FLORIDA PLASTICS INDUSTRIALIST HONORED BY COLLEAGUES

Hilton Head Island, SC (October 15, 1999) George Thorne, CEO of Industrial Plastics Products in Miami Lakes, Florida, was honored for his outstanding service to the plastics industry by The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI). Mr. Thorne was presented with the prestigious SPI Southern Region Distinguished Service Award at the SPI Southern Conference Gala and Awards Celebration.

For the past two and a half decades, Mr. Thorne actively served the plastics industry in the various leadership positions he has held as a member of The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). He has been active on the South Florida SPE Section board since 1975 and was elected section president in 1982. As the 1991/92 national president of SPE, he traveled extensively throughout the world presenting the "History of SPE and Plastics in the USA from 1942 to 1992." He also produced the Spanish version of the SPE movie, "Plastics the World of Imagination."

Mr. Thorne has contributed significantly of his personal time and company resources to the advancement of plastics in Florida. He has donated plastics equipment to the student chapter of the SPE at the University of Florida at Gainesville, and has given countless presentations to local civic groups and schools on plastics technology, recycling and careers in plastics.

Over 52 years ago, Mr. Thorne got his start in plastics as a moldmaker apprentice studying plastic technology and mold design for seven years in England. He has published technical papers in British Plastics magazine and presented at technical conferences. Additionally, he has international patents for plastic furniture fittings and patio accessories.

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