Professor Emeritus Howard F. Rase Passes Away

Howard F. Rase, the W. A. (Bill) Cunningham Professor Emeritus in Engineering, passed away May 6, 2014 in Austin, Texas.

Dr. Rase was a devoted faculty member and professor emeritus in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering for more than 50 years. He was also an alumnus, having received his B.S. in chemical engineering from UT Austin in 1942.

During his university career, Dr. Rase served as department chair and graduate advisor. He received several teaching awards and organized the Engineering Honors Program, the Engineering Honors/Plan II Liberal-Arts Honors Dual Degree Program and the Chemical Engineering Tutorial Program.

In the ’70s, he petitioned the Board of Regents to build a new chemical engineering building and later acted as chairman of construction, working with university architect Lex Acker. He authored ten books and numerous articles, many focused on his research and expertise in catalysts.

The department proudly hosts the Howard F. Rase Undergraduate Scholarship, the Howard F. Rase Endowed Presidential Scholarship, and the Rase Brothers Award. These awards have helped numerous students complete their chemical engineering education. These philanthropic gifts are a true legacy for Dr. Rase and will continue to to support young students pursuing a career in our field for years to come.

The Rase family held a private memorial May 9 in Fort Worth, Texas. Read the obituary or leave a message of condolence online. 

Tags: chemical engineering, death notices, Howard F. Rase, in memoriam, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, the W.A. (Bill) Cunningham Professor Emeritus in Engineering, UT Austin