College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2007

Paul  M. Castleberry received his B.S. in mechanical engineering in 1956 from the University of Wyoming. In 1969 he became a registered professional engineering in industrial engineering from the State of California. Originally from Baldwyn, Mississippi, he attended Pearl River Junior College in Poplarville, Mississippi on a football scholarship. He served in the U.S. Naval Air Force f 1948-1950. In 1956 he graduated from UW with a B.S. in mechanical engineering, was a member of the Sigma Tau Engineering Honor Society, and the Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society. After graduation he was employed as a project engineer for Monolith Portland Cement Company in Glendale, California.

In 1962, Castleberry joined Carnation Company where he began his distinguished thirty year career as a project engineer for the Instant Products Division, overseeing the plants producing non-fat instant dry milk and Carnation’s coffee creamer, Coffee-mate. In 1971, he was promoted to chief engineer of Carnation’s Pet Food Division, responsible for the expansion and design of factories producing Friskies Pet Foods and was named director of corporate engineering in 1987. I n 1989, he became the first vice president of engineering in the ninety year history of Carnation, managing all engineering and major capital expenditures for seven operating divisions and thirty-six factories.  In 1991, he was selected vice president of engineering of Nestle, USA, Inc., after Nestle acquired and consolidated Carnation with Hill Brothers, Stouffer’s Foods and Nestle Confections. He administered the restructuring of all four engineering departments involved in the consolidation before retiring in 1992.

Castleberry served his church as both a Deacon and member of the Board of Trustees. He and his wife, Cassie, have been married for 56 years and have two children and five grandchildren.