Frank Dudley Oldham 1911 - 1955

As I was browsing the University of Missouri Archive in search of information related to my mother and her family, I came across the obituary of Frank Oldham published in the September 1955 issue of the Missouri Alumnus (see page 27). Frank Oldham was my mother's father.

Frank Dudley Oldham was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on June 29, 1911. Among other things, my grandfather was a professor, a professional engineer, and chairman of both the University of Missouri Department of Chemical Engineering and the University section of the American Association of University Professors. He became the chairman of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the age of 38, and remained in this position until he died.

My grandfather was also a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Chemical Society, the American Society for Engineering Education, the American Association of University Professors, the National Society of Professional Engineers, Sigma Xi, Alpha Chi Sigma, and Kappa Alpha.

Dr. Frank D. Oldham died on June 17, 1955.* My mother, the eldest of his children, was 11. To my sorrow, the above is almost all I know about the man, but I do know that he must be the source of some of my mother's intelligence, natural leadership skills, charisma, and her gravitas.

* Coincidentally, my sister Sarah was born exactly 31 years later.