Chemical Engineering December 2010 - 6

Not Mozart, Yet a
Classical Genius
Letters
The loss of a ChE icon
Just like Mozart's compositions
SAMSON's Series 240 Valves are
world renowned and appreciated.
Tuned like organ pipes, the Series 240
suits all pressures and flows, from adagio
to allegro. Yet, the valves definitely
work piano so nobody will be roused
by a sudden beat of the drum. And, just
like in an orchestra, the number of instruments
is your choice. With positioners,
solenoid valves and limit switches,
further virtuoso performers are waiting
to come in.
We supply the instruments,
you be the conductor.
Longtime readers of this magazine
will be saddened to learn that on
October 11, Dr. James Fair passed
away at the age of 90. At the time
of his death, Dr. Fair held an appointment
as the McKetta Centennial
Energy Chair Emeritus in the
chemical engineering department
at The University of Texas (Austin,
Tex.; www.utexas.edu), where he founded the long-lived
Separations Research Program and served as its head from
1982 to 1996. After a distinguished career in industry, primarily
with Monsanto Co. where I knew him, he moved to
the University in July 1979 where he was awarded the first
endowed chair in the college of engineering.
His industrial background included significant assignments
in research, process design, manufacturing technical
services and commercial development. During World
War II, he was vitally involved with the government
high-explosives and synthetic-rubber programs. His final
position at Monsanto was director of corporate technology.
In addition, he served as affiliate professor of chemical engineering
at Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.) from
1964 to 1977.
Dr. Fair was a former director of the American Institute
of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), a former president
of James R. Fair, Inc., a former vice president of Fractionation
Research, Inc., and was a registered professional
engineer in Texas and Missouri. His many honors
include Chemical Engineering's Personal Achievement
Award; the Separations Science and Technology Award of
the American Chemical Society; the Distinguished Engineering
Graduate Award from The University of Texas at
Austin; numerous AIChE awards and election to Fellow
Grade of membership in that institution; and election to
the National Academy of Engineering.
Dr. Fair authored or co-authored seven books and over
James R. Fair
October 14, 1920 -
October 11, 2010
200 technical articles and book chapters. He supervised
the master's and doctoral research of 42 graduate students.
He lectured internationally on many occasions,
and for 25 years taught a continuing education course
under the sponsorship of AIChE, the course being the
most popular of that organization and offered over 125
times. He held a B.S.Ch.E., M.S.Ch.E. and a Ph.D. in
chemical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology
and the Universities of Michigan and Texas. Washington
University and Clemson University awarded him
honorary doctorates.
Jim Fair was a man of many dimensions, including tall
SAMSON AG  MESS- UND REGELTECHNIK
Weismüllerstraße 3
60314 Frankfurt am Main  Germany
Phone: +49 69 4009-0  Fax: +49 69 4009-1507
E-mail: samson@samson.de  www.samson.de
height, long life and a wide smile. Throughout his long
life he continually influenced those who worked with him
as well as the lives of his many students. He had no peer.
Jim, among his many personal attributes, also had a great
sense of humor. For those of us who knew the man, he will
remain in our hearts and dwell in our minds for our life
time, but his work will live far into the future.
Bill Huitt and Jim's many friends and colleagues at
Monsanto Co., St. Louis, Mo.
A01039EN
Circle 16 on p. 58 or go to adlinks.che.com/29257-16
http://www.utexas.edu http://adlinks.che.com/29257-16 http://www.samson.de
Chemical Engineering December 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering December 2010
