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Ralph B. Peck Professor, Mentor, and then some

Ralph B. Peck Professor, Mentor, and then some. James E. Monsees, Ph. D., P.E., NAE N.Y., N.Y., April 15, 2004. P. Professor – Teacher of the highest rank in a branch of learning in a college or university.

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Ralph B. Peck Professor, Mentor, and then some

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  1. Ralph B. Peck Professor, Mentor, and then some James E. Monsees, Ph. D., P.E., NAE N.Y., N.Y., April 15, 2004

  2. P Professor – Teacher of the highest rank in a branch of learning in a college or university

  3. Knowing the subject (soil mechanics and foundation engineering) well and broadening our knowledge is only one of Peck’s duties. The other, equally important but more difficult one is to teach it successfully. I have taught the subject for many years but the results have been very disappointing. Examining the reasons in retrospect, they are quite plain. All my youthful aberrations have been enthusiastically perpetuated because they responded to the irrational craving of the human mind for certainties even in fields which are entirely governed by the laws of probability. Students take to gadgets and neat little mathematical procedures like ducklings to water. But the essence of my teachings, dealing with the art of reducing the hazards of design and construction to a minimum in spite of the inevitable uncertainties involved – this essence which constitutes the lasting core of soil mechanics has been persistently slighted or even ignored. However, Peck has the great advantage that he takes over the heritage in a radically disinfected condition. Therefore, I express the hope that he may succeed where I have failed and that he may educate a generation of foundation engineers who retain their common sense and their sense of proportion in spite of having been fed a dangerous drug – the drug of higher learning. Now and then this drug produces marvelous mental growth, but far oftener it has the opposite effect.

  4. P Professional – Engaged in one of the learned professions.

  5. Professional Practice • The most fruitful research grows out of practical problems • Geology should be used for greater advantage • Our practice falls short of our knowledge • Simple calculations based on a range of variables are better than elaborate ones based on limited input • Construction deserves more attention in design • Instrumentation is no substitute for adequate design • We should write with more description • Our profession has a promising future

  6. P C Counselor – Mentor; wise and trusted advisor

  7. P C Cultivator – One who promotes or improves growth by labor and attention

  8. Cultivator • Tom Thornburn • Herb Ireland Geology Department • George White • Ralph Grim • Don Deere

  9. P C E Expertise – Special or expert skill or knowledge in a particular field

  10. Expertise • Foundations • Ore Storage Facilities • Tunnels • Dams and Dikes • Open Cuts • Piles • Cofferdams

  11. P C E P Persevering – Activity maintained in spite of difficulties; steadfast and long continued application

  12. P C E P K Kind – Having a good or benevolent nature or disposition; desiring to do good for others

  13. P C E P K A Available – Suitable or ready for service

  14. P C E P K A R Respect – High esteem or differential regard; felt with a warm, kindly feeling

  15. P C E P K A R H Honors – High public esteem, credit or reputation for worthy or distinctive behavior

  16. January 22, 1945 – Celebration of Ralph Peck’s Norman Medal and Nate Newmark’s Croes Medal. From left to right: Wilbur Wilson, Nate Newmark, Ralph Peck, And Karl Terzaghi.

  17. Honors Norman Medal National Medal of Science Rankine Lecture Carrillo Lecture Bjerrum Memorial Lecture Washington Medal National Academy of Engineering American Academy of Arts and Sciences National Society of Professional Engineers Who’s Whos Moles Nonmember Golden Beaver

  18. P C E P K A R H L Luck – Good fortune

  19. Marjorie and Ralph on their wedding day, June 14, 1937

  20. P C E P K A R H L Legacy – A gift of value handed down to succeeding generations

  21. Ph.D. Dissertations Directed by Ralph Peck 1945 Chang, Arthur C-C 1945 Uyanik, Mehmet E. 1946 Moretto, Oreste 1949 Teng, Wayne C-Y 1949 Zeevaert, Leonardo 1951 Lee, Tien-Un 1951 Mostafa, M. Khalil 1951 Wu, Tien-Hsing 1952 Sabry, A.A.A. 1953 Ghanem, Mohamed F. 1955 Deere, Don U. 1955 Ireland, Herbert O. 1956 Hay, William W. 1956 Nordlund, Reymond L. 1959 Fry, Thomas S. 1960 Davisson, Melvin T. 1960 Misiaszek, Edward T. 1960 Olson, Roy E. 1960 Triandafilidis, George E. 1961 Esrig, Melvin I. 1961 Kane, Harrison 1961 Lucroix, Yves H. 1961 Wagner, John E. 1962 Gangopadhyay, Chittta R.

  22. 1968 Schindler, Larry 1969 Chang, Yuan-Chun Eugene 1969 Hagerty, Donald J. 1969 Schmidt, Birger 1971 Palladino, Donald J. 1973 Campbell, Joe D. 1976 Parker, Harvey W., III 1962 Prakash, Shamsher 1962 Raamot, Tonis 1963 Chryssafopoulos, Hanka W. 1963 Lamb, John H., Jr. 1966 DiBiagio, Elmo L. 1966 Flaate, Kaare S. 1967 Bazaraa, Abdel, R. S. S. 1967 Salley, James R.

  23. P C E P K A R H L Professor, Professional Counselor, Cultivator Expertise Persevering Kind Available Respect Honors Luck, Legacy

  24. R A L P H P E C K

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