Texas Tech Names Distinguished Engineers

The Texas Tech University Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering named Dennis Carroll, Randy Crawford, Terry Fuller, Paul Grimmer, William Guion, Mary Anne Hicks, Jack Rentz and Walter T. Winn Jr. as recipients of the 2011 Distinguished Engineer Award on April 15 at a luncheon on the Texas Tech campus.

The Distinguished Engineer Award was established during the 1966-67 academic year to recognize the most outstanding alumni of the college. Since that time, 199 graduates have received this honor.

Recipients of the award must be distinguished in their profession, an inspiration to their peers, and have demonstrated a continuing interest in areas outside the field of engineering.

“The Distinguished Engineer Award is an opportunity for the Whitacre College of Engineering to recognize our exceptional alumni,” said Al Sacco Jr., dean of the college. “Our entire scholarly community is proud of the accomplishments of our latest group of alumni to earn the title ‘Distinguished Engineer.’ These individuals have distinguished themselves in various and unique ways as outstanding engineers and business leaders and are a testimony to the outstanding education provided by our faculty and staff to all our students: past, present and future.”

Carroll is the director of innovation for the Government Solutions Group (GSG) of Affiliated Computer Services, a Xerox Company. GSG provides software solutions for federal, state, and local government services. He earned Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and doctor of philosophy degrees in computer science from Texas Tech in 1987, 1989 and 1991, respectively, becoming the first person to enter as a freshman and exit with a doctorate in computer science at Texas Tech.

Crawford worked as an engineer and manager in petroleum production, well completions and stimulation, contract research, fertilizer, and municipal trash collection and disposal. He received a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Texas Tech in 1949 and a Master of Science and doctor of philosophy in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Fuller is president and founder of Phoenix PetroCorp Inc., an independent oil and gas production company with operations in Texas, Oklahomaand Kansas. He is currently national president for the Red Raider Club. He also serves on the executive committee and is a board member of the Texas Tech Foundation. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in petroleum engineering in 1977.

Grimmer owns and leads two companies, Eltron Research & Development in Boulder, Colo., and Continental Technologies, located in Ponca City, Okla.  Eltron R&D develops novel materials and catalysts for the energy and chemical industries. Continental Technologies designs and fabricates pilot and demonstration-scale plants for other companies doing research and development. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering in 1977.

Guion is a vice president with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, where he is responsible for the operation of the Signal Exploitation and Geolocation Division. He earned Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of philosophy degrees in electrical engineering from Texas Tech in 1966, 1968 and 1970, respectively.

Hicks is the vice president of infrastructure program management at AT&T. She is responsible for introducing of new technology into AT&T’s global network and managing large scale network deployments. She received a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Texas Tech in 1979.

Rentz is the founder, president, and CEO of RENTECH Boiler Systems Inc. The company designs and sells a wide variety of custom-designed and manufactured industrial steam boilers that are used by the refining, power generation and chemical industries. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech in 1974.

Winn is the owner of Winn Professional Engineers and Constructors LLC, a firm that specializes in water system supply, storage and distribution improvements projects. He earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in civil engineering from Texas Tech in 1972 and 1973, respectively.

For more detailed information on each of the Distinguished Engineers, visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/coe/alumni/de/index.php.

CONTACT:  Jeff Sammons, senior editor, Whitacre College of Engineering, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-3451 or jeff.sammons@ttu.edu.