Harry C. Simrall of Starkville recently was named a 2000 NSPE Fellow. A past president of the society, he is among 91 forming the 60,000-member organization’s first Fellows class.

Simrall

The newly created designation pays homage to "past presidents and other longtime members who have served the society and the engineering profession with great distinction and loyal dedication."

Simrall retired in 1978 after a 44-year career at MSU. He helped establish the university’s first computing center and led in supporting such research programs as the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and early work that led the National Science Foundation to open an engineering research center on campus in 1990.

After receiving degrees from Mississippi State in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering in 1934 and 1935, respectively, Simrall went on to complete graduate work at the University of Illinois. Returning to MSU, he went on to become a professor, department head, and dean, as well as director both of the Engineering and Industrial Research Station and the Engineering Extension Service. MSU presented Simrall with an honorary doctorate last year.