Russell J. Ebeid - Hall of Fame 2006

Russell J. Ebeid was the Chairman of the Board of Guardian Industries Corp. and the President of the Glass Group. As such, he was responsible for the company's worldwide sales, marketing, and manufacturing activities that are performed by over 19,000 people employed in twenty-four countries on five continents. Guardian Industries is the third largest flat glass producer in the world through its 83 facilities with annual sales approaching $6 billion dollars.

Commencing in 1963 and for seven years thereafter, Mr. Ebeid was employed by General Motors Corporation as a Senior Mechanical Engineer. In May of 1970, he joined Guardian Industries during the construction of its first glass facility at Carleton, Michigan. After several engineering and manufacturing assignments, he was named the Plant Manager of the Kingsburg, California facility where he was honored as the Employee of the Year in 1979. When Guardian expanded into Europe in 1981, Mr. Ebeid's responsibility was broadened and named Group Vice President. Shortly after Guardian Industries became a private company in 1985, Mr. Ebeid became one of four Directors and assumed the Presidency of the Glass Group. In September of 2011 he retired as Chairman Emeritus.

Acknowledging Guardian's contribution to the economies of their countries, Mr. Ebeid has been honored with private audiences with the King's of Spain, Belgium, Jordan and Luxembourg, Queen of England, Chancellor of Germany, President of Venezuela, Crown Prince of the U.A.E., and the last Communist Prime Minister of Hungary. In this capacity, governments have thrice knighted him with the Order of Merit.

Mr. Ebeid received his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1963, a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering in 1967, and has received two Honorary Doctor degrees in Management and Public Service. He is a Registered Professional Engineer and is listed in "Who's Who in America" and "Who's Who in the World" since 1991. He was named the National Arab American Business Man of the Year in 2003 and entered the Halls of Fame at Wayne State University and the National Commission for Cooperative Education. In 2010 he was recognized as the Trader of the Year for his work in promoting international trade. Recently he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

In recognition of his philanthropic contributions to the Ebeid Hospice Residence, Ebeid Student Center, Ebeid Educational Hall, and Ebeid Athletic Center at Lourdes University, and the Ebeid Family Scholarship Fund for disadvantaged Arab American students to attend Kettering University, he was awarded the "Making an Impact Award" by ACCESS. To honor his parents, he provides scholarships to Lebanese students in their ancestral home. He was the lead sponsor of an Emmy winning documentary titled "Our Story of Arab Americans" and the Co-Producer of a medical film titled "Ageing of Men".

Mr. Ebeid is the owner of the Fairlane Club and currently serves as a Trustee of the National Arab American Museum, ProMedica Health Systems, and Lourdes University. He has served as a Director of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan; an educational curriculum designed to teach and promote free market principles to the former socialist and emerging economies of third-world countries of the world. He is a husband to Carolee for 52 years and has four children, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.