Dr. James W. Owens, Former CEO & Chairman Of Caterpillar Inc., Receives Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity's Highest Award

The Order of Achievement recognizes Owens for his personal and professional achievements

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On November 1, 2013, Dr. James W. Owens, former chairman & CEO of Caterpillar Inc., received Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity's Order of Achievement Award during a North Carolina State University alumni dinner at the University Club.  Owens is a native of Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131106/DC11697)

After spending 38 years working in a variety of assignments with Caterpillar, Inc, Owens retired in November 2010. His Caterpillar experience included International living/working opportunities in Geneva, Switzerland and Jakarta, Indonesia. He was president of Solar Turbines in San Diego from 1990-93 and corporate CFO from 1993-95. In 1995, he became group president and member of Caterpillar's executive office. While chairman, Owens served on the Executive Committee of the Business Roundtable, was chairman of the Business Council and an advisor to Presidents Bush and Obama.

Owens is currently a director of Alcoa, Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, IBM Corporation in Armonk, New York, and Morgan Stanley in New York City. He also serves as a senior advisor to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. in New York. He is chairman of the executive committee for the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, DC, and a director of the Council of Foreign Relations in New York.  He served on the Executive Committee of the Business Council and was a member of President Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, 2009-10.

In accepting the award Owens said, "I am thankful for the deep friendship bonds and personal growth opportunities that came from my time as an active Lambda Chi brother at NC State."

The Order of Achievement is presented to honor those members who have distinguished themselves, by outstanding success, in fields such as business, industry, education, the arts, science or the professions. Their accomplishments bring honor to Lambda Chi Alpha and serve as an inspiration to their brothers. They are an example of the Fraternity's ethics and ideals for alumni and undergraduates.

The award was presented to Owens by Mark Bauer, president and CEO of the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation, and David Huffine, a member of the General Fraternity Board of Directors. NC State University Board of Trustees Ben Jenkins was present for the award and brought greetings and congratulations to Owens.  Previously, NC State Lambda Chi Alpha alumni Dr. William C. Friday (1941), an honorary initiate, and Mark B. Templeton (1974), CEO of Citrix, received the award. 

Owens is current first vice chair of the NC State University Board of Trustees. He is a recipient of the NC State Watauga Medal and was 2009 Person of the Year by the College of Management.

About Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity is one of the largest men's general fraternities in North America with more than 275,000 initiated members and has held chapters at more than 300 universities. In the early 1970s, it was the first fraternity to eliminate pledging and remains a leader in the fight against hazing, alcohol abuse, and other challenges facing today's college student. Lambda Chi Alpha serves to complement higher education by providing opportunities for academic achievement, leadership development, and lifelong friendships. To learn more about Lambda Chi Alpha and its traditions, principles, and ideals, please visit www.lambdachi.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LambdaChi or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LambdaChiAlpha.

SOURCE Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.