Richard P. Teets, Jr. will address the graduating classes and receive an honorary degree at Manchester University’s commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 18.

Teets was a co-founder of Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI), based in Fort Wayne. At the time of his retirement in 2016, he was SDI’s executive vice president, as well as president and chief operating officer of steel operations. 

Keith Busse, Mark Millett and Teets established SDI in 1993, building a high-production electric arc furnace flat-roll mill in Butler, Ind. They raised $380 million in capital to build the mill, which began melting scrap for steel coils in 1996. Under their watch, SDI became one of the largest and most diversified domestic steel producers and metals recyclers in the United States, with facilities throughout the U.S. and in Mexico, employing more than 12,000 individuals. Today, SDI is the third largest steelmaker in North America, producing more than 13 million tons of steel annually. 

Teets has been on the SDI Board of Directors since it went public in 1996 and is on the boards of Specialty Ceramic Products of Auburn, Ind., and Precision Wire Technologies of Fort Wayne. He was named Steel Advocate of the Year in 2016 by the American Metal Market magazine. He is a past president of the 10,000-member Association for Iron and Steel Technology and was chairman of the Steel Manufacturers Association. 

He was an active member of the Manchester University Board of Trustees for 10 years, serving on the Governance, Institutional Vitality, Academic Affairs and Educational Quality committees. Before joining the board, he served on the President’s Leadership Council. His fresh perspective and naturally curious nature were invaluable during his time on the Board of Trustees, particularly during the construction process at Manchester University Fort Wayne. 

Manchester’s graduate and professional commencement exercises will begin at 9 a.m. in Cordier Auditorium at the North Manchester campus. Undergraduate commencement exercises will follow at 11 a.m.

For the media 

Contact Julie Knuth, executive assistant to the president, at jjknuth@manchester.edu. 

Manchester University, in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., offers vibrant and transformative student experiences. Learn more at www.manchester.edu/about-manchester.  

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Manchester University respects the infinite worth of every individual and graduates persons of ability and conviction who draw upon their education and faith to lead principled, productive, and compassionate lives that improve the human condition.