Grace, Richard E.
Person
Dates
- Existence: 1930-
Biographical Information
Richard E. Grace was born June 26, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in the steel-mill district of the south side of the city near 79th and Stony Island. He graduated from South Shore High School.
Grace earned his B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from Purdue University in 1951, followed by a PhD in Metallurgical Engineering from the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1954.
He married Connie C. Fotos of West Lafayette, Indiana, in 1955, and they had two children: Virginia Louise was born in 1956 and Richard Cummings in 1961 (d. 1978).
Grace began his career at Purdue in 1954 as assistant professor of metallurgical engineering before becoming associate professor in 1958 and professor in 1962.
In addition to leading the School of Materials Engineering, Grace founded the Division of Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies and was its head from 1970 to 1982. He also served as Assistant Dean of Engineering and Head of the Department of Freshman Engineering from 1981 to 1987.
In 1987, Grace became Vice President for Student Services and served in that capacity until 1995. He then founded the Undergraduate Studies Program and was its director from 1995 to 2000.
In 2000, Grace retired from Purdue as Professor Emeritus of Materials Engineering and Vice President Emeritus for Student Services. He belonged to numerous professional, civic, and fraternal societies and won many honors and awards throughout his career.
Dr. Grace continues to be active at Purdue and in retirement education for seniors. His book, "When Every Day Is Saturday," helps boomers plan for retirement.
Grace earned his B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from Purdue University in 1951, followed by a PhD in Metallurgical Engineering from the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1954.
He married Connie C. Fotos of West Lafayette, Indiana, in 1955, and they had two children: Virginia Louise was born in 1956 and Richard Cummings in 1961 (d. 1978).
Grace began his career at Purdue in 1954 as assistant professor of metallurgical engineering before becoming associate professor in 1958 and professor in 1962.
In addition to leading the School of Materials Engineering, Grace founded the Division of Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies and was its head from 1970 to 1982. He also served as Assistant Dean of Engineering and Head of the Department of Freshman Engineering from 1981 to 1987.
In 1987, Grace became Vice President for Student Services and served in that capacity until 1995. He then founded the Undergraduate Studies Program and was its director from 1995 to 2000.
In 2000, Grace retired from Purdue as Professor Emeritus of Materials Engineering and Vice President Emeritus for Student Services. He belonged to numerous professional, civic, and fraternal societies and won many honors and awards throughout his career.
Dr. Grace continues to be active at Purdue and in retirement education for seniors. His book, "When Every Day Is Saturday," helps boomers plan for retirement.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Richard E. Grace Memoir of Freshman Engineering
Unprocessed — Box: 1
Identifier: 20131028
Dates:
1932 - 2011
Richard E. Grace papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 560
Scope and Contents
One black binder containing a CV for Dr. Richard Grace (Dick Grace) and various articles and papers written by him. Also includes four block printing plates of Purdue University buildings.
Dates:
Other: Dummy Date