Welding Journal

It was hard not to notice 2005–2006 AWS President Damian Joseph Kotecki when he entered the room. His 6-ft figure towered over many, but it was his signature mustache that made him stand out. And Kotecki was self-aware and humble enough to realize that. In fact, during his inaugural speech at the presidential transition ceremony held June 6, 2005, at AWS World Headquarters in Miami, Fla., he put on a stovepipe hat and mentioned three life-changing decisions “four score and one year ago”: getting married, going to c..