Indy executive invests in Purdue to develop alternate energy sources
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The gift from Fred M. Fehsenfeld Sr., chairman of the executive committee of 26 diverse companies collectively known as The Heritage Group, is funding a chair in energy.
"This gift will support a world-class researcher who can work toward developing alternative sources of energy," said Purdue President Martin C. Jischke. "Fred Fehsenfeld, who has spent his lifetime leading companies involved with petroleum refining, well knows the complexity of this challenge. We are truly honored that he has recognized Purdue as a university that can pave the road to energy independence."
The Sen. Richard G. Lugar – Purdue University Summit on Energy Security will bring more than 600 leaders to the campus to discuss national energy issues and policy. Speakers will include Lugar and Jischke; Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels; U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind.; Carol Battershell, BP vice president for alternative energy; Susan Cischke, Ford Motor Co. vice president for environment and safety; and Amy Myers Jaffe, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy of Rice University. Brian Lamb, president and CEO of C-SPAN, will serve as panel moderator.
"Our nation needs a crash research program to address this energy challenge," Fehsenfeld said. "The person selected for the position may be assigned to any of several schools within Purdue's College of Engineering. Engineers are taught to solve problems. This one is very complex, so we need to take a multidisciplinary approach. My hope is that the person awarded this chair will lead a consortium of other gifted researchers who are leaders in engineering at Purdue and other like-minded universities to find solutions."
Fehsenfeld earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at Purdue in 1948 and an honorary Purdue degree in 1999. He began his career as a process engineer with Rock Island Refining Corp. where he was responsible for construction of a catalytic cracker, commonly used in oil refining. In the late 1950s, he founded Asphalt Materials Inc., an asphalt processing firm. Since then, he has established a string of other enterprises related to petroleum refining, asphalt processing, construction, aggregate production and waste management.
In addition to leading of The Heritage Group, he also has served on national, state and local task forces dealing with issues such as hazardous waste management and resource recovery. He was named a Sagamore of the Wabash for his contributions to the Indiana Solid Waste Study Commission in the early 1980s. He received a distinguished alumnus award from Purdue's College of Engineering in 1991.
"I am proud that Purdue has taken on the challenge to help the nation become energy independent," Fehsenfeld said. "This Midwest university has the total package — incredible vision, national thought leaders and preeminent researchers — to lead the national effort. Together, we will build the future for our children and grandchildren.
"To ignore the problem would only create even more economic problems."
Fehsenfeld and his wife, Barbara, live in Indianapolis.
Writer: Jeanne V. Norberg: (765) 491-1460 (cell), jnorberg@purdue.edu
Fred M. Fehsenfeld Sr.: (317) 243-0811 (office), fehsie1@sbcglobal.net
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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