicals in 1978
and executive vice president of Amoco Corp. five years later.
Leet is a member of several corporate boards, a trustee of Brenau
University in Gainesville, Ga, and a member of the board of
managers for the Chicago YMCA.  A long-time scouting volunteer
and Eagle Scout, Leet was national president of the Boy Scouts of
America in 1990 and 1991.

     Willis played on the offensive and defensive lines, starting
on Paul Brown's 1942 national championship team.  In 1944, he
became the Buckeyes' first African-American to gain All-American
recognition.  He graduated with a bachelor's degree in education
in 1945, then became a member of the first Cleveland Browns
football team in 1946.  A seven-time All-Pro middle guard, Willis
was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.  Willis
also attended graduate school at Ohio State.  He served as
director of the Ohio Department of Youth Services and as deputy
director of the Ohio Youth Commission.  Willis has been a role
model and mentor to many men and women at Ohio State and
throughout Ohio.  Willis is a member of Ohio State's Varsity "O"
Board, a charter member of the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame,
and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Cleveland
Browns All-Time All-Star Team, and the City of Columbus and
Columbus Public Schools halls of fame.
                                
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Contact:  Ruth Gerstner, (614) 292-8424.


[Submitted by: REIDV  (reidv@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu)
               
Thu, 08 Dec 1994 15:58:46 -0500 (EST)]
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