Marxman chosen as 2007 Commencement speaker

By: Amanda Bloomer
Contributing Writer

“It’s not rocket science!” If you have ever been on the receiving end of these words then you know how satisfying it would be to respond, “actually…” However, not surprisingly, very few people can claim that right. That makes Monmouth College alumnus, Gerald Marxman, class of 1956, one of the lucky few. It is because of his achievement in such areas as rocket propulsion that Marxman has been chosen to address the class of 2007 at this year’s Commencement ceremony on May 20.

Marxman graduated with distinction first from Monmouth and then from Case Institute of Technology. He went on to earn his Ph.D from the California Institute of Technology. Marxman’s success in the classroom translated into success in the real world. In a testament to his liberal arts education, Marxman has racked up experience in a staggering number of fields and never as a mere participant. His contribution to hybrid rocket design was foundational to future work in the field. In the 1970s, Marxman leant his hand to Envirodyne Industries, a fledgling environmental company, one of the first in the United States. He can also claim co-founder credit in the creation of three separate and diverse companies, as well as a number of businesses created under the umbrella of these three companies. While Digideck Inc. has since been sold, Marx man has kept a hand in Care 2 Inc. and CommTech International. Care2 is in the business of promoting progressive causes by assisting U.S. non-profits, and CommTech deals with the commercialization of technology, particularly coming out of major research institutes.

Marxman is a shining example of the interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial spirit encouraged in liberal arts students. The Monmouth College mission statement lists one of its objectives as, preparing “students for positions of leadership, service and citizenship in a global context.” According to that criteria, Marxman has proven himself a model student in the decades following his graduation from Monmouth.

In a press release issued by the college, Marxman said, “I tend to think of my career as divided into three segments – engineering, business and the application of both to address social concerns.” One look at his resume would confirm what he says; Marxman has not simply contented himself with personal success, but has also given a lot of effort to the advancement of others. For example, he currently mentors and hosts aspiring entrepreneurs in lodgings on his own property.

Marxman maintains his connections to Monmouth College as one of its trustees emeritus. He recently retired from his position as president of CommTech, and hopes to use his new-found time to extend the reach and means of Care2. And, perhaps, work on a new project or two?