A Professor Emeritus at Ohio University, Dr. James Fales was the former Chair of the Industrial Technology Department for 20 years and Director of the Center for Automatic Identification. He was Loehr professor emeritus and served as the Associate Director of the Robe Leadership Institute and Leader-in-Residence in the Global Leadership Center at Ohio University. He was also a recipient of the Don Percival Award and was recently awarded a distinguished alumni award from Texas A&M University. Jim held previous teaching posts at Purdue University and Texas A&M University and was considered one of the nation’s foremost educational authorities on bar coding.

Jim is a graduate of Lake Worth (FL) High School, University of Miami (B. Ed.) and Texas A&M University (M. Ed. & P. Ed.). He was a Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE), a Certified Enterprise Integrator (CEI) and a Certified Engineering Manager (CEM). He received numerous awards for outstanding teaching and contributions to education, associations, business and industry. He was a frequent speaker at conferences and has authored many textbooks and articles. He was an active member, Sunday school teacher and former deacon at Albany Baptist Church where he served dutifully for the past 22 years.

Jim is survived by his adoring wife Sharon; children Scott (Stacey) Fales, Jennifer Fales (Greg Morris), Beth (Reno) Carifa and Mark (Jessica) Fales; grandchildren, Sarah, Jake, Allison, Cameryn and Colin Fales; siblings Jane Roney, Don Fales and Cliff (Georgia) Fales; and by many loving nieces and nephews.