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Alexander L. Alves, 1903 - 1993
 Alexander
Lopes Alves was born in Brazil, emigrating to Portugal in 1905 and to the
United States in 1919. Working days and attending night school, he
completed a course in machine shop practice and began work as a toolmaker
apprentice.
In the ensuing years, Mr. Alves completed
two bachelor of science degrees, graduating in 1931 from Tri-State
University in Angola, Indiana, with honors, and again in 1933 from Worcester
Polytecnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts.
In 1933, he moved to Watertown,
Connecticut, accepting a position at the Watertown Manufacturing Company as
an estimator and became general manager of the company in 1941. In
1944, he founded Molded Metals, Inc., one of America's first powder metal
companies. Later, in 1952, he started American Sinterings, a division
of American Tool Works, in Hartford, Connecticut.
The company was later re-named Engineered
Sinterings & Plastics, Inc. and moved to it's present location on Commercial
Street in Watertown.
In a 1960's era
photograph, Mr. Alves (at the board) is shown reviewing tool design and
construction with members of the engineering and production departments.
Widely
regarded as a community leader and a major figure in Watertown government,
Mr. Alves served on the Town Council as both vice-chairman and as chairman;
on the Board of Education, and the Parks and Recreation Commission. He
also served as vice-chairman and director of the Watertown-Oakville Chamber
of Commerce and as a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission and the
Zoning Board of Appeals.
In 1969, Mr. Alves was presented with a
Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy Award by the Metal
Powder Industries Federation and, in 1977, the National Society of the Daughters of
the American Revolution presented him with the DAR's Americanism Medal.
Tri-State University awarded Mr. Alves
with an honorary doctorate of engineering degree in June, 1981 - the first
foreign-born alumnus to be so honored in the century-old history of the
university. In 1984, he received an Official Citation from the
Connecticut General Assembly for his service on behalf of the people of
Watertown and Oakville from 1949 to 1975. In 1988, the Watertown
Rotary Club gave Mr. Alves the Paul Harris Fellows Award for outstanding
service.
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