Octave J. DuTemple headed the American Nuclear Society for thirty-two years, when it became one of the premier international societies with fifty-nine local sections, fifty-two student branches, and 17,000 members. Octave DuTemple taught flying and celestial navigation during World War II, and he received bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering in 1948 and 1949 from Michigan Tech. He was graduated from Northwestern University with an MBA in 1955.

The headquarters of the American Nuclear Society is dedicated in his name, and he is an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Nuclear Engineers in London. He is an Honorary Life Member of the Chinese Nuclear Society, and is the former secretary of the Pacific Nuclear Council. Mr. DuTemple has been previously honored with the MTU Board of Control Silver Medal and the Distinguished Alumni Award. He has also been inducted into the MTU Distinguished Academy of Chemical Engineering.

Octave DuTemple is chairman emeritus of the Seaman Mineral Museum Committee, and is a member of the MTU Second Century Society and Presidents Club.