Richard L. Lesher*

Although he was born in Doylesburg, Pennsylvania, Richard Lesher grew up during the Great Depression in nearby Chambersburg. His father was a construction worker, and his mother did factory work. At the age of seven, Lesher and his sister sold newspapers and scrap iron, and they picked fruit and sold it door to door. In high school, he worked 25 hours a week while still playing football and basketball.

After serving two years in the U.S. Army, Lesher entered the University of Pittsburgh on the GI bill. He worked his way through college as a production coordinator at a Westinghouse plant, and he earned his degree in less than three years. Lesher then added advanced degrees from Penn State and Indiana University.

Lesher joined NASA and eventually rose to become assistant administrator for technology utilization, helping to put the first men on the moon. After five years in NASA's top management, Lesher left to become the first president of the National Center for Resource Recovery and Nutrient Management, a company that worked to solve environmental problems.

In 1975, Lesher became president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Under his guidance, a modern telecommunications center was installed at the chamber's Washington headquarters. After 22 years of running the chamber, Lesher stepped down in 1997.

Besides his corporate board duties, Lesher finds time for his favorite causes, most of which center on students. He gives lectures at Shippensburg University, sharing the business viewpoint with graduate students in education administration. He also chairs the National Student-Parent Mock Election, which gets students involved in the electoral process.

Lesher says his advice to youth hasn't changed over the years. "The Horatio Alger values of hard work, education, honesty, and integrity may sound like buzzwords, but as you go through life, you find these are the things that are really important," he says. "I tell young people that America is the land of opportunity for those who are willing to extend themselves, prepare themselves, work hard, and be of good character. It's a timeless message."

Lesher says his Horatio Alger Award is a testament to those values, adding, "The Association plays a vital role in telling people it's important to live by such values."