MUNCIE, Ind. -- A boating industry executive was recently honored for his accomplishments by a Ball State University chapter of a national honorary society.

Scott Porter, who graduated in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in business management, was the honoree of Ball State's chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma April 6 during a banquet at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center.

Beta Gamma Sigma is the only national scholastic honor society in the field of business and administration recognized by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. It was founded in 1913, and the Ball State chapter received its charter in 1979.

Porter is president of Thunderbird Products, a Decatur-based manufacturing company. The firm manufactures luxury fiberglass powerboats. The company employs about 550 people and builds about 1,000 cabin cruisers, sport boats and high-performance craft annually. The company recently doubled the size of its production facility.

A former formula powerboat racer in the 1980s, Porter spearheaded the reintroduction of the sport in the late 1990s. Porter, and his wife, Shelly, are residents of Decatur.

By Marc Ransford, Communication Manager