Frederick L. Hovde
Encyclopedia
Frederick Lawson Hovde was an American chemical engineer, researcher, educator and president of Purdue University
.
Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Hovde received his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota
, where he played on the football team
. Elected to a Rhodes Scholarship, he spent three years at Oxford University where he received two degrees in chemistry. While at Oxford, he was a member of the varsity rugby football team and in 1931 he became the third American in history to win his Oxford blue
in the annual Oxford-Cambridge rugby union match
.
in New York, serving as Assistant to the President and Lecturer in Chemistry.
In 1941, following the outbreak of World War II, Hovde joined the newly established National Defense Research Committee
, which later became a part of the war-time Office of Scientific Research and Development
. His first assignment was as head of the London Mission of the OSRD, an opportunity which he took to obtain a Master’s degree from Oxford University. In 1942, he returned to the National Defense Research Committee as Executive Assistant to James Bryant Conant
, its chairman. In 1943, Hovde was made Chief of Rocket Ordnance Research, of the National Defense Research Committee.
During the time of Hovde's presidency, over 80,000 men and women graduated from the university. Enrollment at Purdue more than quadrupled from 5,628 to 25,582 students. Its annual budget increased from $12.7 million to $136 million.
It was also during this time that Purdue established the schools of industrial engineering
, materials engineering, technology
, and veterinary medicine
.
While at Purdue, he served on numerous government boards on scientific research, including military research. He also served as a member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy, Board of Visitors to the Air University, Air Training Command Advisory Board, Board of Consultants to the National War College, and Board of Visitors to the United States Air Force Academy. In 1961, he served as chairman of the President-Elect’s Task Force Committee on Education. From 1970 to 1973, he served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Hovde served as President of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (1953-1954), as vice chairman of the American Council on Education (1955-1956), and a member of the President’s Committee on Education Beyond High School (1956-1957).
Hovde was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
in 1957. He received the Exceptional Civilian Service Award from the Department of the Air Force in 1961, the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Department of the Navy
in 1963, the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of the United States Army
in 1963, and the Distinguished Public Service Medal from the Department of Defense
in 1970.
In 1967, Hovde received the Washington Award from the Western Society of Engineers and the Gold Medal Award from the National Football Foundation
and Hall of Fame
. In 1968, he was awarded the National Order of the Southern Cross by the Brazil
ian government and the Academic Award Medal by the government of Taiwan
. In 1970, he was selected by the NCAA
to receive its Theodore Roosevelt Award.
Upon retirement from the presidency, he was named President Emeritus of Purdue. President Nixon
attended Hovde's retirement dinner and presented him with a certificate of recognition.
In 1975, Purdue renamed the Executive Building the Frederick L. Hovde Hall of Administration.
Hovde received more than 20 honorary doctoral degrees in a variety of disciplines from colleges and university throughout the United States.
Frederick Boyd Hovde married Karen Sorenson and they have four children, Frederick Russell (Rick), Debra, Kristine and Sarah. Boyd practices law in Indianapolis with his son, Rick.
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
.
Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Hovde received his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from 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...
, where he played on the football team
Football team
A football team is the collective name given to a group of players selected together in the various team sports known as football.Such teams could be selected to play in an against an opposing team, to represent a football club, group, state or nation, an All-star team or even selected as a...
. Elected to a Rhodes Scholarship, he spent three years at Oxford University where he received two degrees in chemistry. While at Oxford, he was a member of the varsity rugby football team and in 1931 he became the third American in history to win his Oxford blue
University Sporting Blue
A Blue is an award earned by sportsmen and women at a university and some schools for competition at the highest level. The awarding of Blues began at Oxford and Cambridge Universities...
in the annual Oxford-Cambridge rugby union match
The Varsity Match
The Varsity Match is an annual rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. By tradition, the match is held on the second Tuesday of December. In 2005, however, this changed, and the match was on Tuesday 6 December. In 2007, it was held on a Thursday for...
.
Professional career
Returning to the United States in 1932, Hovde was appointed Assistant Director of the newly established General College of the University of Minnesota. In 1936, he went to the University of RochesterUniversity of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
in New York, serving as Assistant to the President and Lecturer in Chemistry.
In 1941, following the outbreak of World War II, Hovde joined the newly established National Defense Research Committee
National Defense Research Committee
The National Defense Research Committee was an organization created "to coordinate, supervise, and conduct scientific research on the problems underlying the development, production, and use of mechanisms and devices of warfare" in the United States from June 27, 1940 until June 28, 1941...
, which later became a part of the war-time Office of Scientific Research and Development
Office of Scientific Research and Development
The Office of Scientific Research and Development was an agency of the United States federal government created to coordinate scientific research for military purposes during World War II. Arrangements were made for its creation during May 1941, and it was created formally by on June 28, 1941...
. His first assignment was as head of the London Mission of the OSRD, an opportunity which he took to obtain a Master’s degree from Oxford University. In 1942, he returned to the National Defense Research Committee as Executive Assistant to James Bryant Conant
James Bryant Conant
James Bryant Conant was a chemist, educational administrator, and government official. As thePresident of Harvard University he reformed it as a research institution.-Biography :...
, its chairman. In 1943, Hovde was made Chief of Rocket Ordnance Research, of the National Defense Research Committee.
At Purdue University
In January 1946, he began his tenure as President of Purdue University, a position which he held until his retirement in 1971.During the time of Hovde's presidency, over 80,000 men and women graduated from the university. Enrollment at Purdue more than quadrupled from 5,628 to 25,582 students. Its annual budget increased from $12.7 million to $136 million.
It was also during this time that Purdue established the schools of industrial engineering
Industrial engineering
Industrial engineering is a branch of engineering dealing with the optimization of complex processes or systems. It is concerned with the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, materials, analysis...
, materials engineering, technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
, and veterinary medicine
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
.
While at Purdue, he served on numerous government boards on scientific research, including military research. He also served as a member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy, Board of Visitors to the Air University, Air Training Command Advisory Board, Board of Consultants to the National War College, and Board of Visitors to the United States Air Force Academy. In 1961, he served as chairman of the President-Elect’s Task Force Committee on Education. From 1970 to 1973, he served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Hovde served as President of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (1953-1954), as vice chairman of the American Council on Education (1955-1956), and a member of the President’s Committee on Education Beyond High School (1956-1957).
Honors and awards
In recognition of his war services Hovde received the President’s Medal for Merit and was awarded the King’s Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom by the British government.Hovde was named a Fellow of 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...
in 1957. He received the Exceptional Civilian Service Award from the Department of the Air Force in 1961, the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Department of the Navy
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
in 1963, the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of the United States Army
Association of the United States Army
The Association of the United States Army is a private, non-profit organization that acts primarily as an advocacy group for the United States Army. Founded in 1950, it has 125 chapters worldwide. Membership is open to everyone, not just Army personnel, nor is membership mandatory for soldiers,...
in 1963, and the Distinguished Public Service Medal from the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
in 1970.
In 1967, Hovde received the Washington Award from the Western Society of Engineers and the Gold Medal Award from the National Football Foundation
National Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...
and Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
. In 1968, he was awarded the National Order of the Southern Cross by the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian government and the Academic Award Medal by the government of Taiwan
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. In 1970, he was selected by the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
to receive its Theodore Roosevelt Award.
Upon retirement from the presidency, he was named President Emeritus of Purdue. President Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
attended Hovde's retirement dinner and presented him with a certificate of recognition.
In 1975, Purdue renamed the Executive Building the Frederick L. Hovde Hall of Administration.
Hovde received more than 20 honorary doctoral degrees in a variety of disciplines from colleges and university throughout the United States.
Family
Hovde married Priscilla Boyd and they had three children, Frederick Boyd (Boyd), Jane and Linda.Frederick Boyd Hovde married Karen Sorenson and they have four children, Frederick Russell (Rick), Debra, Kristine and Sarah. Boyd practices law in Indianapolis with his son, Rick.