'Water Specialist Emeritus' - Ray E. Cross, '35, Chemical Engineering, Michigan Tech

At the 2003 Water Quality Association Convention held in Las Vagas, attended by 3,717. Michigan Tech Class of 1935 member, Ray Cross was honored for his decades of professional service. Ray earned a BS in chemical engineering and an MS in Chemistry from Tech. After graduating from Tech, Ray worked in metallurgy developing bomber wheels for the aircraft used in World War II. Ray then worked for 41 years in water conditioning and served as president of Culligan Water Conditioning.

The award named in honor of Ray. E. Cross, Water Specialist Emeritus was initiated at the 2003 WQA annual meeting . The Ray E. Cross Award, which recognizes individuals, was established to acknowledge a present or former WQA member, “whose pioneer spirit and unwavering commitment made a noticeable difference in the water treatment industry and who has not been previously awarded with a leadership award,” according to the WQA.

Shown in photo at left, Herman Cuskie '34 Mechanical Engineering, Ray Cross '35 Chemical Engineering, and Jerold Van Faasen, 1934 Civil Engineering at the Michigan Tech 2005 Alumni reunion.