Jan Libront
Industrial engineer, former air force officer, local and Polish community leader
Born Feb. 11, 1918, Biesna, Poland; came to U.S., 1963; son of Jozef and Frances (Job); married Teofila (Zaleski); children: Linda, Carolyn, John.
Education: Industrial Engineer, 1956, certificate (in industrial management), 1957, McMaster University, Hamilton (Canada); registered professional engineer in California.
Career: industrial engineer, chief industrial engineer, assistant general manager, Columbus McKinnon Limited, St. Catharines (Canada), 1952-62; project officer, International Operations, 1963-66, professional & technical personnel manager, 1970-82, Columbus McKinnon Corporation, Tonawanda (NY); plant manager, Great Lakes Forgings, Windsor (Canada), 1966-69, Kolk Industries, Inc., Buffalo (NY), 1969-70; Retired; teacher, McKinIey Technical High School, Buffalo; original and principal initiator of academic and scientifi exchange between Jagiellonian University (Poland) and State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo.
Author: Polish Government in Exile, 1982; The Breakdown of Polish Political Authority in Exile, 1983; various articles in: Gwiazda Polarna, Zwiazkowiec, American - Polish Eagle, Polish American Journal, Heritage.
Member of, i.a.: senior member, American Institute of Industrial Engineers, American Society of Safety Engineers; state advisor, U.S. Congressional Advisory Board; director, Erie County Health & Human Services Center, 1971-84; U.S. prior, Knights of Malta; president, Polish Air Force Association, Buffalo Wing, 1974-82; Polish Arts Clubs, Buffalo (vice president, 1980-87, president, 1990-91); president, Polish Freedom Foundation (affiliated with University of Buffalo Foundation).
Honors: Grand Cordon - Polonia Restituta, Polish Government in Exile, London (United Kingdom), 1979; Honorary Admiral of the State of Nebraska, 1982; Order of White Eagle, 1983; Ambassador of Good Will of the State of West Virginia, 1984; Knight Grand Officer of the Ordo Byzantinus Sancti Sepulchri, 1987; Order of St. John of Jerusalem, 1987, Knight Grand Cross with Collar, 1990, Knights of Malta; Armorial Bearing, Canadian Heraldic Authority (on behalf of Oueen Elizabeth II), 1990; Commander's Cross Order of St. Brigida of Sweden, 1990.
Served with: Polish Army, Officers' Training School, Middle East, 1942; Polish Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force (RAF), 1938-48, brigadier general.
Affiliation: Republican. Roman Catholic.
Languages: Polish, English, French, German.
Hobbies: reading, music, skiing.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation,
New York, NY, 1996