Dr. Donald Rathbone retired from his position as the dean of engineering at Kansas State University in 1997
MANHATTAN, KS, September 16, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Donald Rathbone with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. As listed, Dr. Rathbone celebrates many years' experience in his professional network and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Having accrued over 60 years of professional experience, Dr. Rathbone retired from his position as the dean of engineering at Kansas State University in 1997, having held the post since 1973. Prior to that appointment, he was a professor and chairman of the electrical engineering department at the University of Idaho from 1968 to 1973. He excelled in his position as a consultant for National Academy of Sciences from 1962 to 1968 and also served as a consultant for Westinghouse Electric Corporation from 1960 to 1961. He previously worked for the same company as an engineer from 1957 to 1960. His career began at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was active as an associate professor from 1962 to 1968, a lecturer from 1957 to 1960, and an assistant professor of electrical engineering from 1955 to 1957 and 1960 to 1962.
Prior to his professional career, Dr. Rathbone pursued coursework at Montana State University -Northern before ultimately earning a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University in 1951. He received a Master of Science from Northwestern University in 1955, and following further coursework, graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh in 1962.
As asset to the field, Dr. Rathbone was presented with the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Pittsburgh in 1976 with an Outstanding Leadership Award in 2018. While at Purdue University, he was the top student in his class (out of 1005). He was the first in his class to receive an "Outstanding Award" of which he is quite proud. In addition, he became the president of the student Presbyterian Church at the University.
He is also a member of numerous honor societies, including two as an honorary member and one as a distinguished member. He received the Meritorious Service for Phi Kappa Phi and a special Life Achievement Award for service to minority students from Kansas State University.
In 1998, Rathbone Hall was named after him as he was retiring. It was named for him both because of his fundraising accomplishments at KSU for the College of Engineering and for his multiple accomplishments as Dean for 24 years. In the past, buildings were named for people who were not living. This was one of the first buildings to be named at KSU for someone who was still alive.
Dr. Rathbone's itemized accomplishments are listed on plaques in Rathbone Hall. Don was made a fellow of organizations such as the President's Council at Purdue and Northwestern, a Fellow for ASEE (American Society for Engineering Education) and lEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), and a Distinguished Alumni at Montana State University-Northern. He was recognized on 4/1/2019 as an outstanding member of the Order of the Engineers. President Ken McGowan came from Seattle to present the award to Don.
He was the national chair of the Professional Engineers in Education for the National Society of Professional Engineers and has served on numerous national boards and councils, including the Education Council Board of Directors, the Engineering Deans' Executive Board, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, the National Board of Governors of The Order of the Engineer, the Kemper Military School Board of Trustees, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges Commission on Outreach and Technology Transfer, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
He has also held a number of positions with the Kansas Engineering Society in the state. He was selected as "Engineer of the Year" in Kansas in 1993. He is a licensed professional engineer and is a member of the Kansas State Board of Technical Professions.
In Manhattan, he served on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Kansas State University Research Foundation, various economic development committees/task forces, Mid-America Commercialization Center, United Way, as an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church and President of the Rotary Club (Rotarian-of-the-Year, 1988).
In September 2019, in recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Dr. Rathbone has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
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