Clarence G. Gerhold Memorial Scholarship

Clarence “Larry” Gerhold was an inventor with an engaging personality and infectious sense of humor who profoundly impacted the petroleum refining and petrochemical industries. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1928 and 1929. Professor Donald B. Keyes taught him a great deal about petroleum technology and other topics. After graduating, Gerhold joined UOP (formerly Universal Oil Products), where he would spend his entire career developing solutions to problems. During World War II, he applied his knowledge of super high octane gasoline to large-scale production of aviation gasoline. Over the years, he was involved in thermal cracking and reforming, olefin polymerization, alkylation, paraffin isomerization, and much more.

Awarded to chemical engineering sophomores with preference to Illinois residents.

Past Recipients: