ILMA Compoundings – November 2018 - 28

Powell Honored
With John A.
Bellanti Award
By Mindy Long

on Powell, president of MorOil Technologies, started
working with his father in the family business in
1979. On his first day, he put a nail through his foot
while cleaning out the bottom of a loading dock, but he
persevered, and over the course of his career helped transform the operation from a jobber for a major oil company
to a large industrial lubricant manufacturer.
"Some days are diamonds and some days are coal," Powell
said, noting that he hadn't planned to join his family business and had eschewed the idea years earlier.
"My brothers and father bought a motel at the beach
when I was in college. I worked there for one summer," he
said, adding that he worked 18 hours a day without a day
off. "I swore I would never work for family again."
Then his father took over MorOil, which Powell's uncle
had started, and Powell decided to join him. "I thought I'd
help him out until I figured out what direction I was going,"
he said.
Powell spent time learning all the company's departments,
from delivery to blending, and was elected president of
MorOil in 1984. He has served as a leader not only within
the family business but also within the industry.
Holly Alfano, CEO of ILMA, said Powell is one of the
longest-serving members on ILMA's Board of Directors.
"He is rotating off this year, and he is going to be missed,"

NOVEMBER 2018

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Alfano said. "He takes his participation very seriously, and
he gives 100 percent."
Since 2000, Powell has served on many ILMA committees, including the Long-Range Planning and Strategic
Planning committees. He has also chaired the Operations
and Administrations and the Government Affairs committees and was a driving force behind the newly formed
Global Affairs & Trade Committee.
"He is the guy who will always take on any task that you
ask of him. He has never said no," said Frank H. Hamilton
III, president of South Atlantic Services Inc. "He has a
tremendous willingness to serve."
In addition to valuable industry insight, Powell has a
personality that is well suited for his leadership roles, Hamilton explained. "He knows how to get along and be a part of
a diverse group. He speaks his mind, and he doesn't always
agree with the majority, but he very much puts team before
self," Hamilton said, adding that he has known Powell since
1974 when the two were in Davidson College together.
In recognition of his efforts, ILMA is honoring Powell
with the John A. Bellanti Award (previously called the
ILMA Distinguished Service Award), which honors an
ILMA member who, through relentless determination,
diligence and dedication, has made significant contributions
to enhance the quality, effectiveness and stature of the
Association and the industry.
Powell is dedicated and committed to ILMA, Alfano said.
"Whether it is interacting with our international partners,
advocating on Capitol Hill or running the President's Council, he has been willing to take on anything we have asked
him to do," she said. "I can't think of anyone who deserves
this honor more than Ron."
Beth Ann Jones, vice president and general counsel for
Hangsterfer's Laboratories of Mantua, New Jersey, said the
award is an acknowledgment of all that Powell has meant to
the industry.
Jones, who is a past president of ILMA, met Powell
through the Association and said he was one of the first

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