Cedomir M. Sliepcevich
The information listed below is current as of the date the transcript was finalized.
Interview Details
Interview Sessions
Abstract of Interview
Cedomir Sliepcevich begins the interview with a description of his family and early years in Anaconda, Montana. A firm educational beginning in Anaconda influenced Sliepcevich to attend college. He enrolled in the chemical engineering program at Montana State College in 1937. During his sophomore year, Sliepcevich knew he wanted to go on to graduate school. In 1939, he transferred to the University of Michigan and received his BS, MS and PhD in chemical engineering there. While a graduate student, Sliepcevich studied thermodynamics under George Granger Brown. During the summer of 1942, he worked with Fred Kurata on a National Defense Research Council classified project on screening smokes. While earning his PhD, Sliepcevich was an instructor at the University, where he taught thermodynamics. After receiving his PhD in 1947, he also worked as a consultant for the US Army V-2 rocket test program. In addition to his career in academia, Sliepcevich continued to do consulting work for various companies, including Monsanto Chemical Company, Constock Liquid Methane Corporation, and Autoclave Engineers, Inc. In 1955, he joined the faculty of the University of Oklahoma as Professor and Chairman of Chemical Engineering. Sliepcevich was instrumental in redeveloping the University's doctoral program and engineering curricula, and established the Flame Dynamics Laboratory there. He founded his own firm, University Engineers, Inc., in 1963, which specialized in fire protection systems for liquid natural gas. He officially retired from teaching in 1991 and continued to work as a consultant on many research projects. Sliepcevich concludes the interview with reflections on his career. Audio recording of this interview is not available.
Education
| Year | Institution | Degree | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | University of Michigan | BS | Chemical Engineering |
| 1942 | University of Michigan | MS | Chemical Engineering |
| 1948 | University of Michigan | PhD | Chemical Engineering |
Professional Experience
Self-employed
University of Michigan
Autoclave Engineers, Inc.
Monsanto Chemical Company
Constock Liquid Methane Corporation
University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma State University
Constock-Pritchard Corporation
University Engineers, Inc.
Republic Geothermal, Inc.
University Technologists, Inc.
Honors
| Year(s) | Award |
|---|---|
| 1958 | Curtis McGraw Research Award, American Society for Engineering Education |
| 1959 | International Ipatieff Research Prize |
| 1962 | National Sigma Xi Lecturer |
| 1964 | George Westinghouse Award, American Society for Engineering Education |
| 1967 | Sesquicentennial Award for Distinguished Alumni, University of Michigan |
| 1972 | Member, National Academy of Engineers |
| 1972 | Peter C. Reilly Lecturer, University of Notre Dame |
| 1973 | Engineer of the Year, Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers |
| 1974 | Engineer of the Year, National Society of Professional Engineers |
| 1974 | Oklahoma Hall of Fame |
| 1975 | Distinguished Service Citation, University of Oklahoma |
| 1975 | Award of Merit, Oklahoma Academy of Science |
| 1976 | Donald L. Katz Lecturer, University of Michigan |
| 1978 | William H. Walker Award, American Institute of Chemical Engineers |
| 1986 | Gas Industry Research Award, Sprague Schlumberger, Operating Section, American Gas Association |
| 1992 | University of Oklahoma established C. M. Sliepcevich Professorship in College of Engineering |
| 1993 | First Honorary Member of the University of Oklahoma College of Engineering Distinguished Graduates Society |
Table of Contents
Growing up in Anaconda, Montana. Parents' history. Family emphasis on education. Working on local railroad. Decision to enroll in Montana State College.
Going into chemical engineering. Transferring to University of Michigan. Math Courses. Studying under professors Lee Owen Case, George Granger Brown and Donald L. Katz. Becoming a teaching fellow. G. G. Brown as thesis advisor.
V-2 rocket testing program. Continuing in academia. Working for Monsanto Chemical Company. Biomedical research. Leaving University of Michigan for University of Oklahoma.
Consulting for Conoco. Chairman and Professor of Chemical Engineering at University of Oklahoma. Restructuring engineering department and curricula. Marriage to Cleo L. Whorton. NSF grants. Developing the Flame Dynamics Laboratory.
Grant from National Bureau of Standards Fire Protection Division. Constock. Liquefied natural gas studies. Working for Office of Saline Water. Consulting work for NASA. Energy conservation. University Engineers, Inc. Consulting for Dow and Owens-Corning Fiberglas.
Presentation on thermodynamics. Retirement from academia. Serbian Orthodox Church. Reflections on career.
About the Interviewer
James J. Bohning was professor emeritus of chemistry at Wilkes University, where he had been a faculty member from 1959 to 1990. He served there as chemistry department chair from 1970 to 1986 and environmental science department chair from 1987 to 1990. Bohning was chair of the American Chemical Society’s Division of the History of Chemistry in 1986; he received the division’s Outstanding Paper Award in 1989 and presented more than forty papers at national meetings of the society. Bohning was on the advisory committee of the society’s National Historic Chemical Landmarks Program from its inception in 1992 through 2001 and is currently a consultant to the committee. He developed the oral history program of the Chemical Heritage Foundation, and he was CHF’s director of oral history from 1990 to 1995. From 1995 to 1998, Bohning was a science writer for the News Service group of the American Chemical Society. In May 2005, he received the Joseph Priestley Service Award from the Susquehanna Valley Section of the American Chemical Society. Bohning passed away in September 2011.