Ray Wendland
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ray Theodore Wendland (July 11, 1911 - November 30, 1986) was an American experimental petrochemist and academic.
in Northfield, MN, receiving a B.A.
degree in Chemistry
in 1933. From there, he matriculated to Iowa State University
, Ames, IA, to pursue graduate studies. He was awarded a Ph.D.
from that institution in 1937 . Postdoctoral appointments followed at Carnegie Technical Institute (now Carnegie Mellon University
) in Pittsburgh, PA, and the University of Minnesota
in Minneapolis, MN, centering on the refinement of rubber
production. This work continued through World War II
and contributed to the effectiveness of the war effort on the homefront .
in Cedar Rapids, IA; Lehigh University
in Bethlehem, PA; and North Dakota State University
in Fargo, ND. He taught and continued research work on petrochemical
development throughout that time. In 1955 he returned to Carnegie Mellon as a senior research fellow in petrochemistry. He then took a position on the faculty of Winona State University
in Winona, MN in 1958, as chairman of its science department , and from there moved to Carroll College (now Carroll University) in Waukesha, WI, in 1971, as professor and chair of the chemistry department. Wendland remained there for the rest of his working life. Dr. Wendland published several professional papers in organic chemistry
and chemistry education during his career.. He also authored two texts entitled "Petrochemicals: the New World of Synthetics" and "Systematic Use of Chemical Literature" . Wendland was a member of the American Chemical Society
, the American Association for the Advancement of Science
, the American Association of University Professors
, and Sigma Xi
(a scientific research society) .
for petrochemical firms in the United States. He died in November 1986 and is buried in Waukesha, WI . Wendland was survived by his wife and one son .
Education
Wendland was born in Minneapolis, MN in July 1911, and educated at Carleton CollegeCarleton College
Carleton College is an independent non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. The college enrolls 1,958 undergraduate students, and employs 198 full-time faculty members. In 2012 U.S...
in Northfield, MN, receiving a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
in 1933. From there, he matriculated to Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
, Ames, IA, to pursue graduate studies. He was awarded a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from that institution in 1937 . Postdoctoral appointments followed at Carnegie Technical Institute (now Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
) in Pittsburgh, PA, and the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in Minneapolis, MN, centering on the refinement of rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
production. This work continued through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and contributed to the effectiveness of the war effort on the homefront .
Academic Career & Publications
Between 1945 and 1955, Wendland served on the faculties of Coe CollegeCoe College
Coe College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Founded in 1851, the institution is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Its current president is James R. Phifer. It is one of the smaller universities to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa...
in Cedar Rapids, IA; Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
in Bethlehem, PA; and North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...
in Fargo, ND. He taught and continued research work on petrochemical
Petrochemical
Petrochemicals are chemical products derived from petroleum. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable sources such as corn or sugar cane....
development throughout that time. In 1955 he returned to Carnegie Mellon as a senior research fellow in petrochemistry. He then took a position on the faculty of Winona State University
Winona State University
Winona State University is a comprehensive public university in Winona, Minnesota, United States, a college and river town located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, with around 8,900 enrolled undergraduate and graduate students...
in Winona, MN in 1958, as chairman of its science department , and from there moved to Carroll College (now Carroll University) in Waukesha, WI, in 1971, as professor and chair of the chemistry department. Wendland remained there for the rest of his working life. Dr. Wendland published several professional papers in organic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
and chemistry education during his career.. He also authored two texts entitled "Petrochemicals: the New World of Synthetics" and "Systematic Use of Chemical Literature" . Wendland was a member of the American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
, the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
, the American Association of University Professors
American Association of University Professors
The American Association of University Professors is an organization of professors and other academics in the United States. AAUP membership is about 47,000, with over 500 local campus chapters and 39 state organizations...
, and Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
(a scientific research society) .
Retirement & Death
After retirement in 1976, Dr. Wendland continued to serve as a private consultantConsultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
for petrochemical firms in the United States. He died in November 1986 and is buried in Waukesha, WI . Wendland was survived by his wife and one son .