IRVING, TEXAS (Dec. 5, 10:45 a.m. ET) — Bob Ayres, a long-time leader and key participant in the Plastics Pipe Institute Inc., died on Nov. 24 at age 78.
Ayres worked for Phillips Petroleum Co. in its Plastics Technical Center where he concentrated mainly on plastic pipe projects.
"Bob was instrumental in significant developments for gas pipe resins in the 1970s and also developed many other resins over the years used throughout the U. S. Europe and Asia," said Tony Radoszewski, executive director of Irving-based PPI, in a news release.
"Without Bob it would be hard to imagine what the pipe world would be like as his influence was profound."
Ayres was named a life-time member of the PPI, an honor bestowed on only seven people during the 60 years of PPI's existence.
Even after he retired from Phillips in 1988, Ayers continued to work on PPI's Hydrostatic Stress Board (HSB).
"Bob's years of experience and knowledge brought an important perspective to the HSB which frequently helped the group to focus on the topic at hand rather than recreating the wheel," said current HSB chair Stephen Boros.
