Thomas F. Madison

Outstanding Achievement Award Recipient

College of Science and Engineering, October 19, 2010

Thomas F. Madison received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering in 1954 from the institute of Technology at the University of Minnesota. After graduation, he accepted a position at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company where for the following 36 years he rose through the ranks and eventually served as president and CEO of Northwestern Bell and then after the merger, US West Communications until his retirement in 1992. He is credited with transforming US West Communications into a customer driven organization and was instrumental in achieving significant deregulation of US West by introducing competition at all levels of the company. After retirement from US West, he founded MLM Partners, an investing and business leadership-consulting firm that supports entrepreneurs and Minnesota businesses. His dedication to his profession is evident through his service on several corporate boards such as CenterPoint Energy, Communication Holdings, Eltrax Systems, Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Valmont Industries. Beyond the corporate world, he serves on the Board of Regents of the University of St. Thomas, and as a board member of the Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Minneapolis United Way. He has demonstrated his strong support of the University of Minnesota by becoming a Joint Full Life Member of the Minnesota Alumni Association, a former member of the Carlson School of Management Board of Advisors and a member of the Friends of General College. As an active supporter of the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics and the Institute of Technology, he speaks to senior design classes and gives generously to the Strategic Initiative Fund, which supports undergraduate and graduate students. He also is a supporter of the University of Minnesota Hospitals and Clinics.

Biographies are as-of time of award presentation.