Henry Poulan
Henry Poulan graduated from Louisiana Polytechnic Institute in 1935 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He began his outstanding career as an engineer at the ordnance plant in Minden, Louisiana. During this time, he (as the engineer) and his brothers designed the Poulan chain saw in Shreveport. He later moved to Monroe and opened a motor rewinding shop and performed engineering consulting for the City of Monroe and for surrounding industries. He assisted in building the Monroe powerplant and electrical sub-stations in the area.
In 1969, Mr. Poulan designed the Original Poulan Puller Press, a portable device used to quickly and safely remove bearings, pulleys, sheaves and couplings from large industrial motors. The popularity of Mr. Poulan's presses spread and are now used around the world.
This award is presented posthumously following his death in 1999.