It isn't an accident that we selected the WBF for the award dinner for the Process Automation Hall of Fame. WBF, of all of the automation organizations, is likely to be one of the most important, if SAP and Microsoft support for B2MML and the jointure of S88 and S95 continue and expand.
That said, it was nice to get coverage in a collegiate newspaper. Maybe two or three more young engineers will be sucked into the wonderful world of automation.
from the O'Collegian, at OK State:
Publication Date: July 6, 2005
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Chemical engineering department head inducted into Hall of Fame
Derek Hecksher/O'Collegian
Russel Rhinehart, engineering professor and department head, stands with his award from Control Magazine after being inducted into their Automation Hall of Fame for his work in valve control automation.
Shannon Muchmore
Staff Writer
Russ Rhinehart, head of the department of chemical engineering at Oklahoma State University, was inducted into Control Magazine's Process Automation Hall of Fame.
"I'm really pleased," Rhinehart said. "I would like to be recognized for what I do."
The hall of fame is "a listing of the people who have contributed significantly to the growth of automation in process industries," according to Walt Boyes, editor in chief of Control Magazine.
Boyes said Rhinehart was selected because he, "fits these criteria extremely well."
The other two inductees were Richard Caro, CEO of CMC Associates and Bill Luyben of Lehigh University, according to Control Magazine's Web site.
Rhinehart said he learned of the recognition in January but the information wasn't released publicly at that time. He said it was a "total surprise."
Rhinehart said he knows Caro and Luyben, and has used a textbook written by Luyben.
One of the projects Rhinehart is best recognized for is the co-founding of the masters of control engineering program at OSU. Control engineering can loosely be described as focusing on causing systems to behave in a certain way, Rhinehart said.
Rhinehart said a lot of the work for the program was done before he arrived at OSU eight years ago.
"I took what was already here and took it one little step further," he said. "I'm real proud of it."
Rhinehart said his main contribution was coordinating the program.
Faculty teach their specific discipline to engineers of all fields and the course offerings are coordinated to make up the master's program.
Rhinehart was officially inducted at the annual World Batch Forum in Atlantic City. He said the ceremony was enjoyable and "quite extravagant." Rhinehart said the forum is used not only for the hall of fame recognition but also to discuss relevant issues in the industry.
Rhinehart said he has had a passion for engineering since he was a child, when his favorite toys were Tinker Toys and Erector sets. He would play with straws, tubes and windmills and got about as close to actual control engineering as a child can get, he said.
Rhinehart said all students should keep in mind that the control engineering programs help everyone at the university. "The research at this advanced level impacts the undergraduate environment," he said.
He said many facilities and labs at OSU are totally automated and that some undergraduates have a chance to see developing artificial intelligence.
"Students have an appreciation and understanding of what's going to happen in 10 to 12 years," Rhinehart said.
Those chosen for the hall of fame are selected by the previous inductees, who supply a list of potential candidates. All of this year's selections were unanimous, Boyes said.
He said he believes the hall of fame shows "you can make a rewarding career in process automation."
Rhinehart said he subscribes to Control Magazine and thinks it has useful information. The magazine has a circulation of about 70,000.
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Walt
