Jim Webb '85

Inducted Fall 2025

A standout member of the Class of 1985, Jim Webb has dedicated his life to engineering innovation, scientific research, and community leadership.

At Fryeburg Academy, Jim’s academic promise was evident early on. A member of the National Honor Society, he received both the Elizabeth W. Tinker Mathematics Award and the Margaret E. Pike Science Award. He also excelled athletically as a member of the varsity soccer (’83, ’84) and varsity tennis teams (’83, ’84, ‘85).

Jim continued his studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, earning a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1989. He went on to earn an M.S. in Materials Science from the University of Washington (1991) and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts (1995). After a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Cincinnati, he began what would become a decades-long career at Corning Incorporated in 1997.

At Corning, Jim has held a number of technical, customer-facing, and leadership roles in research and development. His work has advanced glass and ceramic innovations across various industries, including communications, consumer electronics, architecture, automotive technologies, photovoltaics, aerospace composites, pharmaceutical packaging, and emissions control. He holds 11 U.S. patents and has authored more than 40 technical articles. In recognition of his leadership, Jim received Corning’s Pharmaceutical Technologies People Development Award in 2020, a lifetime achievement award honoring excellence in mentorship and people development—hallmarks of lasting leadership and organizational success.

Beyond his professional achievements, Jim gives back to his community. He has served as a board member and president for several organizations, including the Child Care Center at Christ Church, the Harris Hill Soaring Corporation, and the Corning-Painted Post School District, where he continues as a board member and budget committee chair. He is also a long-standing member of the Corning Rotary Club, 

An accomplished commercial glider pilot, Jim also enjoys sailing and skiing in his free time. He and his wife, Diane Legendre, live in Painted Post, New York, and have raised two sons, Luke and Nathan.

Through his professional accomplishments, dedication to innovation, and steadfast commitment to service, Jim Webb embodies the ideals of the Fryeburg Academy Hall of Excellence.