William L. Headrick, Jr.

William L. Headrick, Jr. is director of research and technology at Missouri Refractories in Pevely, Missouri. He had been an assistant research professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology where he received a Ph.D. in ceramic engineering. He has been active at Missouri S&T even after taking a position in industry at Missouri Refractories in 2006, maintaining an active involvement with the students and faculty. He serves the American Ceramic Society, ASTM International, The Refractories Institute and Association for Iron & Steel Technology with the goal of improving youth outreach from the refractories industry. He has served in all officer positions and on many committees for the Refractory Ceramics Division and The St. Louis Section of ACerS. He is currently the secretary of the Manufacturing Division of ACerS.

He has received an ACerS Global Ambassador award for his student outreach work.  Headrick has authored many papers on mechanical properties and chemical interactions of refractories as well as having a patent for a thermal shock and alkali resistant refractory. He has also served his local community as school board member, football coach and basketball coach over many years. He is currently developing carbon containing magnesia castables for use in steel and is always striving to formulate human safe environmentally friendly refractories.