Samuel S. Benedict

Appointed: February 25,1997 by Governor John Engler

Mr. Benedict grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee, where he attended the public schools. He graduated from Colgate University as a War Memorial Scholar with a B.A. in natural science. After attending officers Candidate School, he served during the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Army Medical Services Corps.

He went to work for Mead Corporation in 1955 and held numerous positions including President of the Publishing Papers Division of Mead in Escanaba. A graduate of the Harvard University Advanced Management Program, he concluded his career as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Mead Corporation in Dayton, Ohio.

Mr. Benedict is a member of the Board of Directors of the Upper Peninsula Energy Corp. In addition to his membership on the NMU Board of Trustees, he is a member of the Board of Trustees of Suomi College. He has served as a volunteer for community organizations such as the YMCA, Boy Scouts, United Way and Presbyterian church, as well as an appointee on state government commissions. Now retired in Rapid River, he is married to Elinor Benedict, and they have three children, and five grandchildren.

Once Mr. Benedict was asked "How important to you is serving on the NMU Board of Trustees?" He replied, "My view is that a globally competitive education system is the biggest challenge for our nation, and as a Board member at NMU I can have some small personal and local impact on helping to find solutions to that challenge. That makes it one of the most important things I do."