Lecture hall named in honor of longtime PFW chemistry professor

FORT WAYNE, Ind.—Art Friedel served the Purdue University Fort Wayne community for more than a half century as an educator and Mastodon superfan. To honor his enduring legacy, the lecture hall formerly known as Room 168 of the Science Building has a new name: The Dr. Arthur W. Friedel Lecture Hall.

The Purdue University Board of Trustees formally announced the name change last Thursday at its regular meeting, a recognition delivered “in honor of Friedel’s longtime commitment to Purdue Fort Wayne as a professor from 1967 to 2019 and as a generous donor in support of scholarships and athletics.”

Upon hearing the news, Friedel’s first words were “What an honor!” He went on to say, “Being recognized for doing a job I loved is wonderful. Thanks to Chancellor Elsenbaumer, President Daniels, and everyone involved in honoring me in this manner. How special it has been to have had the thousands of students who learned chemistry and some who learned how to teach chemistry, physics, and biology with me. It has been my pleasure.”

Friedel retired as a full-time faculty member in 2007 and then continued to teach every fall semester through the end of 2018.

Professor Friedel is a longtime, avid fan of the men’s volleyball program at Purdue Fort Wayne, and from 1982 until he retired in 2007, could be counted on to be at most of the home and many of the away matches. His late mother was also a big fan, and the two have supported the team and the university with generous donations.

Friedel came to Purdue University, Fort Wayne Campus (as it was called then) in 1967 to join the chemistry faculty. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor of science in secondary education, physical science in 1959 and in 1963, a master’s degree in education. In 1968 he earned a Ph.D. at The Ohio State University.

Before arriving in Fort Wayne, he taught junior high math and science in the Pittsburgh Public Schools from 1959 to 1963. He was a graduate assistant from 1963 to 1967 while he worked on his doctoral degree at Ohio State. After he began his tenure in Fort Wayne, he spent 1975–76 abroad as an exchange professor at Trent Polytechnic in Nottingham, England.

Professor Friedel remains an active member of the university community in the spring, summer, and fall, while spending the winters in Florida.

For additional information, contact Susan Alderman at 260-481-6165 (office), 260-489-5349 (cell), or [email protected].

###