The American Society of Baking (ASB) gave its Robert A. Fischer distinguished service award to Bill Zimmerman Sr. at BakingTech 2017 on Feb. 28.
Mr. Zimmerman, a fourth-generation baker and baking industry consultant, is a current member of ASB’s Baking Hall of Fame Committee and Advisory Committee. He served as program committee chairman and, a few years later in 2007, as society chairman, only the second person in the group’s history to hold both chairmanships. He also served on the society’s executive board and the Z50 Safety Committee as well as a session chairman at the annual technical meeting.
In 2016, he retired from The Long Co., having previously held positions with Franz Family Bakeries and a number of other baking and allied ingredient supply companies. He continues to consult from his home base at Gresham, OR.
This award, kept secret until announced at BakingTech, is given each year to an individual who has assisted in the advancement of both the baking industry and ASB The announcement of this year’s honoree was made by the award’s 2016 recipient, Jim Diver, Orland Park, IL, who recently retired from Dunbar Systems.
Mr. Diver, a long-time friend of Mr. Zimmerman, described him as “born to be a baker.” Mr. Diver also detailed the many ways this year’s Fischer Award honoree has volunteered with ASB and other industry associations.
Mr. Zimmerman is the father of ASB’s incoming chairman, Bill Zimmerman Jr. of Northwest Baking Co., Sumner, WA.
