Robert A. Roland

The interview begins with Robert Roland describing his family background and early years in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, and the influence of his Catholic grade school and high school education. Next follows a brief account of Roland's years at Villanova University and the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, where Dean Jefferson B. Fordham played a strong role as Roland's mentor. The interview also examines Roland's career in the U.S. Navy, where his eventual experience as General Counsel and Contract Administrator influenced his professional views and development. The central portion of the interview focuses on Roland's appointment as president of the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA), the conditions under which he accepted that position, and the changes he made there. The interview emphasizes Roland's influence in making the CMA the focal point for the chemical industry in the U.S. and abroad, and his role in developing the industry's standards for safety, health, the environment, and management training, particularly CAER and Responsible Care. The closing discussion focuses on Roland's views on the industry's future, CMA's role and status, and his professional accomplishments and retirement.

United States Navy

1955 - 1957 Ensign, U.S.S. Stribling, (DO867), Destroyer Fleet Atlantic

Contract Administration, General Stores Supply Office

1957 - 1959 Lieutenant Jr. Grade

National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA)

1959 - 1961 Representative

National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA)

1961 - 1971 Executive Vice President

National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA)

1971 - 1978 President

Chemical Manufacturers Association

1978 - 1993 President

James J. Bohning

James J. Bohning is professor emeritus of chemistry at Wilkes University, where he was a faculty member from 1959 to 1990. He served there as chemistry department chair from 1970 to 1986 and environmental science department chair from 1987 to 1990. Bohning was chair of the American Chemical Society’s Division of the History of Chemistry in 1986; he received the division’s Outstanding Paper Award in 1989 and has presented more than forty papers at national meetings of the society. Bohning was on the advisory committee of the society’s National Historic Chemical Landmarks Program from its inception in 1992 through 2001 and is currently a consultant to the committee. He developed the oral history program of the Chemical Heritage Foundation, and he was the foundation’s director of oral history from 1990 to 1995. From 1995 to 1998, Bohning was a science writer for the News Service group of the American Chemical Society. He is currently a visiting research scientist and CESAR Fellow at Lehigh University. In May 2005, he received the Joseph Priestley Service Award from the Susquehanna Valley Section of the American Chemical Society.