In the early days of WTWH Media, we were fortunate to work with a then retired editor and publisher, Larry Boulden, to help us cover the CAD industry. Larry had previously worked at Penton Media in several positions, including publisher of its CAE magazine.
We were saddened to learn that Larry passed away yesterday.
Like any true writer, you never lose the joy of learning new information and sharing it with others. Larry talked me into a writing career after my three-year career at what was then called Allen-Bradley (now a part of Rockwell). As chief editor of Production Engineering at that time, he needed someone with knowledge about programmable controllers. I had no clue how to write, but Larry’s philosophy was that it was easier to teach engineers to write than to teach journalists engineering.
About a month after he hired me for his magazine, he moved on to become a salesman at Penton. But our paths were destined to intersect several times. At one point, Larry left Penton for the ISA organization. He started a couple of magazines there, but was eventually persuaded to return to Penton. Upon his return, he started Controls & Systems magazine, and hired me as Chief Editor. Unfortunately, the Kuwait incursion changed plans for a number of businesses and Penton needed to reduce its costs in some areas. Controls & Systems was folded, and Larry and I went to different parts of the company. Several years later, Larry retired from Penton.
Around 2007, I was working on the flagship magazine of a startup company known as WTWH Media. We were growing and needed someone to cover the CAD industry for us. Even though Larry was retired, he jumped at the chance to write for us and for several years he delivered news, information and trends about developments in the CAD world. He thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to just be an editor, contacting many of you about your products, seeing you at trade shows, and visiting you at your offices.
Throughout his career, Larry mentored many of us here into successful editorial careers. He always set an example of high standards. When he took young editors out to trade shows, you saw a master editor at work, always curious, always digging for more information, and always gracious. After the show, he would take his protégés out to explore the city. His most favorite places were jazz cafes, especially in Chicago. And he was always in search of the hottest jalapeno, which he never found in the eastern half of the U.S. His home state of Arizona delivered, though. I remember many hilarious evenings of teaching others to love the spicy pepper (chased by a good beer).
Several people here at Design World have had the pleasure and honor of working with Larry and they all say the same thing—he was one of the giants in our world—a true gentleman and a gentle man.
Leslie Langnau
llangnau@wtwhmedia.com
