PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 28 -- Electro Scientific Industries Inc. announced that company founder Douglas C. Strain is retiring as vice chairman of ESI's board of directors. The success of ESI today is largely due to Doug's vision and drive for excellence, said David Bolender, ESI's board chairman. Strain co-founded Electro Scientific Industries in 1944 in conjunction with his father, Clayton Strain, and two former college classmates, Merle Morgan and Rocky Rockwood. Strain served as ESI's president until 1980; he assumed the role of vice chairman of the company's board of directors in 1985.