Faculty in Memoriam
The Department of Chemistry was founded in 1893 when it gained independence from the Department of Metallurgy. Chemists joined with Chemical Engineers in 1916 to form the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. And the modern history of the Department of Chemistry began in 1964. There have been __ chemistry faculty since 1893 and our colleagues are or will be commemorated on these pages. There have been 18 chairmanships since 1893 with a total of 16 different chairs; two colleagues served two non-consecutive terms. It will take time to reconstruct this history in the “In Memoriam” collection. As you browse the entries, you will note that some pertinent data, both personal and academic, are missing and we do not even have portraits in all cases. Please send information to chem@mst.edu.
V. Prakash Reddy (1955-2024)
Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Reddy was born on February 10, 1955 to Narasimha Reddy V and Soundaramma in Narayanagiri Village of Telangana State, India. He earned a M.Phil. from the University of Hyderabad, India and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He conducted postdoctoral research at both Syracuse University and the University of Southern California before joining the chemistry faculty at Missouri S&T as an Assistant Professor in 2001. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2006, and to Professor in 2015.
Louis Biolsi (1941-2024)
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry
Biolsi passed away on April 17, 2024 at the age of 83. Lou earned his bachelor's and master’s degrees in chemistry at SUNY Albany, where he met his future wife Margaret in 1961, and he received his doctorate in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Following post-doctoral work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Brown University, he joined the faculty at the University of Missouri–Rolla where he taught and conducted research for more than 30 years. In the mid-1970s he also served as a summer fellow for NASA. Although he retired years ago, as an emeritus professor Lou continued to conduct research and present his work at academic conferences.
Bob Ken Robertson (1938-2022)
Associate Professor Emeritus, Department of Chemistry
Ken Robertson joint the UMR chemistry faculty in 1965, he was promoted to Associate Professor in 1969, and taught 38 years until his retirement in 2003. He was elected dean of students in 1979 and served until 1987. Ken Robertson served a President of UMR’s Academic Council/Faculty Senate during the academic year 1974-5.
Samir B. Hanna (1931-2021)
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Missouri S&T, formerly MSM and UMR
Samir passed away on February 5, 2021 in Lynda’s Haven Assisted Living in Phoenix, AZ after being a patient in this facility for just one month. Samir was born in Alexandria, Egypt on December 30, 1931 and immigrated to the United States in 1956 to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Stig Erik Friberg (1930-2018)
Full Professor of Chemistry & Second Chair of the Department of Chemistry (UMR, 1976-1988)
After his successful Ph.D. defense in 1966, Dr. Friberg was appointed director of the Swedish Institute for Surface Chemistry (YKI), which had been established a year earlier by Professor Per Ekwall. Dr. Friberg expanded the institute to a central resource for surface and colloid chemistry in Sweden and internationally. With Friberg in charge, the institute expanded to over 60 employees and about 60 industrial member companies.
Donald Joseph Siehr (1928-2016)
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry
Donald Joseph Siehr, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at MSM/UMR (now MST), was born in Milwaukee, WI on Nov. 13, 1928 and died in Columbia, MO on Feb. 3, 2016. Don spent his childhood and adolescence living in north Milwaukee where he attended North Division High School. He enjoyed visiting his grandparents' farm in central Wisconsin and played on the high school football team.
Wilbur Paul Tappmeyer (1922-2016)
Professor of Chemistry
Wilbur Tappmeyer was born May 19, 1922, to Paul and Stella Tappmeyer in Drake, Missouri. He attended public schools and graduated from high school in Owensville. He earned an A.A. degree from Southwest Baptist College, an A.B. from Southeast Missouri State College, a B.S. from Missouri School of Mines, and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri.
Fred C. Hardtke (193_-2016)
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry
Fred Charles Hardtke passed away on Monday, June 13, 2016 at the age of 84 years. He was born in Chicago, Illinois to Fred C. and Antonia B. Hardtke. His parents preceded in death as well as his two sisters, Clara Hardtke and Eleanore Lack and his brother-in-law, George Lock. Fred is survived by one niece, Mary Ellen Palm, her husband, Paul, a grand-niece, Karen Syobota, her husband, Jason, and one grand-nephew, Erik Palm, his wife, and two grand-grand nephews.
Donald Vincent Roach (1932 - 2014)
Professor of Chemistry & Third Chairman of the Department of Chemistry
Donald Vincent Roach of Rolla passed away Sunday, March 23, 2014 at Rolla Healthcare and Rehab Suites. Vince was born January 18, 1932 in Oak Grove, Missouri to Hubert and Ava (Ownings) Roach. He married Louise (Lanning) December 27, 1982. Louise preceded him in death in October of 2000. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his three sisters, Marion, Doris and Naomi and one brother Vernon.
David S. Wulfman (1934-2013)
Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry
It is with great sadness that the family of David Swinton “Dave” Wulfman, 79, of Lunenburg, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada and formerly of Mill Village, Nova Scotia, Canada announce his passing on Friday, December 27th, 2013 at Harbour View Haven Home For Special Care, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Hector Oman McDonald (1930-2010)
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry
Hector Oman McDonald of Rolla, Missouri passed away on Sunday, July 18, 2010 at the SSM St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, Missouri. Hector McDonald was 79 years, 10 months, and 14 days of age. Hector McDonald was born on September 4, 1930 at Casper, Wyoming to James Edward and Thelma (Oman) McDonald. He was united in marriage to Rosella Fay Cole on September 14, 1952 at the Central Methodist Church in Sedalia, Missouri. They were married for 57 years.
Tadashi Tokuhiro (1930-2010)
Adjunct Professor of Chemistry (UMR, 2002-2010)
Tadashi Tokuhiro, 80, of Rolla, Missouri passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 8, 2010 at Baylor Regional Medical Center, Grapevine, Texas (USA). Tadashi is preceded in death (2005) by his loving wife, Reiko Tokuhiro, of 49 years. He was born on February 26, 1930 in Yokohama, Japan.
Robert Raymond Russell (1920-2010)
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry
Robert Raymond Russell, Rolla, passed away Friday, February 12, 2010 at Presbyterian Manor of Rolla. He was 89. He was born July 3, 1920 on Lummi Island, Washington to William Henry Russell and Ethel Emily (Davis) Russell. While still a toddler, his father died as a result of a sawmill accident. Consequently, the family relocated to Independence, Missouri, where he spent the rest of his boyhood. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife Dr. Barbara Russell, a Rolla pediatrician, in 1993, and by his two older brothers, Orrin and William.
Raymond L. Venable (1935-2008)
Associate Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry
Raymond Leslie Venable, 72, passed away at his home in Rolla on May 24, 2008. Raymond was born on August 27, 1935 to Lester Purcell and Nancy Elnora Hope Venable near Carthage, Arkansas. Raymond married his wife, Veda Glendene Zumwalt, on December 21, 1953 at Magnolia, Arkansas. Their marriage was blessed with five daughters.
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Dudley Thompson (1913-1996)
Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering, Fourth Chair of the Dept. of Chem. and Chem. Eng. 1956-1964
Dr. Thompson was an effective leader at a time of transition in the early 1970's during his tenure with the University of Missouri-Rolla. He joined the Missouri School of Mines Faculty in 1956 as a Chemical Engineering Professor and Chair of the combined departments of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. From 1964-65, Dr. Thompson was the Director for the School of Engineering, Industrial Research Center, and the Dean of Faculties. From 1973-74, he was Acting Chancellor, and in 1974 was named Vice Chancellor for the School of Engineering, and he retired from that position in 1978.
William H. Webb (1912-1989)
Professor of Chemistry & First Chair of the Department of Chemistry
The B.S. degree in general science with a chemistry major was first offered in 1931, and the B.S. degree in chemistry was offered beginning in 1942. In 1960 the name of the department was changed to the department of chemistry and chemical engineering. Chemistry and chemical engineering were separated into two departments in 1964 and a Ph.D. program in chemistry was initiated. Dr. William H. Webb was the first chairman of the chemistry department.
Wouter Bosch (1903-1988)
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry
Dr. Bosch was born on December 15, 1903 in Utrecht, The Netherlands. He completed his bachelor's of science at the State University of Utrecht, The Netherlands in 1925, master’s of science at the State University of Utrecht, The Netherlands in 1929, and his doctoral degrees in science at the University of Minnesota and the University of Utrecht in 1931.
Walter T. Schrenk (1891-1979)
Professor of Chemical Engineering & Third Chair of the Dept. of Chem. and Chem. Engineering
Walter Schrenk was born in Golconda, Illinois, a sleepy little town in the southern portion of the state along the Ohio River. After high school, Schrenk attended Monmouth College and received a degree in Chemistry.
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