CANYON LAKE, TX—Robert Carl Cecil, “Carl,” 70, passed away in early March. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years Patricia, children Jennifer (Matthew Dumas) and Christopher (Kathrine Cecil), and grandchildren Christian and Holden.
Carl started his package printing career in the late 1960s when he took a job with St. Joe Container. Over the next 47 years, he became known as a self-made pioneer in the ink and printing industry and eventually was deemed an honorary professor at Clemson University. After many years at Color Resolutions International and its successors, he retired in 2018 from Flint Group, where he served as graphics/education specialist and long championed the industry. Past assignments included: sales coordinator, designer, graphics manager, technical manager and prepress graphics manager.
Active 1971-2018, he spoke at FORUM in 1998 and 2003. In 2003, he told FLEXO Magazine, “If we can control the process, we can predict the results.” Other observations: “CTP technology revolutionized the way we analyze prepress and color reproduction. It categorically contributes to the control of dot gain. Results are more defined highlights, improved midtone contrast and sharper clarity in shadows.”
Cordes Porcher, former faculty member at Clemson, recalls, “I met Carl back in 1995 a year after the arrival of the Bobst 160 at the Printing and Converting Research Center (Print/Con). Carl was a ‘student’ in one of the first classes I was to teach over the years. To this day, I think I was more the student and he the teacher… Carl was a rare individual. He had so many traits which made him perfect for the role he filled in the industry. He was a teacher first. He took complex concepts and put them into terms and examples all could easily understand. He was not afraid to challenge the status quo and force people to examine the current processes and have people question, ‘why?’ In short, he took on the industry and challenged it to be better.”
Jean Jackson, FTA Hall of Fame member, adds, “I had the pleasure to meet Carl shortly after joining Allison Systems in 2002. He was a devoted corrugated flexo printer who was always learning, testing and teaching. He was always willing to share what he learned and didn’t hesitate to push limits. He welcomed inputs and passionate discussions. Training and press tests with Carl were always exciting, as he was one of the innovators who moved corrugated to the new levels of high-end graphics with improved press productivity… Carl loved life and was able to bring the best out of everyone. I will especially miss his friendship.”
J. Page Crouch, another long-time Clemson professor and also an FTA Hall of Famer, states, “Carl became one of my teachers during my latter years with Clemson. I considered him one of our industry ‘faculty.’ He was a frequent presenter and participant in many of our on-campus courses. He not only had the technical knowledge that was required but a gifted personality that made everyone comfortable upon first meeting. As if a veteran teacher, his explanations were organized and clear, which made his subjects easy to understand. He was a friend and colleague and a true asset to whatever the task was at hand. Carl Cecil made it work.”